Thank you Michael for starting the topic. I wasn't sure if it was acceptable to post links to auction sites.
I have been following your thread titled “A Classic Bolt Gun” with interest. Your fabulous pictures and discussion related to Krag sporters has perked my interest and I have been wandering the net looking at various approaches to converting these rifles to sporting use. I came across a Krag on Gunbroker.com that I found interesting. At first glance it appeared to be a nice clean conversion, possibly done in the ‘30s or ‘40s, basically replacing the stock and sights and leaving the rest of the rifle original. Closer examination of the description and pictures shows that the stock was originally two peaces and it was expertly joined at the wrist. The inletting appeared to be perfect and there doesn’t appear to be any sign of amateur debauchery that I have seen on other home brew sporters. Comparisons to pictures of original Krag stocks lead me to believe that the original stock was cut off at the wrist and a very nice pistol grip butt stock attached. The forend was also shortened and an ebony tip attached. I think if the grip area had been checkered with an over-the-grip pattern the grafting would not be visible at all.
The discussion I would like to pose to the forum is, is this a common economical conversion that may have been performed on a large scale by surplus dealers like Bannerman back in the ‘30s and ‘40s, or was it a unique conversion performed by an individual professional or talented amateur. Its the first coversion like it I have seen. Thanks again Michael. Terry H.
