doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com A nice Krag.

I was asked to identify the maker of this Krag and cannot. The rifle is unmarked and I was hoping someone might know it's history.

Nice indeed. I too would be interested in knowing more about it.

I wonder why so many stockers insisted on covering the side plates? Stock strength is only marginally improved while giving it a pregnant look in the middle. No biggie, as this is an elegant example IMO.

Is the third/forward anchor needed by a Krag achieved by the front sling stud screwing into the barrel, or is there a thin band that I don't see in the pic?

Notes from the owner,

" I bought the gun last year from a custom gunsmith in Trinidad Colorado who initially bought the gun from dealer in California several years earlier. I was attending a single shot metalsmithing summer course and there were quite a few guild members around who agreed with me that the rifle is superbly made and probably dates from the 1950�s. The gunmaker that I bought the gun from said that he had it entirely apart and that there were no identifying marks anywhere. I have taken his word on that and have not disassembled the gun myself.



The gun has what I believe to be the arsenal barrel shortened to 21 inches. There are no screw holes on the top of the barrel so I assume that the chamber was lengthened and the barrel set back a half turn to hide the screw holes (the barrel contour is identical to another Krag that I have and there is no evidence of welding the holes). The grip cap has been case colored but they are fading. The gun has a Noshoc pad and a Redfield front sight. The style of the sling swivels reminds me of those seen on vintage British single shot or double rifles. There is a Lyman 57K rear sight. The forend tip is horn. When viewed from the side, the forend itself gently slopes from the receiver to the tip so that at the breech 50% of the barrel diameter is covered by wood but at the forend tip only about 30% of the barrel diameter is covered by wood. Perhaps this is some clue. The quality of the checkering is absolutely first class. The gun remains in like new condition. I have fired it and it is superbly accurate."

Interesting.

(Two full threads would have to be removed from the breech end of the barrel if turning it 90� to hide screw holes is the goal. The extractor cut goes that deep, at least on the one laying in front of me.)

Lovely rifle...

One of these days a custom Krag I build while a student at Trinidad is going to turn up. It has a 1/2 round, half octagon barrel chambered in 30-40. I reluctantly sold it in the 80s to pay the rent. In the 1990s wanting to get it back I traced it through two owners, the second who told me he sold in at a Portland, OR show to (very likely) Mark Beneson. Mark assured me he had not purchased the rifle, although he wished he had.

If I understand everything correctly the owner of the rifle will call the man who built it tomorrow.

Sometimes these things do work out.

We would sure like to know who either, or both of them are?
Particularly the builder.

This is a rifle I built in about 2002 when I was living in southern Oregon. I'm quite sure the barrel is not an original Krag barrel.

I am the current owner of this rifle. I had a very nice conversation with the builder today. What a charming and humble man and he obviously has enourmous talent as a gunmaker.

I am deeply grateful to Michael Petrov for his generosity of time and knowledge to help me hook up with the builder. It is my priveledge to care for it and pass it on safely whenever that time comes.

Thanks to all who took an interest in this fine rifle,

Antonio