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Posted By: mkbenenson Krag gunsmith - 04/02/11 06:47 PM
There have been a couple of requests. I suggest Robert F. MacKinnon in Slatington, PA, about fifteen miles north of Allentown. He has done almost all my Krag work the last fifteen or twenty years, worked on probably a dozen guns. I am away from hoome, can't give you a phone or email. Has rebarreledincluding full length infantery barrels that he had made for him, altered US Krags to double locking lug and extra front receiver screw like Scandinavian Krags, made a 7x57 Norwegian sporter, etc. He is not a fancy woodwork man but is competent at it. A specialty is making missisng parts for WW2 German sniper scope mounts. PS it may be McKinnon not MacKinnon.
Posted By: SDH-MT Re: Krag gunsmith - 04/02/11 08:19 PM
I will note Mr. McKinnon's willingness to work on Krags. Quite unusual these days!

And here are a few pix I just received from Ed LaPour, Bremerton, WA gunmaker of the metalwork on the 98 Krag I'm going to be stocking later this year.
I'm going to miss something but as I remember; He concealed the rear screw hole and added a front receiver screw, the cover plate was thinned and an inletting draft added, magazine cut-off removed and the repro Rigby cocking piece sight added. It is off to have the receiver ring matted, then re-heat treat and then will be barreled with the Ralf Martini octagon to round, full length rib barrel I designed.
I am very pleased with Ed's work, he is a conscientious and thoughtful metalsmith who know how to think and plan way ahead.


Posted By: WJL Re: Krag gunsmith - 04/02/11 10:30 PM
I've been resisting. I've always liked Krags and I've been particularly fond of that wonderful G&H Krag that keeps getting posted. But this is too much. Resistance is futile I guess I'm just going to have start looking for a Krag.

Jerry Liles
Posted By: Michael Petrov Re: Krag gunsmith - 04/02/11 11:50 PM
Nice work, who made the Rigby style peep sight?
Posted By: Gismo Re: Krag gunsmith - 04/03/11 01:49 AM
Explain this double locking lug system please.
Posted By: Craigster Re: Krag gunsmith - 04/03/11 03:36 AM
Steve,

That's going to be one beautiful and unique rifle. Sure would like to see progress pics. And finished also!
Posted By: mkbenenson Re: Krag gunsmith - 04/03/11 07:11 PM
Gismo, American Krags have a guide rib alongside the bolt that ends just short of the right side upward extension of the receiver. It a shows clearly on Steve Hughe's photos, above. On Norwegian and Danish Krags this rib extends further to the rear and fits against the receiver shoulder, forming a second locking surface, albeit it is not symetrical with the front lug. It is possible to alter a US Krag to lock up like this too. There are three methods. First, you can relieve the rear face of the bolt locking lug which lets the bolt go a bit to the rear. But this increases headspace so this method only works if you are rebarreling. It also can cut through the hardened surace on the back of the lug. Alternatively, you can weld up the front of the receiver shoulder. Disadvantage, risk of spoiling the receiver. Third method and the one I use, weld up the rear face of the guide rig. Disadvantage, spoiling the bolt, but Krag bolts, even brand new ones, are in good supply and out of perhaps half a dozen I have yet to ruin one. Another disadvanage is that if you shoot in the rain, your zero may change. I understand that for that reason Norwegian military rifle matches were shot on ranges with roofed firing lines.
Posted By: Gismo Re: Krag gunsmith - 04/04/11 02:41 AM
Thanks. Thought that would be the method. I did custom barrel work for 35-40 years before health problems shut me down.

I always said that if I were limited to just one gun, a Krag in .30-40 would do me just fine for the sheer joy of that cartridge and action. The Lyman 311284 cast bullet and any variety of jacketed bullets if I were serious. Of course this would be with a nice new octagonal barrel and all the other nitpiking little improvements I would make.

Thanks again,
Gismo
Posted By: SDH-MT Re: Krag gunsmith - 04/04/11 05:21 PM
Originally Posted By: Craigster
Steve,

That's going to be one beautiful and unique rifle. Sure would like to see progress pics. And finished also!

Will be posted on my web site.
Posted By: KVN Re: Krag gunsmith - 04/04/11 05:34 PM
That Rigby style peep sight is made by : Robert Zimmerman <rusty42marlin@yahoo.com>
Posted By: rocky mtn bill Re: Krag gunsmith - 04/05/11 03:23 PM
Steve, What was done to provide for a front action screw? I presume the receiver ring was simply drilled and tapped. Is this correct? Thanks.
Posted By: SDH-MT Re: Krag gunsmith - 04/05/11 05:33 PM
I'm not sure Bill, as I have yet to see any more than these photos?
The rear screw hole was welded shut and drilled and rethread at a 90 degree angle, at my request.
Posted By: grogel Re: Krag gunsmith - 07/16/13 01:05 AM
SDH,

I was looking for photos on you web page of this Krag finished and couldn't find them. I am curious about how the front action screw was done also.
Posted By: SDH-MT Re: Krag gunsmith - 07/17/13 05:58 AM
On hold currently and more things to do than time to do them...
Posted By: FredC Re: Krag gunsmith - 07/19/13 01:54 PM
I am in the process of building a Krag. My plan is to put a combination sight and hold down on the barrel. This mount will have 2 screwholes underneath for holding the barrel to the stock. The plan is to have a pillar embedded in the stock. This sightbase hold down combo is 2 inches long, but a simple hold down could be 3/8 long. Chasing the barrel threads down the barrel and adding a nut are my plan to pull this up against the reciever. I have a foto avalable of the finished sight base and drawing but am not sure how to attach them to reply.
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