I had one a while back, ancient. It came from Wisconsin. The older fellow I bought it from had bought it from an even older guy (82 if I recall). It had been used as a deer rifle for a very long time. I ended up trading it to a forum member in Wisconsin and it went back home to gather more deer.

I sort of ended up missing having a Krag sporter around though. Finally came across one at what I considered a reasonable price. Looks like it might need a new stock and some elbow grease, but eh. Pre 1899 too, so I didn't even need to pay an FFL fee.

I was thinking that I'd clean it up, fix it up a bit (horror of horrors, Duracoat it possibly) and give it a new lease on life. My friend Joyce wants a gun, so I figured that I could just ship it off to her once I had it working.

Sadly, the time has finally come that .30-40 Krag ammo (still offered by Winchester and Remington) is now a seasonal loading only and thus not to found easily right not. I think the old guns probably still have some life left in them, maybe not another 114 years, but a while yet.

Anyone else still using something along these lines for a deer gun?

I also have a trade pending for an 1888 Comm. rifle in 8mm Mauser, one that was rechambered for the .323 spitzer rounds and converted to take stripper clips. Figured that I'd give that a go too and see what a 120 year old rifle would do.

A feller I hunted elk with back in the 50's had a Krag sporter. He din't need to step aside for nobody when it came to makin' meat.

My daughter's neighbor has an original rifle his dad used for years as his deer gun. Finish is rough, but the rifle is complete and original.

I have a full length rifle made in 1901, all original and complete with bayonet. Condition is about 95%. Slickest action I've ever run across and a fine shooter. I don't get it out to play very often but every time I take it out I wonder why I don't do that more often.