Mystery Solved on Custom 1898 Krag Target Rifle

[4barrel]

I have a brand new in the box #57k Lyman rear peep sight for a Krag so old the price made on the box is $7.50. cprher-That is some knock out wood on your rifle.

 

[Drm50]

I have had many Krags, about half were "sporterized". I did have
some really nice Sporters that were in the class of OPs rifle. It
hasn't been that long ago that the chopped ones weren't worth
very much, today they bring decent money. I bought 2 Krags
off a family whose father bought them from DCM back in 50s.
One was a home made deer rifle, a cut above a bubba job. The
other was a Philipine Carbine. I was able to identify it, but owner
had added a pistol grip. I didn't want to take it off because I didn't know how it was attached. It killed the value of it. I had
it at several shows and money I was offered made it not worth
selling. Then one day at show, the butt was accidentally bumped,
the pistol grip popped off. It had just been attached with a glue.
Cartouches were intact and I was able to get top dollar out of it.

 

[keithherrington]

Well, the mystery of this gun's origin is at least partially solved

Post removed due to Photobucket's new policy.
Keith

 

[gregintenn]

I hate to see any old service rifle altered from original. If they only knew then what we know today about military surplus rifle value they'd never have cut on them.

If all the milsurp rifles had been left in their original configuration, the ones that survive today wouldn't hold the value they currently do.

 

[Walter Rego]

There were some very talented gunsmiths that sporterized rifles back in the 1950's and '60's, some were done by skilled machinists for their own use or as a hobby and not as a professional business, it could be that is who Mr. Armitage was.
Here is a Krag variation that you don't often see, all original and all matching.

 

[keithherrington]

I contacted Dayton Traister about the trigger

Greg Roberts at Dayton Traister was kind enough to look at the pictures of the trigger and identified it as one of theirs with the exception of the trigger shoe, which was welded on after sale, most likely by Armitage, the gunsmith. Greg stated that DT made a few Mark II triggers for Krag rifles, mostly in the 50's and 60's, but sold some as late as 1985 when the company was sold, so that lead doesn't help me date the rifle's build. He recognized the one on my rifle as a DT Mk II Krag trigger saying "they were all a rather crude modification of a standard Mk II trigger." I've yet to come across any other pictures of a DT Mark II trigger for a Krag.
Keith

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

I know nothing about Krags except their history, specifications and that they are beautiful rifles. I understand they are a "labor of love" to maintain. Thank you for posting.

 

[keithherrington]

Just mounted a scope on my Krag target rifle...I like it!!!

Post removed due to Photobucket's new policy.

Keith