1898 30-40 US Government issue (Springfield Armory) Krag Jorgensen Questions?

[tysdad115]

I never get to find things like this..A friend of a friend is looking for info on a rifle he found while cleaning out a family members house. Found it wrapped up in a trash bag in between rafters in the corner of the attic. He's considering donating the rifle to the local VFW (which one of his wife's relatives helped form that chapter after returning from WW1) . He believes the rifle was used in the Spanish American War and is wondering if there is a way to trace back who it was issued to? Or any other possible information on it? I can't think of a better place to ask, so thank you for your help. In the pics the SN looks like 98887 , any other numbers he should be looking for? It looks like it's been put away for a long time, there are initials carved in it but otherwise its been untouched for a long while now.
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[PaulR]

Wow. Nothing to contribute besides congrats to your friends friend.

 

[tysdad115]

Wow. Nothing to contribute besides congrats to your friends friend.

Same here, which is why I posted it here. His first find in the house was a Government Issue Colt, Model 1909, .45 Cal Revolver, which one of his inlaws "felt entitled" to and it is now whereabouts unknown..

 

[DW357]

Great find!

 

[OnTheRoad]

Point your friend here:
http://kragcollectorsassociation.org/

 

[jhrosier]

Seems like a shame to give it away.
Those old Krags need to be taken out and shot.

Jack

 

[the_shootist]

SWEET!!!

 

[majspud]

A check of the Springfield Armory could yield an off-book, or crate serial number range and the unit it was sent to.

T

 

[mac1911]

Seems like a shame to give it away.
Those old Krags need to be taken out and shot.

Jack

THIS......send it my way

 

[jpm]

an SRS check may come up with something, but its unlikely you can narrow it down to anything really specific. That is in amazing condition, and frankly I don't think the VFW would know what to do with it and would probably do something dumb. If the idea is to help out the VFW, sell it to a collector who can appreciate it for what it is and donate the funds. IMO It could fetch $1000+ given the shape its in and the accessories included. Even from the poor quality photos I can see a strong inspector's cartouche on the left side of the stock.

 

[mac1911]

an SRS check may come up with something, but its unlikely you can narrow it down to anything really specific. That is in amazing condition, and frankly I don't think the VFW would know what to do with it and would probably do something dumb. If the idea is to help out the VFW, sell it to a collector who can appreciate it for what it is and donate the funds. IMO It could fetch $1000+ given the shape its in and the accessories included. Even from the poor quality photos I can see a strong inspector's cartouche on the left side of the stock.

I would love to see it up close. I hope it goes to someone worthy.
As for the VFW they don't have much need for it. I would like to know more it's a rifle I want to fill a hole in my service rifle collection. Plus I would love to shoot that in CMP match!

 

[45collector]

Cool. Good thing it was stored in an attic and not in a basement. The finish looks pretty damn good for being stored in a trash bag for years.

 

[ranger4-7]

Great find! I too wish your friend would reconsider the VFW route. Some knucklehead will end up having it chrome plated for parade duty. I would love to have a nice unmolested Krag for the collection.

Looks like it was manufactured in 1898 per the oldguns.net site: http://oldguns.net/sn_php/milmods.htm


-Chris

 

[smokeeaterpilot]

I agree with JPM the VFW does not have a good reputation for taking good care of donated firearms. You see enough of former VFW firearms up for auction to know they receive a very hard service life.

I would recommend either selling it to a collector.

But if he really wants to donate it, I suggest a museum (such as the NRA). It will be cared for more deeply and treated well.

 

[jpm]

Great find! I too wish your friend would reconsider the VFW route. Some knucklehead will end up having it chrome plated for parade duty.

God that's even worse than I had imagined!!

 

[noddaduma]

Put it on gunbroker and someone who appreciates Krags will snatch it up (that's how I got mine).

Or offer it here.

 

[tysdad115]

I asked him to reconsider the donation , he hasn't got back to me yet.