jmd62 Posted November 25, 2020 Share #1 Posted November 25, 2020 Hey Guys, A friend is selling this rifle left to her by her father. The serial number is from 1900 and besides the photos, that’s all I have for now. Any ballpark price ideas? I realize there are details left out like it’s bore condition foe example. Thanks! James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctorofwar Posted November 25, 2020 Share #2 Posted November 25, 2020 It has been sporterized by cutting down the fore end. This knocks down the value considerably. I’ve seen similar ones go in the $225-350 range. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmd62 Posted November 25, 2020 Author Share #3 Posted November 25, 2020 Thank you Sir! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R. Watkins Posted November 25, 2020 Share #4 Posted November 25, 2020 1 hour ago, Doctorofwar said: It has been sporterized by cutting down the fore end. This knocks down the value considerably. I’ve seen similar ones go in the $225-350 range. Just curious; Would it be worth the trouble and expence to replace the existing modified stock with a factory issued version, provided an original stock could be located? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctorofwar Posted November 25, 2020 Share #5 Posted November 25, 2020 An original unaltered stock on the loose would be tough to find. You would also need the front band and likely some other small parts. If restored, it will always be a restored gun- it would be hard to match the patina of whatever replacement stock you may be able to find to the existing stock furniture/condition of the metal. Many also had the barrel shortened a few inches and the front sight reattached or replaced- I can’t tell in the pictures if this was done as well as the stock being cut. If you were able to find an original replacement it would increase the value, however probably not much more (if at all) than the value of the gun ‘as is’ plus whatever you would have to spend on the replacement stock, parts and/or bbl. A rifle that “looks right” fills a spot in a collection better than a sporterized one, which primarily has value as a parts gun, casual shooter or curiosity piece. This one appears to be “lightly” sporterized by trimming the fore end, and possibly trimming the barrel- some I’ve seen are real butcher jobs. I have restored one sporterized carbine (a SMLE No. 5) and sold another one (an Arisaka Type 44) partially completed after giving up on finding all the parts after a few years (and I had another similar severely sporterized gun- a Type 38 to cannibalize some small parts for it). This restorations were for my own collection so I wasn’t trying to increase value for resale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmd62 Posted November 25, 2020 Author Share #6 Posted November 25, 2020 Great information, good to know! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VMI88 Posted November 25, 2020 Share #7 Posted November 25, 2020 You might try Dunlap Woodcraft (http://dunlapwoodcrafts.com/military-stocks) - they offer high-quality reproduction stocks for military rifles. The rifle would never have the value of an all-original one but it could make a great shooter. You could also talk to them about just getting a new fore-end to splice into the existing stock. I personally think it is worth restoring to original condition. This is assuming the wood and front band are the only alterations. If the barrel has been shortened it's probably not worth messing with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M1Garandy Posted November 25, 2020 Share #8 Posted November 25, 2020 Unless it could be purchased quite cheaply and the bore is mint and the barrel is uncut, finding and buying a stock is a losing proposition. Sadly, original rifles are constantly being parted out on eBay and an original full length rifle stock is likely going to cost $400+. Complete, original '98 Krags are still around in the $7-800 range. Repro stocks are out there too, but they are not cheap either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R. Watkins Posted November 25, 2020 Share #9 Posted November 25, 2020 2 hours ago, M1Garandy said: Unless it could be purchased quite cheaply and the bore is mint and the barrel is uncut, finding and buying a stock is a losing proposition. Sadly, original rifles are constantly being parted out on eBay and an original full length rifle stock is likely going to cost $400+. Complete, original '98 Krags are still around in the $7-800 range. Repro stocks are out there too, but they are not cheap either. Thank you much gentlemen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmd62 Posted November 25, 2020 Author Share #10 Posted November 25, 2020 Thanks again guys! I may be able to have her send better pics of the muzzle and stock for what it's worth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M1Garandy Posted November 25, 2020 Share #11 Posted November 25, 2020 You are welcome. It can certainly be done but you either have to be EXTREMELY patient, or operate like money is no object. Restoring sporters is generally, but not always a money loser. That said, it pays to buy things like GI stocks and parts and keep them for months, years or decades until you find that cheap sporter you can save because you already have all the missing parts and you bought them right. Then you can end up with items worth hundreds that you only have tens into or worth thousands that you only have hundreds into. I have a number of hard to find parts put up, some that I've had for 10-12 years or longer just waiting for the right items to apply them to at the right price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spagg Posted November 26, 2020 Share #12 Posted November 26, 2020 These 30-40 Springfield Krag–Jørgensen rifles are fun to shoot but the do kick like a mule!! LOL Just leave it like it is an have fun shooting it. Like Doctorofwar was saying it would very hard to find an original stock for these. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottz63 Posted November 26, 2020 Share #13 Posted November 26, 2020 There is a nice stock on ebay right now. $360.77 shipped though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spagg Posted November 26, 2020 Share #14 Posted November 26, 2020 59 minutes ago, Scottz63 said: There is a nice stock on ebay right now. $360.77 shipped though. Boy, not a bad price at all if it's in good shape! I would jump on that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottz63 Posted November 26, 2020 Share #15 Posted November 26, 2020 Yup, it looks pretty nice. Full length, uncut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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