Springfield 1898 Krag .30-40 - Good Bore, 24" Sporter, Original Action near Glendale, Phoenix, AZ

Springfield Armory Model 1898 Krag-Jorgensen, serial 426580, chambered in .30-40 Krag. The serial dates it to around 1903 - the "Model 1898" stamp on the receiver is the model designation, not the year it was built.

Straight up front: this is a sporter, not an original military rifle, and I'm not pricing it like one. Somebody restocked it and shortened the barrel to 24-1/4 inches, which is where a lot of these ended up when guys turned them into deer rifles. Measured muzzle to bolt face, exactly 24-1/4.

What it has going for it is the two things that actually matter on a rifle this old. First, the bore is good - strong rifling, clean. A lot of Krags this age have bores that were ruined by corrosive primers and a generation of not cleaning them. This one doesn't. Second, the action is untouched. The receiver, bolt, magazine box and magazine cutoff are all original and unmolested - nothing welded, nothing ground, nothing drilled except a clean drill-and-tap on top if you'd rather run a scope than irons.

That side-gate magazine and the Krag bolt are the reason people chase these rifles. You can top the magazine off without opening the action, the cutoff works the way it should, and the bolt is about the slickest thing ever fitted to a military rifle.

The stock is a well-done walnut sporter with a cheekpiece and a checkered steel buttplate - no cracks, no repairs, no ugly refinish. Rear sight is an aftermarket adjustable on the barrel. The bolt is bright and unnumbered, which is correct for a US Krag - they left the factory that way. The metal shows some light surface freckling in places, which is about what you'd expect from something made in 1903.

At 24 inches it handles well and it's a genuinely practical woods rifle.

Worth knowing going in: .30-40 Krag ammo isn't on every shelf and it isn't cheap. The Krag action has a single locking lug, so feed it standard-pressure factory ammo or equivalent handloads - nothing hot.

Comes with the hard case shown in the photos. I've got more pictures - open action, bolt out, buttstock, sights, muzzle - just message me and I'll send them.

I'm in the Phoenix area and happy to meet in person for cash - somewhere public, and I'll bring a bill of sale for both our records. I'll also ship. Out of state goes to your FFL, buyer covers shipping and the transfer fee. No trades.