My Hermit's Pass Krag

[Silvers]

So, I was about age 13 and hiking with friend Jim to a place in our mountains called the Hermit’s Pass. We were checking fox traps and ran into a deer hunter in his early 20’s. I kind of knew him; his family lived across the crick that ran through our section of town. I was a budding gun nut back then and recognized his rifle as a sporterized Krag. He let me handle it and of all things it was the red recoil pad with straight slots I remembered most because it was so different than the pads with round or zigzag holes I’d seen.

Fast forward many decades to last Saturday when I was with two nephews at the Firemen’s annual dinner and gun raffle in my old home town. I struck up a conversation with a gent at our table and recognized his surname as one of the families that had lived across that crick. I asked about his family and learned his Uncle was the same young hunter I’d met up with along with Jimmy on the trapline so long ago. The gun raffle went on and the gent casually mentioned he had some old guns for sale. I asked what he had ….. nothing of much interest to me except for a cut-down Krag. We met up yesterday and she came home with me. Nice reunion!

I know this will give some of our custom rifle aficionados the shivers. I’ve always liked Krags - grand rifles back then and even now. Even with the “lunchbox” on the side. A very nice job on the sporterizing and the bore is excellent, kind of unusual for an old Krag. The bolt peep is a Leroy Rice made in Ohio circa 1939 and sold for a few bucks. I checked her sighting at the range today. 50 yards and with the 4 cartridges that came with the rifle. That red square is the back of a Fiocchi 100 count shotshell primer cardboard sleeve. 3-inch group, not bad for these old eyes. That lower hole with a cross over it in the red is from another rifle I checked. I’ll get her moved a little right and down next week when I can get a box of 30-40 shells.

The old Krag will be back in my hands this year when our deer season comes in.

frank

[OH Osthaus]

watch out for that thumb in the nose

nice find Frank, a Krag sporter was the first center fire i ever shot as a kid, belong to a guy a aunt was dating

[jolly bill]

Nice looking gun Frank and the old girl shoots pretty darn good. You too?

The PA white tails better watch out.

Jolly

[Jim Cloninger]

Frank, that rifle has some pretty nice wood. How many cartridges does it hold in the magazine? Be sure and post a picture of the deer you shoot with it. Jim

[Silvers]

Thanks Rick, Bill and Jim. That Hawkins pad is fitted to the concave butt and LOP is a tad over 14". Thumb in the nose won't be a problem as with the short military stocks on Krags and 1903 Springfields. The box magazine holds 5 cartridges and there's a cutoff lever to keep them in reserve for heavy action, per turn of the century military thinking. Single cartridges may be loaded directly into the chamber, or with cartridges in the box when the cutoff is engaged (lever downward). Lever may be seen in the 4th pic, upward is the feed position. What I've described is similar to a 1903 Springfield.

[Stan Hillis]

What a great story, Frank. Not often that we get to reunite with guns we remember from our youth.

Congrats, I think it has a great look to it, and in such good condition with loads of patina.

SRH

[abner]

In 1959 my uncle gave me Remington Model 721 .270 for HS graduation, it had been his and he replaced it with a Winchester Model 70. In his gun case was this 30-40 Krag, he took it in payment for rent on an apartment he owned. All he wanted was $15.00?, not much as I remember, but with that box on the side, I thought my 721 was much sleeker looking for this teenager. I can't tell you how many times I have thought of that Krag over the years and how I let it get away. Funny your story brought back memories of my first deer hunting trip with him and that Krag. All this happened in Redding, California, where I was born and recently has had terrible fires. Thanks Frank for the story that led me to the past.

[Jim Cloninger]

"I’ll get her moved a little right and down next week when I can get a box of 30-40 shells." Frank, I am trying to remember; you move the front blade sight in the opposite direction you want the bullet to move? I think factory 30-40 cartridges only come in
180 gr. Jim

[Silvers]

Ralph, thanks for sharing your memories. Jim, no need to fool with the front sight, the Rice bolt peep sight is adjustable for windage and elevation. You can see the adjustment screws in that one pic. Yes I ordered some Remington 30-40 shells, 180 grain Core Lokt. Probably not the same bullet construction as the old-time Core Lokts but they should do.

[Jim Cloninger]

That Rice bolt peep sight looks very functional. Was it made with the rifle or is it after market? Jim

[Silvers]

After market.