Fall 2023 Premier Firearms & Militaria Auction
November 3rd, 4th, 5th, & 6th, 2023
This auction will feature an outstanding collection of items spanning multiple categories including Modern, Military, Sporting, & Antique firearms & militaria! Below is just a small grouping of select highlights from the massive offering to be featured in this upcoming sale!
VERY SCARCE AND DESIRABLE U.S. SPRINGFIELD MODEL 1898 KRAG 22 LONG RF CAL. GALLERY PRACTICE BOLT ACTION RIFLE
23-1228
Cal. 22 Long RF
S#476438
Bbl. 30″. The concept of a service type rifle firing a lower power & less expensive type of ammunition gained popularity in the last decade of the 19th Century because of the scarcity of rifle ranges due to the increased urban expansion. This was especially true for National Guard Units which had armories located in the cities. The concept has advantages for the regular service in the same way & could even allow marksmanship training to be carried out indoors using gallery type ranges. The adaptation of a service rifle to use a cartridge much smaller than it was designed for creates a multitude of problems to overcome including: the firing pin placement if a rim fire cartridge is used, and a positive means of extraction. This Model 1898 design uses a special barreled receiver which was intended to be issued w/out a stock & would be switched to a stock already in use. This was intended as a cost saving measure but was universally unpopular & the rifles began to be issued w/ their own stock assembly. The receivers used for these rifles were stamped “CAL. .22” on the top left rear in addition to the standard markings The receiver was relieved on the right side of the ring and right rail to allow better access to load the cartridge & a sm. hole was drilled in the left side of the receiver to install a pin which forced the main extractor out of engagement w/ the rim fire extractor. The bbl. which has an eccentric bore is has a chamber which is oriented to the 6 o’clock position to allow the CF firing pin to strike the RF cartridge. The bbl. is fitted w/ a brass ring type extractor at the rear which slides on 2 pins & allows a more positive extraction of the sm. RF case. The stocks used for these rifles are marked w/ a “J.S.A.” cartouche & are usually dated 1905 or ’06. Some of the barreled receivers were put into refinished service rifle stocks & may have the proof mark & earlier date which is the case w/ this rifle. A total of 841 of these rifles were mfg. Most, if not all, were issued to the National Guard as opposed to the regular army. The rear sight is a standard Model 1902 tangent type w/ sliding peak graduated to 2,000 yards. Blade front sight. This attractive rifle w/ a large degree of original finish & crisp markings retains the features of a standard Krag service rifle including the mag. assembly & smooth trap buttplate. Unmarked period brown leather Krag type sling w/single brass hook. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: brass muzzle cover & sight protector. PROVENANCE: from the estate collection of Thomas J. Mulligan.
STATUS: CURIO
