TheBig1 Posted October 5, 2014 Posted October 5, 2014 I'm sorry, but I just have to tell someone. Long story short, a guy I work with had a hoarding wife who was supposed to be selling stuff when she bought it, which she never did. He gets a divorce, she has 3 months to get her stuff out or it's considered abandoned. I go over afterwards, he's got 14 firearms of which I was only interested in 1. He sold me a Model 1898 30-40 Krag for $100. It's got all of the cartouches on it and upon further inspection and internet searching, it's a good find. It has not been cut down, it's still in it's long, original form. Although it needs one heck of a cleaning, it's in amazing shape. Don't get me wrong, he knew somewhat of what he had as the local gun shop said they'd give him $200 for it so he just wanted someone he knew to be able to enjoy it and appreciate it. Anyone with any experience or knowledge, I would appreciate any input on the matter. I'm thinking it'd be best to tear it completely down to clean it and put it back together. Of course correct me if I'm wrong. This will never be sold, this will become a family heirloom. Quote
FishinCop646 Posted October 5, 2014 Posted October 5, 2014 DO NOT POLISH OR CLEAN IT! These guns are worth a ton more in original condition, even if beat up. I too am a 30-40 Krag owner, 1986 model. Quote
TheBig1 Posted October 5, 2014 Author Posted October 5, 2014 DO NOT POLISH OR CLEAN IT! These guns are worth a ton more in original condition, even if beat up. I too am a 30-40 Krag owner, 1986 model. Really?!?! It's pretty yucked up. I'm not sure if it's leftover, chunked up cosmoline or what though. Maybe it is. Also, I'm sure you have, as well as I would, like to shoot it at some point. I want to make sure the barrel is clean and everything. Not that I don't believe you, but after the military and, like you, a career in law enforcement, an unclean gun is just sacrileges. I'm just trying to wrap my brain around the fact. I haven't touched anything yet. I know very little about them and what I've truly got other than my grandfather once had one and the historical info that I was reading last night about it. I know I have so much more to learn about them. For instance what the cartouches are underneath the trigger guard on the bottom of the stock. Quote
FishinCop646 Posted October 5, 2014 Posted October 5, 2014 Everything is worth more in its original condition. I guess its nots so much cleaning it, but altering it. Blowing the dust of wont be as bad, but once you start polishing (which removes the original finish) and changing things is when the value will go down. I wouldnt do anything that would take away from its history and rarity. Its hard to get over the "my gun has to be flawless" idea. Quote
TheBig1 Posted October 5, 2014 Author Posted October 5, 2014 Ok, I appreciate the info, I was not aware of this. I guess for the most part that if it won't come off with a soft brush than it's just fine. What would you say about cleaning the action and barrel as well as cleaning the barrel? Quote
Super User ww2farmer Posted October 7, 2014 Super User Posted October 7, 2014 Clean it, just don't alter it. I have collected older us military guns for years, and a good cleaning never hurts a thing, providing that is all you do. Don't try to remove any patina, or refinish the wood/metal. Keep in mind that the original US military 30-40 krag rounds were corrosive black powder, as well as the primers they used. The bore, chamber, breech, and bolt face may never "clean up " if it was not taken care of in the past. As far as helping you with the history of the rifle, krags are not in my wheel house, I focused mainly on WWI and WW2 era US military long arms. 1 Quote
TheBig1 Posted October 7, 2014 Author Posted October 7, 2014 Clean it, just don't alter it. I have collected older us military guns for years, and a good cleaning never hurts a thing, providing that is all you do. Don't try to remove any patina, or refinish the wood/metal. Keep in mind that the original US military 30-40 krag rounds were corrosive black powder, as well as the primers they used. The bore, chamber, breech, and bolt face may never "clean up " if it was not taken care of in the past. As far as helping you with the history of the rifle, krags are not in my wheel house, I focused mainly on WWI and WW2 era US military long arms. Thank you for your input Farmer, it's greatly appreciated. I am slowly learning that the term "Clean" and, at least this rifle, do not go well with one another although I use the word "Clean" for lack of a better word. Some have told me to simply use a soft bristled toothbrush on the outside to get the junk out of the cracks and then to use dry rags and light oil on the inside of the barrel and action as long as nothing is a chemical. I just don't know what to do. I want to do it right and not mess it up. I do want to use it, shoot it, but also keep it in my family for generations to follow so again, I want to do it right. I do not even know what patina means, I'll have to look that one up but no, I absolutely will not try to refinish any wood or metal. I just simply want to clean it up and knock the junk off of it and out of it's cracks while trying to preserve it properly. Much like we do with our hunting rifles, clean it off on the outside, clean the barrel and action, and apply a light coat of oil to all metal parts. At least that's what I have in my head but I'm learning that this might not be the case so I haven't touched anything until I get a definitive answer on how to properly do this. Quote
Josh Smith Posted October 16, 2014 Posted October 16, 2014 What was said. Clean it as you normally would, but no touchup blue etc. Is it cosmoline or rust inside the barrel? You might check out one of the forums that specializes in this sort of thing. I frequent several due to what I do for a living. Feel free to PM me if you wish. Regards, Josh Quote
TheBig1 Posted October 16, 2014 Author Posted October 16, 2014 What was said. Clean it as you normally would, but no touchup blue etc. Is it cosmoline or rust inside the barrel? You might check out one of the forums that specializes in this sort of thing. I frequent several due to what I do for a living. Feel free to PM me if you wish. Regards, Josh Thanks Josh, I did join a forum, Krag Collectors Association Forum, and they are great over there. I now understand what people meant by, "Don't clean it." I just want to wipe it down, knock the dust off of it, clean the barrel, and oil the action. I wouldn't dream of stripping it, bluing it or anything else that could be done. I don't think there's cosmoline in the barrel, I believe it's been used at some point. I did see some cosmoline in the magazine cover, in the deep corner. Quote
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