Antique US Model 1892 Krag-Jorgensen, in Early Configuration

For sale here is a truly rare example of a US Model 1892 Krag-Jorgensen that has virtually all of its correct early features. The receiver is dated “1894,” although the 5-digit serial number puts production within the first half of 1895 (M1892 receivers were dated according to the fiscal year, accounting for the delay). The rear of the receiver has NOT been cut for the bolt hold-open pin (as were all M1892s updated to M1896 configuration), and the extractor is the correct early type, and is secured by a screw, rather than a pin. The bolt sleeve has the knurling at the rear (deleted on the M96), and the safety is retained by a (low) pin, rather than a spring detent. The cocking piece is not milled to allow the safety to engage when the weapon is decocked, and the rear of the portion of the cocking piece that engages with the sear is squared, rather than angled. The bolt guide rib is fully rectangular, without the later relief cut to the top. The magazine cutoff is of the early flat spring-powered type, instead of the coil spring and spindle introduced later. The magazine is “on” in the default position.

The ejector is retained by the second type, straight-bodied pin, which is correct for a post-1894 made gun. The magazine door was formerly retained by a hinge pin with a flush-ground square shank through the head, which is the proper part for this gun. Tragically, the previous owner had broken this part, and for the sake of function I replaced it with a later, much more common dome-headed shank version. This works but is a bit stiff. I am including the broken early hinge pin in this sale, in the hopes that the next owner may be able to repair it.

The stock is an early “thin wrist” piece in excellent condition with no cracks. The buttplate is correctly flat, with no trap door. The toe is straight, although there is a repair to the wood right at the toe. This may have been the result of damage to the toe (which were notoriously fragile on these early guns), or it may have been to reconvert an early stock that had been updated to M96 specs back to M92 configuration. The stock cartouches are visible but worn. The wrist marking is only partially legible, but it would have read “J.S.A.” and either “1894” or “1895.” (The thin wrist means that this stock could not have been produced after 1895.) The “circle P” cartouche near the trigger guard is more visible. The handguard is the correct “short” early type, paired with a correct M1892 rear sight.

The one-piece clearing rod is likely a reproduction, but if so is a very good looking one, and threads into the stock smoothly. The original front band, which would have had a bushing for the clearing rod, has been lost at some point and replaced with an M1896 version, which fits well and is fully functional. The muzzle is correctly uncrowned. The bore is very good, with strong rifling and no visible pitting. This rifle also comes with an original brass muzzle cover, which are somewhat uncommon in their own right.

This should be the centerpiece of an American military arms collection, or of a collection of early smallbore repeaters or Krag systems. This model (and likely this gun, given the acute shortage of available Krags in 1898) saw extensive service in the Spanish-American War and in the Philippines through the early 20th century. Model 1892s are among the most unique and interesting weapons of the period, and typically come up for sale only rarely, and through large auction houses with high buyer’s premiums.