I had a party of Norwegian Krags come to live in my gun safe this Christmas. What a blessed man I am! Can hardly wait for the new GAF season to begin so I can start shooting them. Well, I'm sure I will have shot them long before that starts though. Already have dies, brass, mold, gas checks, powder and projectiles. I see fun on my horizons this winter!
The first one was a Norwegian Krag Calvary Carbine 1899 I found strolling through the internet just before Thanksgiving. I tried to make a trade deal with the place but it didn't work out. After all the haggling I just decided to sell a couple of shooters in my safe and purchase it. Decided that on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. The guy at the shop told me to hold off until Friday. I asked him why and he told me the shop will be having a Black Friday Sale and I would be able to save 20% plus free shipping. BINGO! What a deal. It is in gorgeous shape and is all original including the blueing. It is serial #2209 our of a production of 2350 by the end of 1900 according to Brophy's book. I even got an original dust cover for the muzzle.
The second one happened a week later when I won it on GunBroker. It is a Norwegian Steyr Krag made in 1897. It is serial #350. Yes, that's right #350. I had been watching and bidding on it previously but lost out to someone else. Then all of a sudden it appeared again on GunBroker. Seems the guy that bought it wasn't happy with is so he sent it back and it was relisted. I jumped on it again and got it this time. I was surprised that when I disassembled it to clean and examine it that every part in this rifle is numbered 350 except the screws. I am incredibly glad to have gotten it. I have added the sling and an origin Steyr Bayonet for it which I picked up on Ebay.
The third one happened by pure accident. I had just gotten home with these two rifles from my FFL and sat down to check emails and give feedback on the Steyr Krag for GunBroker. I had a saved search for Norwegian Krags and I noticed an email telling me of one for sale. I thought it was the one I had already purchased, but it wasn't. It was another one that had just been listed an hour before. It was the 1901 Norwegian Krag and it had a Buy It Now price of $899. I couldn't help myself as my fingers all by themselves went and clicked the Buy It Now. It does have some holes in the receiver for a Norwegian Peep sight which is talked about in the Brophy and Mallory books. Not sure if someone did them later, or maybe it ws done in the military some time ago in Norway. Either way it is worth the price. Heck, you can't get a decent US Springfield Krag for that $$$.
Now all I need is to get my hands on a Nagant Brevet revolver to finish out the guns for Norway. Anyone know where I can get one? If so, let me know. I am looking at having a uniform made and have a guy making the leather belt, ammo pouches and reproduction leather slings. I'm thinking it will all come together by Spring.
Then I will look for a Norwegian 1912 Carbine and have most of the Norwegian guns. Might have to get a Danish Krag too finish up the Krag International heritage too.