if asking for permission to join, will need to restore my Krag yes?

[W.J. Cogg]

evening everyone...

I joined SASS since the daughter and I enjoy shooting the period type firearms...now GAF is beckoning to my life long interest in 1800-1918 history.
I do have a Krag, but not sure if it's a commercial or one off sporter.

to fully participate in a muster, if allowed to join and able to make the travels, it would need to be restored back to original condition?

I may try to hunt out a reasonable priced original, but the ones around here are in the $1400 range.

due to my tour in the USMC I am focusing on a uniform from 1899 to 1902 USMC infantry (for SASS I use 5.5" Colt/ 1892 clones and a 1907 1897

thank you for the info

[Drydock]

All .30-40 Krags started out as Military firearms.  Sounds like yours was sporterized at some time or another.  To shoot in one of our military classes, you would need to restore it to a reasonable Milspec form, probably that of an 1899 carbine would be easiest.  We  would need pictures to see how much work would need to be done, but it might not be all that much.  My own 1899 carbine started out as a cut down infantry rifle, and still wears the 1903 sight used in its sporterization.

However, we do have a Militia class, that would allow you to shoot your Krag as is, as long as it has barrel mounted iron sights.  Or you can use your SASS guns in our Scout class.  No reason for you not to come on out, or to join up.  You only need an interest in the arms and military history of the late Victorian era to join, weapons and uniforms optional.  We're as much a social organization as a shooting one.

[Grapeshot]

Try S&S Firearms in New York for parts and stocks to restore your Krag to Mil Spec.

[pony express]

$1400 sounds pretty steep for a Krag to me. For a Marine impression, you might even find an 1895 Lee-Navy for not a lot more than that.  As for the uniform, our resident jarhead Ned Niederlander can pint you in the right direction when he comes around. I'm thinking the field uniform is very similar to the army uniform, just different buttons on the blue wool shirt, and a Marine emblem on the campaign hat.

As for another rifle possibility, there is some evidence that during the Boxer Rebellion, some Marines weren't too happy with their Lee-Navys, and the "acquired"(As Marines tend to do) a number of GEW88 Commision rifles from a Chinese armory and used them instead. Not the most common thing on the gunstore racks, but certainly cheaper than a $1400 Krag!

[Niederlander]

Yes, $1400 sounds pretty steep to me, as well.  I've seen one around here that would be perfect for what we do (full length, decent bore, all there) for $750.  Shootable Lee Navy's seem to be more in the $2500 range when I've seen them, and there was a reason Marines in China picked up Mausers!  Check Gunbroker for GEW88's.  There are usually some pretty decent shooters reasonably priced, and don't be afraid to offer less.

The Marine campaign shirt was indeed different than the Army one.  The most noticeable differences were the white buttons and a band collar instead of black buttons and a stand and fall collar.  It would be pretty easy to modify the Buckaroo Bobbins pattern for a band collar shirt into the Marine shirt.  I can send you the drawing I made with the specs if you need it.  Keep in mind Marines "acquired" Army pattern shirts as theirs wore out.  I've got a studio picture taken in Manila of two Marine enlisted men, one in a Marine shirt and one in an Army shirt.  The cotton duck trousers are available from River Junction, and you can get khaki leggings on ebay.  Just make sure you get the Marine/Navy version and not the Army version with fifty seven hooks/eyes!

Drydock has a thread on here about Span/Am War Army field uniforms, and most of it applies to Marines as well, with the differences above.

By the way, to address Marines "acquiring" things.........keep in mind there was only ever ONE thief in the Marine Corps.  Everyone else is just trying to get their sh** back!

Hope that helps!

[pony express]

Ned, it's not hard at all to change most "stand and fall" collar shirts to a band collar. You could very easily convert one of the River Junction army shirts to a band collar, did the buttons have some kind of emblem, or just plain white buttons? What Price Glory has several types of leggings, it's just the early WWII ones that have soooooo many hooks and eyes.

[Drydock]

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=476080473


http://www.gunbroker.com/Bolt-Action-Rifles/BI.aspx?Keywords=Krag&BuyNowOnly=1&Sort=4&Tab=2

[Pitspitr]

You are hereby "allowed" to join ;-) Shoot me an email with your name and both addresses and alias, if you use one, and we'll get you one the roster.

1400 sounds pretty steep to me too. I gave 1200 inflated Cabela's Bucks for mine but it was pretty pristine.

The last time I was in Nebraska Gun in Lincoln there was a nice Commission rifle there for about $180.

[Niederlander]

Ned, it's not hard at all to change most "stand and fall" collar shirts to a band collar. You could very easily convert one of the River Junction army shirts to a band collar, did the buttons have some kind of emblem, or just plain white buttons? What Price Glory has several types of leggings, it's just the early WWII ones that have soooooo many hooks and eyes.
No emblem, just a plain white button.  They're described in the uniform regs.quote]

[Drydock]

http://www.gunbroker.com/All/BI.aspx?Keywords=GEW+88

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Avoid the Turkish conversions, without the barrel jacket. They are good rifles, but not authentic to the period.

88s were used by the Boers, or at least in the Scandinavian Corps;

http://www.angloboerwar.com/unit-information/boer-units/1955-scandinavian-corps

[W.J. Cogg]

I appreciate all the help, and I will send the email to enlist! sounds great..and will start hitting the links everyone sent

I may keep my Krag as is, and get a regulation one, to have two.  I will post pics up, because I have tried to find anything like it, but any other sporter never looks like this one.

When I was in...we always called it "going on a recon" 

[Bull Schmitt]

W. J. Cogg is #831 and has been assigned to the Department of the Missouri.

Col Bull

[pony express]

I may keep my Krag as is, and get a regulation one, to have two.  I will post pics up, because I have tried to find anything like it, but any other sporter never looks like this one.

If there's anything better than having one Krag, it's having two! Of course, once you have both rifle and carbine, then there's the Norwegian and Danish ones...........

[Drydock]

Just to muddy the waters a bit (As Ordnance Officer/Chief of Staff I'm allowed!) there is some debate about the Chinese manufactured "Han Yang" 88 as to when they deleted the barrel jacket, or even if they had one at all.  Though it is certain the ones bought from Steyr did.  They were all Mannlicher clip loaders though, the Chinese never did modify them for Mauser stripper clips.

[Charles Isaac]

By the way, to address Marines "acquiring" things.........keep in mind there was only ever ONE thief in the Marine Corps.  

Ha Ha!!!

there is some evidence that during the Boxer Rebellion, some Marines weren't too happy with their Lee-Navys, and the "acquired"(As Marines tend to do) a number of GEW88 Commision rifles from a Chinese armory and used them instead.

Marines acquired foreign weapons? What a novel concept!!!

[Blair]

Most Special Forces Unites are trained in the use of any and all captured weapons.
A good and sound idea/concept.
My best,
Blair

[Lord Eoin MacKenzie]

FAL and AK, both "found" or is that a brit Marine in Gulf war 1.

[CPL Jayhawker Jake]

FAL and AK, both "found" or is that a brit Marine in Gulf war 1.

Definitely USMC.  He's wearing desert MARPAT, and that drop leg holster is a bit more modern of a vintage.

[pony express]

I think the pic is Charles Isaac himself, he posted that before, along with mentioning his dislike of the .223.