I'm looking for some opinions on whether a rifle with an Italian Walnut stock has any difference in value from a rifle with American Walnut. All other conditions and features being about equal. Thanks!
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I'm looking for some opinions on whether a rifle with an Italian Walnut stock has any difference in value from a rifle with American Walnut. All other conditions and features being about equal. Thanks!
Only by personal preference as the Italian walnut was official issue for a short time.
The lighter Italian walnut has a tendency to darken with use making it less likely to find a really pretty original appearing stick. You will find these in 1899 and 1900 dated sticks with 1901 cartouches by far the most common date.
Thank you for the information. It confirms, I suppose, what I was thinking myself. I've had 380844 for 25 years or so, but have never been especially attached to it since I assumed it had been refinished at some time. It has an old varnish and the cartouche date is illegible. I bought it from an old friend who needed a little help and knew I like Krags so I couldn't say no. The color is definitely lighter (and a red/gold) color and now I can value it without worrying that I had a 'sleeper'. The stock apparently predates the action, too. Thanks, again for the help.
Several years ago I was at Dunlap Woodcrafts store here in Virginia looking into walnut stocks they manufacture for military arms. Took some pics and posted a report here on CSP. One interesting thing I saw was a pallet of American walnut blanks wrapped in shrink wrap with a label denoted this pallet was en route to Pedersoli of Italy. Perhaps their stands of oak are running thin.
Attachment 40380
Since American Walnut is a darker color than Italian Walnut, Pedersoli probably wants the American color in order to match the details of the various types of arms they are reproducing. A Civil War musket just wouldn't look right if the stock was the color of the Italian wood. Even an original Krag looks a little "off" with the Italian wood. But if the wood was found in a cabinet or furniture or the like, it's actually attractive since it has strong graining like the Black Walnut. It's just not right on a Springfield product.
A rare Italian Walnut stock made for a Model 1896 receiver. Bill Mook had collected quite a few 1898 Krag rifles with Italian Walnut stocks. He told me that this 1896 stock was unusual and of course he liked it!
I think that such Italian Walnut stocks are beautiful.
Attachment 40386
Really nice! How is the cartouche/firing proof ?
The rifle has a field replacement stock and hand guard. It has only the sub inspectors stamp of W on the wrist. No cartouche of course.
Attachment 40411
Springfield Armory must've also fabricated a quantity of replacement stocks for Model 1896's out of the available Italian Walnut.
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I didnt intend to high Jack this thread, but I wanted to show how attractive an Italian Walnut stock can be.
Fred - That is a beautiful model 1896 Krag with its Italian walnut replacement stock!
The OP's question asked, if the Italian walnut stocks, influenced the value of a Krag rifle?
IMHO - A nice original finish stock, whether Black walnut or Italian walnut, with few blemishes is more relevant to value.
The Italian wood is an interesting variation in the "Krag Story". The 'Dollar Value' of a U.S. Krag is likely to be based on the Whole Package: originality, overall condition, bore condition, attractiveness and eye appeal.
The Italian Krag stocks are some of the most attractive that I have seen, but, that is a very subjective thing.
Attached are photos of an Italian Model 1898 stock that has a nice 'Tiger Stripe'. It is in great condition, except, it has been cut-out for the mount of a "Cummings Sub-Target Gun Machine". The crudely 'notched '1901 hand-guard is black walnut.
(The altered Italian stock is a curiosity, I have kept).
Attachment 40422Attachment 40423Attachment 40424Attachment 40425Attachment 40421
Wow!!! Nice figured wood!
Is it possible that your stock isn't Italian Walnut? What color is the wood inside, under the barrel and receiver?
Fred - My pictured stock is definitely Italian walnut. The interior is quite light in color, so possibly some stain was applied when issued, to darken it up.
Photos: The Italian stock is shown next to an American walnut one for contrast. Also shown, is an Italian stock that was cut-down and refinished. A sketch of the Sub-Target Gun Machine fixture attached to a Krag.
Attachment 40438Attachment 40437Attachment 40436
Very interesting rifle you've got there! Great photos too.
Wow, what a spectacular rifle!
Vic
A very nice stock too. Nice rifle...Quote:
Originally Posted by Fred
Thanks! Isn't it neat how well the wood to metal fit is on this and other Krags.
Thiis rifle is extremely well fitted.
It's the only Model 1896 rifle that has an Italian Walnut stock that I've ever seen. Doubtless there are others somewhere, but I've never seen any. I think Bill Mook thought so too. Anyway, Bill found it very interesting and appealing.