Hey Mark! For what it's worth, your videos helped me save an old Savage model 19 target rifle. It was my grandfather's, had no bolt, and according to him hadn't been touched in about 40 years. Multiple bore obstructions, some of which were pure rust. A few runs in a piece of scrap gutter over a wood fire and some time finding a bolt that would headspace, I now have a beautiful functional piece of history. Wouldn't have thought it was possible to bring a gun back from such a state without your help.

A wonderful afternoon watching Mark do CPR on an old rifle........

When dealing with a firearm that was in a fire. My, personal, rule of thumb is to check the springs. If they're still springs, it is probably safe to return to firing condition. If the springs are dead, the heat treatment was most likely compromised. Great video and beautiful work. Take Care and be safe, John

I was mesmerized to the point of letting my beer go warm. Thanks.

My dad has a Winchester '94 that was in a hardware store fire (back in the '50s, when you could buy a Winchester '94 at a hardware store). My grandfather, who was working as a gunsmith at the time, kept it as part of his price for salvaging as many of the store's guns as could be saved, but left a little charred spot on the toe of the stock to remind him where it came from. This video gives me a sense of what he must have been up against bringing that rifle back--good stuff.

These conservation and restoration vids are always the most fun. I love seeing something be brought back to life.

This one was really hard to watch as these Krags are getting harder and harder to find in nice original condition. Glad you were able to bring it back as much as you did.

Your Mary Poppins, reference made me smile for the first time in a while . Thanks for that ,And All the fantastic educational information.

Sir, you are truly an artist. I'm no gunsmith but I am a carpenter. A couple of years ago a friend of mine came by with a shotgun with a badly burned stock. He wanted it fixed but wanted his son to remember his stupidity. So I submerged the stock in long set epoxy and put it in a vacuum chamber. Let the still liquid epoxy run off the stock and let it cure before resurfacing the whole thing. Never removed a single sliver of wood. Not suggesting it would have been an option here. But if ever a disintegrating stock needs to be locked in stasis... I hear they are still using the aforementioned shotgun.

I believe that is a "Benicia arsenal" conversion from the '30s -- A 98 rifle cut to carbine barrel length . The muzzle turned down and a 1903 springfield front sight installed. The action & barrel then installed in a carbine stock -- Sold for a few dollars through the DCM ---- All original krag front sights are silver soldered on both rifle and carbine -- Other arsenals may have also made them -- I believe my source of info was from an american rifleman in the early '60s ---- I bought mine in 1958 for about $20 and still have it -- shoots fine, usually with lyman 311291 cast -- I enjoy your videos --

You hit the nail on the head as it were. Several arms companies like Bannerman bought up the surplus Krag's which had shot out barrels due to the corrosive priming of the time, and mounted surplus 1903 Springfield 30-06 rifle barrels to them. This was done by simply bobbing the chamber end 2 inches to remove the threads. This end was then re-threaded and contoured to the Krag receiver and the new 30-40 Krag caliber chamber cut. If a carbine stock like this one was not available the rifle stock was bobbed and it's ramrod groove filled with wood from the cut-off. At the 13:28 mark we see the markings, model of 1898 with a serial number 137598. If this was a 1898 Carbine the stock cartouches are wrong for it's serial range. Next at the 34:00 mark we see the front sight which is a 1903 Springfield rifle banded type with an after market bead blade insert which has not had its toe extending out beyond the sight base filed back to the base itself. The muzzle end has been cut-off flat instead of having a radius crown it originally had.

l have two of these Krag Rifles that l have had all my life....Thay were my dad's...l am 80 years old now...l used to shoot them in shooting matches back in the 1950's before l went in the ARMY....Thanks for sharing this my friend...!

This might be one of my favourite Anvil episodes yet. Astounding conservation and restoration work, with a sprinkle of history. Cheers!

yeah, I double my money all the time with firearms. "Fold it in half, and put it back in your pocket" are words of wisdom to live by

Back in the 60s our town's gunsmiths shop had a fairly bad fire. I went to work for Roy working after class to try and stabilize and refurbish as many guns as I was able. This show is bringing back a lot of memories. I think the one gun I couldn't even save any parts from was a post '63 Model 70. There was exactly no Rockwell hardness left, pure soft. I later did take the trigger group home and messed around with rehardening and tempering with some success. I worked on this pike of guns for two years and was able to save a lot and other than the toasted Mod 70 I was able to save a lot of parts.... those were great days for a 15-18 year old kid.

And now the mutt is named "The Phoenix". Nicely done.

I love your work! Introduced to it by Ian off Forgotten Weapons and Othias/Mae off C&Rsenal. The history is fascinating, but the actual gunsmithing you do takes it to a whole new level. Thank you.

On this episode of "Mark Novak Unfucks a Gun"....

How in the heck do some of these videos get 70k+ views but the channel only has 40k subscribers? Come on people, Mark is a brilliant and entertaining dude!

I just want to know who would dislike this. You have such an amazing attitude towards all of this, and it's so easy to just listen to you explain how everything works and fits together and how to bring it back. Just place amazing

I have a 1899 that was cut down to make it look like a carbine. Inherited it from my grandfather when he passed. It sure is butter. Thanks for the great video.

The moment I saw the front sight I knew that it had a cut down rifle barrel as indicated by it's 1903 Springfield front sight band. That actually could have been done at the armory because when they ran out of actual carbines for NRA sales, Springfield did alter some rifles into the carbine configuration using 1899 carbine stocks and cut down barrels with '03 front sights. That being said, there is probably 100 cut down rifles (or more) done by gunsmiths to every original Krag carbine. A great many were also upgraded to 1899 specs when they went through the arsenal for refurbishment. I am extremely fortunate to have one of those 5001, 1898 Springfield Krag carbines (correct serial number range, correct saddle ring stock) that is still in original condition.

I think I can die a happy man knowing I heard the man himself, Mark Novak go "Reeee".

If this Krag is blued and deactivated for use as a movie prop that'll be a criminal act. What a shame, because it doesn't matter if it's historically accurate or not, it is still a very nice gun.

I love the Krag, fun shooter and great bolt. I actually tore down and saved mine! I did the same stuff I learned from Conservation 101. Thank you Mark for the info, and thank you for helping me save my Krag!

I’m pretty sure that gun was carried by Napoleon during the battle of the Alamo and now you’ve destroyed it! REEEEEEEEE!

I KNOW of fire. I live in Oregon and the Beechie Creek Fire stopped about 3 blocks (if this was a city) from my front door. I spent a week not knowing if my place stood while I was a refugee. The fire stopped about 3 (city) blocks from my front door. Anyway, I own a Kraig. well I INHERITED... an original, NON "sporterized" Kraig. It was my Great Grandad's It "cough" followed him home.... and yes he was in the Spanish American War.

I come for the guns, but stay for the wisdom.

Rescue Mongrels often make the best most loyal and reliable dogs!. It willl love you for ever Mark!

I wouldnt have thought a krag wouldny be worth enough to completely redo it. Or maybe Mark fell in love with the crusty bits... One of my friends left for the wrong coast... I took his old deep fryer for boiling parts... every rusty crusty nut bolt gun is going to get boiled because Mark showed me the light.

I've learned more about the Krag in this video than anywhere else in my life. Thank you.

I'm not a 'gun' person but I find the engineering fascinating and any form of metal restoration can be useful. Until now I thought I was the only person who would re-form screw heads which was something I learned about 50+ years ago working on 1960's Japanese motorcycles when I was a kid with no money for new parts (nothing changes, I'm back to being broke again LOL) My uncle was an armourer, radio operator and bomb aimer in Royal Air Force during second world war. I never met him (he was shot down in Holland 11~12 years before I was born) My father gave me a lot of his notes when I was 15~16, , mostly handwritten in pencil RAF probably kept all the printed information?. There was some interesting information about chemical blueing and browning for gun barrels and parts (along with various other stuff) Hadn't even thought about it for several years until I watched this video. Thanks

I just bought my first Krag this weekend, a 1899 sporterized version. So fascinating to see its inner workings in this video. Thanks.

“It’s kinda like going to a rendezvous with brand new buckskins and a 250 year old weapon.’

Odds are that krag was a Bannerman special. Bannerman bought most of the inventory of Krag rifles, carbines, and parts. Many of rifles that were damaged were rebuilt as carbines. I have one, and love it as exactly what it is. It isn't rare but it is part of the history. Also... Just want to say again how much I love seeing Mark bring another one back from the brink.

Damn I love those deep dives that run up close to the 12 hand...

Thank you for all your efforts. My love runs deep for the Krag. My rifle and carbine say thank you. I love them! Your the best Mark!!

Such a pleasure to watch. A true vakman with knowledge of the classics and a great sence of humour. I am humbled sir.

I miss Kroil, I worked as a millwright (gas turbines) and the contractor couldn't ship open containers (including gallons) back to the yard. We made sure we opened every can and I left every job with a couple full quarts. Didn't appreciate the perk until I had to pay cash for it. WOWSERS!

I own an 1896 krag carbine, indeed they are butter. Silky butter.

Fire arms conservation and Dick van Dyke impressions all in one video. Colour me impressed.

I have 1898 Krag carbine( I believe it's an NRA conversion) that my Granddad owned.First centerfire I ever shot.A wonderful rifle, still MOA capable even though the bore looks shot out! The problem it had going against the Mauser was that 220 grain bullet, great for moose not for combat! Loaded with a 180 grain bullet it is almost identical to the old 7x57 loading!Good video and nice work!

I don't want to say that this was your best entry yet, but I cannot off the top of my head recall a finer video in your library. Excellent work Mark.

Mark going REEEEEE @40:00 made my week. Amazing work as usual.

Music: Acapella Mark Classiest working man on the internet and proof that being good with your hands doesn't mean you need to be watered twice a week.

I have a Springfield 1898 kraig that my great-great grandpa used in the Spanish American war. Sometime in the distant past, someone sporterized it into a carbine, so it has basically lost any antique value. I found a guy who makes a unique picatinny rail that screws onto the rear sight mounts, and used that rail to put a scope on it (this old man's eyes are not what they used to be). I have taken many, many deer and elk with this gun over the years. Still can put 5 rounds into a 8" paper plate at 175 yds...good enough for me. Ammo is hard to find at my local gun stores, and usually at a premium price - I reload what I can, but never more than twice. It'll go to a grandson who expressed interest in it.

Mark, this is the best firearms channel ive found on youtube. Just raw skill, knowledge, and a love for the trade on display. Well done, thanks for making these videos.

My favorite subscription.

It is always a pleasure to watch your videos Mark, very informative and inspirational. Thanks again for all you do.

You sir should host a Master Class on gun restoration. Really enjoy watching every minute

Well done Sir, you saved a piece of history. These cut down Krags were one of the most popular "Pennsylvania deer rifles" of my great grandfather's generation. That one was done nicely. Great save.

Very nice job bring back that old classic "bubb'd" Krag.

I mean I always suspected Mark was an ex-nuke/bubblehead, but the 2JV song finally confirmed it for me.

Mark Novak singing Mary Poppins, lol. Thanks for taking the time to make and edit the videos!

“That shit’ll buff out.” Holy Smokes it did!

Brings back memories of trying to bring back my daughter's rifle after our house fire. Her's was the only one not in the safe. I spent days doing cleanup before realizing that the steel had lost its hardening. Whole kit and kaboodle went to trash. The guns in the safe needed a lot of TLC too. Steam is a vicious rust promoter and finish remover.

I love watching you because I see and learn about guns I have never heard of before .

It may well be a mutt, but I bet it would look really nice next to my Santa Fe 1903a3ish in the rack. Under 1000 views before I viewed it. Thank You as always, it is a joy to see an artist working at his craft.

Back in the day you could find these old girls in the 20 to 40 dollar barrel, the parts guns were 10 dollars. They we're fun to shoot, and if you owned several you had a steady supply of parts, but I got out of that phase of my life and moved to 45-70, and 50-90 much older but better rounds in my opinion. Thank you, your video was the most comprehensive I've ever seen on the 30-40 Krag, you belong up there with the old gun smiths I knew as a kid. Well done Sir.

Mark your videos remind me of something you would watch on PBS, it's very soothing, and I enjoy every video

Like listening to a good storyteller, it's great therapy just watching these videos .

Many thanks for these Videos @Mark Novak, they are educational, entertaining and feature my favourite pass time Gunsmithing.

I'm so glad I've been going back and watching some of your earlier videos because you showed how the magazine cut-off works. I bought a Krag on G.B. and after a couple of weeks noticed the cut-off was disabled, lever gone and the passage was plugged. I bought one from the net and I've begun to drill the passage way out to accept the lever I bought. One more drill size up and it should be back in order. I've watched most all of your videos and enjoyed them all. Thank you.

If there has been a fire, there has also been a flood from the 250+ gallons per minute per hose.

From fixing dents on musical instruments a little piece of t-shirt and a soldering iron gives some more precise control on steaming dents without blushing so much finish. Probably not aggressive enough for a milsurp that's been through a fire

When I have things that are rusted shut or seized up I use United's Quik Break, which works great and provides my small shop with a lovely aroma that lets you hear colors. I think the label says it cases cancer in California, but since I live in Colorado I'm sure I'll be fine

"look ma the inspector cartouche is still there" I cant stop laughing

This episode is going to give me nightmares about my guns going up in flames

Hey, Mark, if that ersatz band-aid gets catching on stuff, put on some handyman's liquid bandage... CA glue. A couple thin layers of super glue will protect the wound and wont catch on stuff or make your knuckle sweat. Used it for years after a nurse had to stitch me up with it at a reenactment event. (Yes, folks, I know Dermabond is octyl-cyanoacrylate, but I'm not talking about putting CA on gaping holes.) By the way, your awesome intro made me fe'schlucke my coffee.

Nice. Another late night tonight, courtesy of Mark Novak and Anvil Gunsmithing.

I passed up on some affordable Krags 20 years ago, which I regret. They are an interesting mechanism. The rifle has some flaws and weaknesses, but the cartridge has some great potential. Unfortunately the full potential of the cartridge far exceeds the rifles structural integrity! On a side note, in the movie "To Kill a Mockingbird" Aticus Finch shot the rabid dog with a Krag. And In the TV show "Hogan's Heroes" you can often see Sgt. Schultz carrying a Krag, which I find truly hilarious!

My grandpa taught me the steaming dents out trick on a Savage NRA 19-33 .22 that had been well loved since he was in high school.

Excellent video and solo soundtrack Mark, thank you so very much as it is a pleasure to watch and listen to a master at work no matter his chosen art. Now for your next video please consider filming the crispy and over-toasted Krag for us. Thank you again...

Your videos are like the Bible; every time I rewatch one I learn something new. Amazing knowledge and experience you have.

the amount of machining in a krag is astonishing all those intricate parts

It is such a joy to watch you operate! ... Thanks Mark.👌😊

Dremel tools ARE great. Just like any other power tool they allow you to screw up a project 4-8 times faster than you would if you were being patient, watching what you were doing and using hand tools.

A-ma-zing work. I wouldn't want to see the cost of that rescue!!!

Love your videos, and your custom jobs! The creativity and the care taken makes for great results!

Absolutely awesome video Mr. Novak. There's a Man who knows what he's talking about.

Good Lord, The opening scene of this video looks like a NTSB accident report. Wow. Regards, Marky

the 132 dislikes are from Mary Poppin's friends. xD

it's a 50 minute video but it took me over an hour because I had to pause for laughing. I love this channel. Happy new year Mark.

For a couple years now I've been looking for a video that provides a detailed description of the Krag's follower/spring mechanism. Thank you for this fantastic content.

"Angel Piss" is my new favorite word.🤣

It's a weird feeling watching this since it is the same time horrible and awful, but oh so lovely. Tragedy to see a gun like that in that condition but on the same time so nice to see it saved by the best man for the job!

Yep got a Krag sporter for $450, took 122 years off of it, bore was a little rough but after 4 hours and parts boiling she runs just aswell as she did back than, I highly recommend getting a krag, their so smooth

Hey Mark thank you for taking the time to show us do & don't.

I use an impact driver when working on autos. It works kinda like how you were shock loading the screwdriver with the hammer taps. Really the only difference is that the impact driver turns itself when ya wack it with a hammer. I’m so glad I found this channel, so relaxing and VERY informative.

Wow! That was true amazing to watch. I thought it was toast and you brought it back from the rust pile. Thanks so much for posting this video 😊👍

Sad to see but good to know. Mine is a sporter mutt that I put back to long gun configuration. Ps hearing you REEEEEEEEEE was priceless.

Never EVER snap a handguard off with a Krag!!!! You remove the stock, remove the rear sight, and then slide the handguard forward until it can be removed. Then, insert a quarter and a nickle in the clips to hold the clips and prevent tension on the wood. Not doing this will always risk cracking the handguard... and replacements are extremely difficult to find!!!

Save the Gats!

Ahhhh AFFF, Aqueous foam by way of blood products, no bueno for any steel products. Saw it eat its way through the armored enclosure of an armored missile house on a CG26 class cruiser. Puts out a fire though. Nice work Mark as always! For a nuc bubble head, haze grey and underway…...

Fantastic video , very enjoyable, thank you very much Mark . You are a true craftsman.

I think we need an Mark dictionary for the fine differences between krud, gack, glock, scrode, and gunk. Probably missed a few

It's a Bannerman special. I have one, I loves it and it shoots great and the action is like glass sliding on butter.

That Mary Poppins reference though lol. Amazing to watch you work and the talking and little quirks.

The Krag is one of my favorite rifles mine is a carbine conversation done on a rifle with a 03 front sight not much collecter value but a super accurate cast bullet shooter with a period correct Ideal aperture sight . Thanks for the information and great video.

Definitely a parts gun. Short story of a long story... My Grandfather was the Mayor of Ireton, Iowa in the early 1900's and was issued U.S Government surplus weapons to combat the lawlessness of the roaring 20's. There weren't many Police Departments in small rural towns and the law was enforced by a group of law abiding, freedom loving Americans. Some would use the word "militia". We're talking Bonnie and Clyde and the numerous gangs robbing banks and terrorizing the rural Midwest. The banks got the surplus pistols and revolvers to keep accessible in the safe to shoot the bad guys. The mayors got the rifles for the local militia...mostly consisting of local farmers, hunters, gun enthusiasts and business owners. The word "Patriots" come to mind, Now obsolete with adoption of the 1903 Springfield, the 1898 U.S. Krags were immaculate...new in cosmoline with butter smooth actions and supplied with an ample supply of 220 grain round nose ball ammo. Nothing like a good shootout downtown and a chase to the edge of town and beyond. Kinda gets your adrenaline and testosterone flowing in preparation for World War II...