Any Krag experts on board?

[Deerbnb]

I have a Springfield 1898, or actually my wife does. (It was the only firearm in a vault belonging to her grandfather when he died about 40 years ago)
I have been in possession of it for about 20 years and winter boredom has turned to curiosity. That rifle has one smooth action. Anyway I have read a bit on the gun and it from the serial number search was made in 1898 (126xxx) and it has a 22" barrel, a "carbine" sight graduated to 2300 yards and a front sight that is not banded.
Do we have anyone here that can tell me if it is actually a carbine or a cut down? I have seen a lot of info that is a bit confusing at best. It falls into the correct serial range from what I can find but I know that is not the tell all.
Lil help.



Thanks

[79troublehead]

Get William Brophys book on the Krag. 

[DMark]

HOLY SH*T!!!!!!!!  :stunned:

 

That looks like a Krag Carbine Model of 1899.  It appears to have all of the correct Carbine features - - - no swivels, retro-fitted with M1901C sights (common), carbine handguard, etc., etc.......

 

There were 36,051 model 1899 carbines manufactured from 1898 to 1902.  Odd, but no Model 1899 carbines were made in 1899.

 

Model 1899 Carbines serial number range:
226,127-228055
250,450-252,965
268,055
279,888-287,650
308,901-309,075
344,014-357,494
420,710-420,810

 

Keep in mind large numbers of the 1896 and 1898 carbines were updated to 99 specifications, so it could be a model 1899 with an earlier SN.

 

1896 Carbines-Very early ones marked 1895 on receiver:
25,135-37,582
67,010-79,499

1898 Carbines:
123,161-130,965

 

Something to check.  Barrel muzzle diameters are different on rifles and carbines.  A cut rifle barrel with the original sight reinstalled will generally be of the wrong dimensions.  Rifle barrels at the muzzle will measure very close to .62, a Carbine will be .65.

 

Regardless of how all of the numbers work out, its a sweet looking Krag!  :up: 
 

 

 

[Deerbnb]

The serial number is 126xxx and from a gentleman from another board he thinks it was "restocked in the field to a 1899 carbine spec" . I'm just a ignorant but curious old turkey hunter, I didn't even sleep in a Holiday inn last night.

[Garufa]

I think you'll get a lot of good info on that other site (saw your post).  There are tons of knowledgeable people there and if you lay out the question like you did here you might be surprised.  With my interest peaked and a tiny bit of research it looks like it may be a real deal carbine like DMark pointed out.

 

You might have a real treasure there.

 

Wish I could help more.  Krags are something I know very little about and seem to have a complicated history.

Edited January 30, 2015 by Garufa

[DMark]

Agree with Garufa, its a real treasure.

 

Easy to see by the SN that this is a 1898 Carbine that went through some updates with the 1899 stock and the later 1901 rear sight.  Whether this was done at the unit level or back at one of the arsenals would take a real expert's hands on examination...., and even then another expert would argue about the first expert's conclusions.  However, if the stock has a cartouche on the left side with a date that would point it being a refurbishment and not a field replacement.

 

What is important is this....

 

You have a Real Deal U.S. Krag Carbine. 

 

Its one of the Holy Grails of U.S. Martial Arms collecting!

 

Please Do Not over clean it.  Light oil on the metal and maybe a slight wipe of mineral oil on the stock

 

Congratulations!  :woohoo:

 

 

[gregintenn]

When's it going in the classified section? :drool:

[peejman]

Someone enlighten me as this "other forum" where one might learn about such things.