philippine Constabulary Carbine (Sorta!)

Hi Guys,

New Member here, and C&R-aholic.... Great sight you have here!!! I picked up a very nice 1896 Krag on Gunbroker that someone had chopped the front 6 inches of barrel off of.... I was planing on rebarreling it... thinking that the stock was factory.... sadly I found that it to had been shortened for a manlicher project....caveat emptor! I don't think the seller did it on purpose, but my plans kinda went out the window! Other folks have told me to enjoy it for what it is... and not sweat the little stuff.....

Long story short..... I came across the Philippine Constabulary Carbine in my Internet searches..... and think this would be a dandy to build up into one The barrel was cut at 24"
which I just had my gunsmith crown for me.

I have tracked down a replacement repro handgaurd and next I will need to find a front band and a 1896 rear sight.... I plan on cutting the stock back and installing the front band
like the P.C.C. I will also use a 1903 Springer front sight to top it off. I found this sight for parts.... seems like good prices...and my gunsmith tells me he is well respected.....DeChristopherMilitaria.com

Would some kind soul... tell me how long there barrel protrudes past the front band, (So I can cut my stock back the right distance....) before you yell at me... keep in mind that the stock has already been cut... and I think it may be a repro... no cartouches... and WAY too clean! I may have to just eyeball it for what look right. Also I am not sure, but i think maybe my butt stock has been shortened... my Krag stock measures, 12 3/4 inches from the bottem of the Butt plate, to the rear of the trigger guard... could someone confirm for me, if my stock has been shortened?


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Thanks!
Fred

P.S. Sorry about the toes!!!

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Hey Guys!

Request a little more wisdom..... I just picked up an after market repro hand guard (Off Ebay to my suprise!) The fit and quality are.... kinda amazing!

Here is my problem... I am not much of a wood worker... I would like to get as close of a match as possible between stock and hand guard.... that being said I am thinking a walnut stain followed by a couple of coats of boiled linseed oil..... what do you'll think?

I am also considering dismounting the stock and draggin it in to my local tru-value to compare directly....(I don't think they would appreciate me bringing it in assembled.... some folks have no sense of humor for such things!)

The stock has almost a red tint to it... so walnut may not be my best choice.... any ideas?

I am also going to have to cowboy up, and cut the front of the stock back... 4 or 5 inches and recess it for the front band.... what would be the best way to recess for the band.... I am thinking a sanding drum till I get close and then a razor knife to get a sharp "shoulder" where the band mates up with the stock....any advise here???

Thanks!
Fred

True PCCs were made, as the name implies, from carbines (22" barrel) not cut down rifles. the PCC front sight is the Krag carbine sight, not the "03 band type. Most, if not all, of these types of weapons are "school guns" made for military schools in the early 1900s... Debate over the PCC has been going on for eighty ears or more and continues to this day. I'm a member of the group that believes none of the PCC weapons were returned to the mainland U.S. I would refer you to one of the following: 'The Krag Rifle" W.S. Brophy, "The Krag Rifle Story" F.B. Mallory / L. Olsen.

Hey Tom,

Thanks for the reply! I probably should have titled this thread "Faux Philipine Constabulary Carbine" It is not my intent to make an exact replica, (Or, to attempt to fool anyone!), rather, I am just sorta trying to "make lemonade" when given lemons...... with my rifle.... I think it will make a dandy shooter, and one of those.... "A gun I will never sell", type pieces!

I do find the history of these rifles fascinating.....how can you not! The Moro rebellion... and Spanish American war!!!! It is a shame so little is taught in schools!!! How can you hold one and NOT wonder who held it before you... or where it has been, and the battles it has seen.... this is why I love C&R's! I live outside Philadelphia, and they have the "Olimpia" at "Penns Landing", Admiral Dewey's Flagship of the "Great White Fleet" I would recommend everyone take a trip, and visit her, as the society that has been maintaining it is on tough times.... and there is no telling how long she will remain open as a museum ship!

Borsuk Fund

I do appreciate you guys, and your knowledge of the specifics of this rifle! I do think I may have to pick up some reading material... and get up to speed!

Thanks!
Fred

I'm not too sure you'll have enough wood left out on the end to fit a regular barrel band, and even if you do, it'll have to be swagged out to fit the barrel properly. It was fairly common for drill teams of various veteran's organizations to cut the rifles back to 24" for use of the members, and to make them more in line with the length of the 03. I've mixed mahogany and walnut stains to come up with a stain that closely matches the original wood. The mahogany is pretty close on it's own, only takes a few drops of the walnut.

Fred,

I'm gonna say hat you don't want to hear. That's kind of a nice-looking rifle. It has more barrel than the Krag round needs to develp full power. Otherwise, pretty decent. I would leave it as-is or cut the barrel and stock to 22" for better handling in the woods.

You can restore it to a PC configuration, but it will never be anything but a replica. Do you really need to mount a bayonet? Just asking ...

jn