krag carbine questions

I found a couple krags at a local gun shop. All have been sporterized,but the one that caught my eye is marked 1898 serial no.324881 it has a barrel that is close 22 inches I didn't have a tape measure with me to say for sure it was setting close a sportsman 78 and appeared to be the same length. It still has what appears to be the military sights and hasn't been drilled for a scope. It is in a sporter stock so none of that is correct. My question is can it be a real carbine? How would I tell for sure if it is?And if it is how hard is it to find the correct stock so I can put it back? I also found one in another shop still in the military stock for about 100 dollars more but has lyman sights If I remember right and is a rifle. I want one of them but I don't know much about them and was trying to decide what is the better one to have. Or if I should keep looking. I would prefer a carbine but the rifle isn't out of the question.

Hi Ken. First off the serial number puts it way to high. The '98 Carbines range was Approx.118K-138K. The barrel has to be crowned 22" exactly , front sight mortised in place, rear sight 1896C and a lot more details. A real stock is basically impossible to find and the rear sights are about $500 when found. You will find good info here and at the Krag Collectors Association site. I'm thinking it is a cut off rifle. Check out the for sale items here, KCA and Gunbroker. Your chance of finding a original '98 Carbine are very-very slim. Rifle is a different story or a 1899 Carbine is possible to find. Read all the back post on both sites to help you get knowledge on them. The KCA site also has a photo section. John

Thanks John42768 I'm gonna look through the threads and at the rifle again. But your info makes me lean more toward the rifle I found.

Ken,

The 1898 is a cutdown, but that doesn't make it bad. The krag with a 22" barrel is just right for that caliber and for sporting use. My main elk rifle is a carbine-length Krag.

The rifles are nice for CMP matches and such, and a real carbine is too valuable anymore to take into the woods in rainy, snowy autumn. Buy the cutdown, but don't pay over $300 for it!

Good luck!

jn