I posted this in the wrong place so I'll try it here. I'm looking at a 1900 Krag carbine # 281969. Could someone look this number up? The receiver is marked 1899.
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I posted this in the wrong place so I'll try it here. I'm looking at a 1900 Krag carbine # 281969. Could someone look this number up? The receiver is marked 1899.
U.S. model 1899 carbine, #281969, was produced around July to September, 1900.
The closest SRS numbers, I see, are #281769 (1899 carbine - 07/30/1989 - RIA Museum acquisition #6053) and #282125 (1899 carbine - 02/19/1936 - Second Corps Area).
This model 1899 carbine appears rather nice in your single picture. It has a model 1901 rear-sight (carbine version) and the protective 'humped' hand-guard, that was introduced around 1902, to protect the 1901 rear-sight in the scabbard.
In that serial number range, this carbine was likely assembled with a "head-less" Striker-Rod. This was an economy move for model 1899 carbines and model 1898 rifles. (The change was approved April, 1899, and disapproved October, 1900). This change actually proved to be more expensive and there was a return to the conventional Krag cocking-piece with its knurled 'Knob'.
Here are some pictures.
Nice looking carbine...
That is a nice looking model 1899 carbine, with the front-sight protector to boot!
Check your front-sight blade with the protector removed. The blade should have a small "C" visible on the right side. This indicates the right height for 1901 and 1902 carbine rear-sights.
Photo of one attached:
Attachment 94352
I will check later to day.
---------- Post added at 06:15 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:13 AM ----------
Are the sight protectors rare for the Krag?
There are not a lot of the carbine front-sight protectors around nowadays. FWIW - They seem to get priced at $100 to $200.
And, I'd recommend NOT taking it off! There is no reason to do so (given the appearance of the rest of the gun the chance of the blade being "wrong" is minimal) and the barrel is easily scratched.
Well I did take it off and no c. But the bluing was already scratched up. I only paid 700.00 for the gun, 150 rounds of brass, and a die set.
FWIW - A bit of 'lubrication' will normally avoid any scratching of the barrel finish by the Krag carbine front-sight protector.
Most Shooters will probably prefer having the 'protector' off.
Approximate U.S. Krag front-sight blade heights (blade only, not including fixed base):
rear - M1896 rifle sight - .286" blade
rear - M1896 carbine sight - .266" blade
rear - M1898/1901/1902 rifle sight - .413" blade
rear - M1898/1901/1902 carbine sight - .355" blade
Note: The .355" carbine blade is normally marked with a "C", visible on Right-Side. The .266" carbine blade, used with the M1896 carbine rear-sight, is normally marked low, on Left-Side with a "C", this tends to be hidden by the 'fixed' base.
Attached photograph shows .355" carbine blade and .413" rifle blade.
Attachment 94379