Friend Bought this

[painter777]

I'm not familiar with the Krags.
A friend bought and passed along this auction link to me.
What brief, basic bits of information can I gather from the board?

Serial # looks to be 366,6??
When looking at the Frt Band.. Is the U stamp correctly orientated? Or does it matter?
I ask, Because After looking over the MilSurps Knowledge Library: 1899 30-40 Krag from 1901 example serial # 341,336. I see the U band on the other side.

TIA
Charlie-Painter777

http://www.gunbroker.com/item/677294042

Information

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[1911Ron]

I'm not familiar with the Krags.
A friend bought and passed along this auction link to me.
What brief, basic bits of information can I gather from the board?

Serial # looks to be 366,6??
When looking at the Frt Band.. Is the U stamp correctly orientated? Or does it matter?
I ask, Because After looking over the MilSurps Knowledge Library: 1899 30-40 Krag from 1901 example serial # 341,336. I see the U band on the other side.

TIA
Charlie-Painter777

http://www.gunbroker.com/item/677294042

The open end of the U should go up, the U was a way for the soldier to know how to reassemble his Rifle correctly.

[painter777]

1911Ron,
Thank You,
I've been trying a crash course trying to gather a Freshman's knowledge level before I talk with him Tuesday.
I seen a few others on Auction, all that could be seen, showed the U as you state.

Might this one be a true carbine?
Did he get a deal?

Any info appreciated...........

Thx
Charlie-P777

[Patrick Chadwick]

1)
1911Ron is correct. The barrel band is the wrong way around. U = up. The U should be upright when the rifle is racked, i.e. muzzle up.

This standard orientation goes right back to the BP/muzzleloader days. See photo in Frasca & Hill "The 45-70 Springfield" P.19. It seems to have been introduced with the Springfield 1855 rifle-musket. See Fuller "Springfield Shoulder Arms 1795-1865" P. 125 - Ordnance Manual 1861 - Rifle Musket, Model 1855 -Nomenclature.

2)
Yes, it does matter. If the band has been sitting on the wood for a century or more, and is slightly asymmetrical, the wood will have "set" to accommodate it. Reversing the orientation can cause rubbing marks or even scratches.

[mark1]

The Krag has a carbine stock but the barrel and front sight are not correct for a carbine. My guess is it was a rifle and someone shortened the barrel, added an after market front sight. The Redfield rear sight is missing the elevation portion. Mostly a parts gun.

[painter777]

Thank You Guys,
That helps me a lot, along with some study on my part.

Again a Sincere Thank You,

Appreciate your help.

Charlie-Painter777

[browningautorifle]

Worst part Charlie is they didn't even fit the front sight correctly, it has a set screw underneath off center. There's a body of a receiver sight mounted too with no sight beam...if they cut into the stock to put that on they ruined a good stock too.

[oldcorps]

It's a lot of loose parts flying in tight formation. Should make a good brush gun, though.

[butlersrangers]

The Krag rear-sight, mounted on the barrel, is the rifle version of the model 1896 sight.

The hand-guard is a rifle hand-guard.

The stock is the 'long forearm' carbine stock that came into use with the model 1899 carbine. It appears to be a nice stock and did not require alteration for the Redfield 'no-drill' sight base. The stock is worth close to what your friend paid for this 'parts gun'.

The Redfield #70-K sight required that the magazine cut-off be removed. The receiver sight base is held on by a sheet metal hook that is anchored at the cut-off opening and a longer (Redfield made) side-plate screw (rare). This is a desirable after-market sight, when complete.

A regulation side-plate screw and cut-off switch are easily found on ebay.

Attachment 86720Attachment 86721Attachment 86722

[painter777]

Surely Appreciate the help,

Thx

Charlie-Painter777