$300 Carbine

[M1 C FAN]

So I have found a 1898 that Appears to be a Carbine. The barrel measures 22" from muzzle to the opening of the receiver. The front sight looks perfect (Exactly like my rifle) the rear sight has been removed and unfortunately a lyman sight has been installed on the rear of the receiver. The stock has had the butt plate filled in and a recoil pad added. My question is what is the serial number range for 1898 Carbines? If original I am planning on restoring it back as close as possible with the SCREW HOLE plugged. The most expensive part I believe will be the correct stock. What should a stock in serviceable condition go for? Thanks for any input.

Information

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[browningautorifle]

The screw hole can be plugged with a blind screw and locktite, careful dressing down and cold blue. Wire feed weld works but you still have to blue and sometimes it shows. You could patch the stock, we have a couple members here that do very good work and could make a good effort for you not to buy another expensive stock and have one that you can't use... As for the serial range, I'll wait for Butlersrangers to come or a couple others, I might be wrong in my info. Do you need handguard and rear sight? The one with the "C" marking will cost you lots as is...

[butlersrangers]

Most model 1898 carbine serial numbers probably fall between #118270 and #125062, so do lots of rifles.
(I believe the lowest 1898 carbine number recorded is #117536 and the highest #140195; these are isolated extremes). Model 1898 carbines are often faked.

Only about 5,001 model 1898 carbines were built and most were updated with model 1899 carbine stocks and hand-guards. (They are in essence identical to the model 1899 carbine).

Model 1898 carbines that are configured like the model 1896 carbine are the most desired.

If you don't have a Krag library, buy Joe Poyer's $25 book. It will help you immensely.

The days of restoring Krags may be past, (unless you have a stash of good parts). The various carbine rear-sights, when 'loose', are selling for $200 to $600. Original hand-guards are bringing $200. Real carbine stocks are bringing $350.

FWIW - A decent model 1899 carbine can be found for $1,000 to $1,200.

A $300 Krag can be a lot of fun, as is. Good, detailed photos can bring useful feedback and suggestions.

[M1 C FAN]

Thank you for the info gentlemen. I know restoring would not be cheap and I won`t if it`s not in the right range. (Maybe just the rear sight) The Screw hole I simply live with a threaded plug. IT HAS A LOT WRONG WITH IT.. No rear sight, the stock, the hole.. it does have the hand guard. But for $300 I still might pull the trigger on this one. I will be going back and checking serial number and taking some pictures.

[browningautorifle]

If you put pics of the stock on here and suggest, the member might come forward and give an estimate for restoration. He can about make a patch disappear, check the M1 Carbine forum for examples. As for the rear sight, a rifle sight would pass for a time...and be far cheaper.

A handguard, well there are repros available. To quote Butlersrangers from elsewhere... "Custom Rifle Stocks (Aaronsburg, Pa.) is reported to make expensive, high quality, Norwegian and U.S. Military Krag stock blanks. (814-349-2403)"

Maybe he can give you more info. Maybe a WTB on forum will bring one from here.

[butlersrangers]

It is good if there is an original hand-guard. The reproduction hand-guards have dried up. The gentleman in Georgia, who produced them, has health issues and stopped making them.

Krag hand-guards are sight specific (1896, 1901, 1898/1902). As 'BAR' stated, the rifle version is a much cheaper substitute for its carbine-sight counterpart. (Repro sight-screws can be got from S&S Firearms, Glendale, N.Y.).

The barrel-band spring is only found on carbine stocks, (Right-side of forearm tip). If there is no spring, the stock is a cut-down rifle stock.

Caution - Remove (and install) Krag hand-guards by sliding them off (and on) the barrel. The rear-sight and stock need to be removed to do this.
Snapping a hand-guard off and on the barrel will crack it.
If off the rifle, store a Krag hand-guard with a Quarter and a Nickel twisted into the barrel springs, to equalize the pressure on the wood.

[browningautorifle]

Looking forward to pics of this one so we can actually help...

[M1 C FAN]

Me Too now I will have to wait until after the 4th. I think either way it will make a nice addition to the collection. You Guys... my wife don`t understand the peer pressure you guys put on me. Now I have to blame YOU ALL for another purchase. Thanks Guys. No really thanks.

[browningautorifle]

I think either way it will make a nice addition to the collection.

Up here, we don't see them much. I took one that had a very rough bore but other than that was mostly correct...

Now I have to blame YOU ALL

When I used to drink, lots of guys blamed me for them not being home when they were supposed to be. This will be refreshing.