1898 Krag "Carbine" at Cabelas

[M1Lou]

Today I was at Cabelas to buy one gun, but ended up with two. (Eddystone M1917 and Colt M1917) While I was there I also saw a 1898 Krag in carbine configuration for $699. I am not as up on Krags as I am in the WW I-II era rifles but want to eventually get one. The SN was 160410 but I may not have remember the last three numbers correctly. I am 100% sure that it was a 160xxx SN. Now from what I have read, this is probably not a real Krag Carbine as there were only 5000 made and it is about 30k outside of that serial number range.

It looked to be in nice condition. No pitting on the exterior metal. The inside of the cartridge box and the stock were very nice. I didn't' have time to check the bore so that is an unknown. Here are a few of the other details I noticed. The front sight looked similar to an 03 sight with the band. The rear sight looked like an 1898 sight from the pictures I have been viewing. Now is it the rifle or carbine style sight? I couldn't tell you. I didn't check for a C on the rear sight. The band on the stock is right next to the front of the rear sight. There is the ring and plate on the left side of the buttstock. The barrel appeared to be about 22 inches long and didn't look butchered at the crown.

It looks like a neat gun and is not in bubba configuration like the last Krag I saw at Cabelas. Is there anything else I should be aware of on these rifles?

Information

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[vintage hunter]

Sound like it has been rebarreled using a modified 1903 barrel. A common practice a one time to replace shot out or otherwise unserviceable original barrels. It should make for a good shooter but won't have much collector value.

[browningautorifle]

I was at Cabelas to buy one gun, but ended up with two

OK, don't let it happen again... On the other hand, I've been looking for that sort of thing for a shooter. The only thing nicer to shoot than a rifle I think is the carbine...still a good catch. Just shoot it.

Now, what was this about a Colt M1917??

[DDan1967]

It may not be rebarreled, as it was common practice to cut-down the barrels to carbine length and then fit them with a 1903 front sight. I believe there is an article on the CMP site about this.

[M1Lou]

Thanks for the replys. It would be a fun shooter. I like the look of the rifle and like I said, it wasn't a butcher job. Ammo availability would be the drawback, but getting into reloading would partially solve that problem. Reloading also takes less time than my car hobby was and I don't have the time to work on cars like I did in the past. Plus, with moving every two years, it is much easier to move my gun collection than moving multiple cars.

The Colt M1917 I found I just happened upon last friday. Some guy sold his collection and I just heard one of the workers in the gun library mention it. It piqued my interest so I asked to see it. It is in nice shape and I've really been wanting an Army revolver so I bought it. Being in .45 ACP means I can shoot the revolver often without having to hunt down less common ammo. It is on lay away until either next week or the week after. I like to spread out my purchases a bit so the wife doesn't get too mad. She usually forgets by the next day! I do need to pick it up before the weekend after next as some people I work with are going to have a milsurp shoot and I want to test both of my new purchases.

I'll check out that article from the CMP so I can learn more about the rifle.