Krag 1898- Rifle or carbine?

[Salt Flat]

FM Yes, I will second Rudy's comments. From your description it is definitely a cutdown rifle. Also note the M1898 carbines fall in the serial range 123161-130965. (Still a cool thing to have!) Salt Flat

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[butlersrangers]

Francis Marion: It definitely sounds like your Model 1898 Krag is a cut-down infantry rifle. A Krag carbine barrel is exactly 22 inches long, measured from closed bolt face to muzzle crown, (using a cleaning rod to 'gauge' it).
Your stock is a cut-down rifle stock with a wood plug inserted into the exposed 'lightening cut'. Carbine stock fore-arms were machined a bit differently so that the 'tip' area was solid wood.
Your rear sight description identifies your sight as the Model 1902 rear sight. Your front sight is a commercial addition. Countless Krag rifles were altered by 'gunsmiths', professional and amateur, during the 1920s to 1940s to make them useful 'hunting rifles'.


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[Francis Marion]

Thanks all. So it's not original configuration; that's OK. Now I know how it started out.

-FM

[Dick Hosmer]

FM Yes, I will second Rudy's comments. From your description it is definitely a cutdown rifle. Also note the M1898 carbines fall in the serial range 123161-130965. (Still a cool thing to have!) Salt Flat

Absolutely agree about the gun in question being a cutdown, and wish to note that it illustrates the problem with identifying 1898 Carbines. However, the range quoted is seriously in error. Legitimate, correct, specimens are known as low as 112xxx, but the big spikes in officially recorded numbers occur in the 118-119-120xxx range. Here is a picture of 131024, which has several close neighbors.

[butlersrangers]

In the 1920s, Krag rifles were surplus, cheap, and plentiful. A 1928 "American Rifleman" article reported them selling for $1.50 and extolled their virtues as an inexpensive hunting arm, with remodeling.
Gunsmiths, Gun-sight companies, and Sporting Goods Dealers probably found 'sporterizing' Krags their 'Bread & Butter'!
Although collectability and value are lessened, many of these modified Krags are quite useful, shootable, and some are still handsome! They have great 'play value' and can be used without guilt of damaging a valuable 'Collector Item'.

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[butlersrangers]

FM: Here are some pictures to show how your Model 1898 Krag looked before it was altered for 'Hunting'. (My 'shooter' at Range, improvised shooting sling, Kemper Military School, circa 1913, in Missouri).

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