30/40 krag identification help

[browningautorifle]

I don't have any info on the years they were made. I can tell you I have no hits in the SRS book on either of them. Both started(by my info) as rifles and the first one has had the stock cut back. The second seems to have a carbine stock and front band. Unless it has a 22" barrel, it's a cut down barrel, immaterial because of the front sight job done...

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[butlersrangers]

'Foxx9914' - Both of your Krags are cut-down rifles. (Original barrel length was 30 inches). They are worth about $200-275 (USD) for parts and utility value. Such Krags do not sell very well these days.

#9394 started out as a U.S. model 1892 rifle. It was likely assembled between December, 1894 and February, 1895. (This is before the U.S. had a Krag carbine).

I can't really be sure, because your photos do not show the right-side of the stock. However, it may be in a later type of model 1896 carbine replacement stock. This stock came out around 1900, for rebuilding model 1896 carbines into a configuration similar to the model 1899 carbine. The barrel-band is an 1899 carbine band. Your rear sight is a 1901 rifle sight, put on backwards. (Springfield Armory did not create your 'MixMaster' of parts. "TFN" likely did it to make a 'Hunting Rifle').

#2525278 is an impossible number for a U.S. Krag. Fewer than 500,000 Krags were made at Springfield and the highest serial numbers are probably in 480XXX range. You've given too many digits!

Assuming your model 1898 Krag is in the 25XXXX range, it was likely assembled between March and May of 1900. This was built as a rifle. The 24 1/2 inch barrel is obviously a cut-down rifle barrel. (Carbine barrels were only 22 inches long and carbines made during and after 1899 are marked 'model 1899').

The stock of this Krag is a shortened rifle stock, (with a rifle butt sling-swivel). Your rear-sight is the 1902 rifle sight. Your front sight base appears to be a Krag base that has been re-shaped and crudely brazed or welded on. This Krag has had its magazine cut-off lever removed.

I am not bashing your Krags. I just accept that many Krags were made into economy hunting arms and are not 'rare carbines'. There is a lot of 'Blarney' thrown about concerning Krags, especially at Gun Shows!