1898 Krag Carbine

[M1Lou]

Thanks for the info. That is interesting regarding the rear sight. As long as it works and I can zero to with the new front sight, it should be good.

The barrel does look like it has a line. I'll inspect it closer when I get home from work.

[browningautorifle]

slid on a shortened barrel that was 'stepped

That could be, I'd love to have it in hand and my glasses on...and a bright light.

I find it weird that a lot of milsurp rifles have short front sights, modified by the previous owners. It makes me wonder what kind of ammo or shooting they were doing.

If you watch some of them at times the answer will become apparent, many can't shoot and assume the deficiency lies with their unknown rifle. They alter accordingly. I had an Ithaca .45 that a friend owned, changed the front sight because he couldn't hit. He'd bent it with a crescent wrench. Twisted it trying to alter it...hammered the rear sight with a steel rod and a to light hammer so he marred it. The gun had shot fine...before.

[butlersrangers]

'M1Lou' - If you accurately measure your barrel diameter at the front-sight, it may quickly prove or disprove my conjecture, about the 'sleeve'.

What is throwing me is that, your front-sight base looks properly mounted. Usually, when a Krag front-sight is salvaged and re-mounted on a shortened rifle barrel, the workmanship or procedure gives it away.

Your hybrid rear-sight should work great.

Years ago, I accumulated a bunch of Krag sight parts, which allowed me to restore some damaged Krag rear-sights. To use up spare parts, I made a couple of 'Franken-Sights': 1902 tops on 1898 bottoms. They worked great and I was not trying to deceive anyone. The height of the '98 base and its style of leaf-spring make such hybrids readily identifiable.

Here is one on my favorite Krag 'shooter', a cut-down rifle made into a 'Faux Carbine':

Attachment 81520Attachment 81521

[M1Lou]

I took some measurements to confuse things even more. The barrel diameter is .652 at the midpoint of the front sight. I took a closer look at the barrel under different lights and I can't find a line. I did find one scratch in the metal that is fairly straight and could be mistaken for a line. That doesn't mean there isn't a line, but I can't tell. I also examined the screw holes for the rear sight. The bottoms had grime in them, so I put some solvent in there to soften it up. It won't solve the screw issue, but it will at least be clean and allow the new screws to seat properly.

[browningautorifle]

I took a closer look at the barrel under different lights and I can't find a line.

If there was a join in the barrel, you'd be able to see it just inside the muzzle. The rifling would be a pig to match, never happen.

[butlersrangers]

'M1Lou' - Your .652" diameter is close to the Outside Diameter of a Krag carbine barrel or a 'cut-down' rifle barrel at about 22 inches from the breech. (All Krag barrels have the same taper).

I guess it is possible, someone did a very neat job of re-attaching a front-sight base to your barrel. (It is 1/4 inch too long).

'browningautorifle' - It is possible to slightly reduce the outside diameter of a barrel and not disturb the bore or rifling, thus creating a 'step'. A collar with front-sight attached can then be slipped on to restore the original diameter. There will be a seam at the muzzle crown, easily hid by machine marks and another, possibly subtle, seam around the barrel, where the collar abuts the 'step'.

Here is a picture of a fake Krag Board of Ordnance rifle where this was done.

Attachment 81528

[browningautorifle]

It is possible to slightly reduce the outside diameter of a barrel and not disturb the bore or rifling, thus creating a 'step'. A collar with front-sight attached can then be slipped on to restore the original diameter. There will be a seam at the muzzle crown, easily hid by machine marks and another, possibly subtle, seam around the barrel, where the collar abuts the 'step'.

Agreed on all that, I thought you were suggesting they had increased the length as well by that odd 1/4"...a simple outer sleeve could be done, but would be visible. And as your pic, they need bluing again.

[M1Lou]

That's what fun about these old rifles is playing detective on what's been done to the rifle or not. I'll let you all know how it turns out with my new parts when they arrive.

[M1Lou]

The S&S 1902 screws showed up and they fit perfectly. The rear sight no longer wobbles. I just need to blue them and then locktite them so they don't come loose. The front sight is being a pain. That pin doesn't want to come out so I am soaking it in oil. My 03A3 was much easier to remove.

[butlersrangers]

The issue front-sight pin is tapered and should be driven out from left to right. Soaking pin, blade, and base with penetrating oil should help.