Makeover: De-sportered my 1896 carbine

[browningautorifle]

I'm still trying to decide what to do with the front sight.

I'll bet it's sweated or just press fitted. Do you SEE a key or cross pin there?

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[Warpspasm]

I'll bet it's sweated or just press fitted. Do you SEE a key or cross pin there?

I think you're probably correct about being sweated or press fitted. My concern is more about the condition of the barrel finish under the band, but mainly about what I put on there to replace the sight I have. Ideally, it would be real carbine front sight, but they're pretty much impossible to find and crazy expensive if do find one. I think I read that you can use a Springfield 1903 front sight, but I'm not certain about that. I want to do something though, and I'm open to suggestions.

I'm sure most of us know, it's easy when you fool with this kind of stuff to get carried away with putting too much money into something that really has limited collector value. In the case of this carbine, unfortunately, whoever turned it into a sporter did a professional job and sanded the carbine stock to remove all of the markings, bobbed the butt .3" to fit a rubber recoil pad, and used what is probably a shortened rifle barrel (in great shape by the way). Who knows about the receiver? I've come to the conclusion that nobody knows for sure what range of serial numbers really covered the carbines. On the OTHER hand, many of us know these kind of projects aren't just about collector value. It's the challenge to make them as close as possible to an original and personalize them for your liking. The trick is knowing when to stop. So far, I'm still struggling with that trick. HAHAHAHA.

[browningautorifle]

I think I read that you can use a Springfield 1903 front sight

That's what's on there, or do you mean the blade?

Ideally, it would be real carbine front sight

Unreal hope I think, besides the bases are the same. Blade would be easy to reproduce. How about shopping with these guys? Products

You'll have to blue the base anyway.

[Warpspasm]

That's what's on there, or do you mean the blade?




Unreal hope I think, besides the bases are the same. Blade would be easy to reproduce. How about shopping with these guys? Products

You'll have to blue the base anyway.

I don't think that's a real 03 front sight on my Krag. At least it doesn't look like the one on my 03A3. Perhaps the older 1903 had a different sight. I know that if I do keep the front sight that's on there, I'm going to need to file it down quite a bit. Currently I have to set my rear sight to 500 yards to hit the 10 ring on an NRA 100 yard target, using a 6 o'clock hold. It doesn't help that I'm shooting 200gr cast loads at 1450 fps. LOL


What bases are you talking about when you say they're the same?
I've been looking at ssfirearms and Grandpa's Gun Parts since I picked up the Krag. I actually bought my carbine barrel band from Grandpa's.

[butlersrangers]

The 1903 and 1903A3 Springfield 'banded' front-sights differ from each other.

They are certainly not difficult to identify.

Your front sight does not appear to have the profile of either Springfield sight. It is probably a commercial sight made from sheet metal and a 'driven-on friction fit'.

A clear picture of your sight would allow identification.

It would be worthwhile to try shooting your Krag, with the present sights, to see if the front-sight height is in the 'ballpark'.

A picture of a 1903 Springfield front-sight is attached. The 'band' requires that the barrel be 'stepped-down' in the muzzle area, since the band I.D. is smaller than the Krag and Springfield barrel diameters.
(This sight was not used on official service Krag carbines, but, became a popular & inexpensive sight on civilian owned Krags, altered for Hunting).

FWIW - A 1903 front-sight on a 'carbine' length Krag, will usually require the rear sight to be set to about 400 yards, in order to be "sighted-in" at 50 yards.

[browningautorifle]

What bases are you talking about when you say they're the same?

Front sight base.

[jon_norstog]

I would just make a new front sight like the rEal Krag front sight base, and sweat it onto the barrel. Yeah, maybe there is a band of rust under that '03-type sight. maybe not. You've taken it this far, might as well go for broke

jn