1899 Carbine 348xxx

[butlersrangers]

Today, I measured the distance from the barrel crown to the front-sight base on two original U.S. Krag carbines.
On one the distance measured .416", on the second it measured .445".
The difference (.029") is about the thickness of three 'index' cards.

The average of both measurements would be .430".

I also measured the (muzzle-crown to front-sight base) distance on five U.S. Krag rifles. Distances ranged from .429" to .439", or the thickness of one index card, (.010").

The average measurement for all rifles was .432".

This measurement is more critical on Krag rifles (than carbines) because of the need to accept and latch a bayonet.

Probably a good dimension to aim for would be .430" to .432", (muzzle to front edge of base), if attempting an original looking front sight on a U.S. Krag barrel, rifle or carbine.

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[browningautorifle]

if attempting an original looking front sight on a U.S. Krag barrel, rifle or carbine.

In this case a new crown might need to be turned and that needs to be the correct radius. That would need to be done by a competent gunsmith that knows how to grind a crown tool...

[METT-T]

Today, I measured the distance from the barrel crown to the front-sight base on two original U.S. Krag carbines.
On one the distance measured .416", on the second it measured .445".
The difference (.029") is about the thickness of three 'index' cards.

The average of both measurements would be .430".

I also measured the (muzzle-crown to front-sight base) distance on five U.S. Krag rifles. Distances ranged from .429" to .439", or the thickness of one index card, (.010").

The average measurement for all rifles was .432".

This measurement is more critical on Krag rifles (than carbines) because of the need to accept and latch a bayonet.

Probably a good dimension to aim for would be .430" to .432", (muzzle to front edge of base), if attempting an original looking front sight on a U.S. Krag barrel, rifle or carbine.

I don't have a very precise tool handy but it looks like mine (known not original) comes out a hair under .4, about 25.5/64ths.

Hey did we just...add a new data point?!? Thus the sausage is made! Well done sir.