Help with 1899 Krag Carbine, please.

[Wizard]

I think this Krag has gone to a good home.
Please keep us posted, if you get more background information!

Thank you! Will do!

[mark1]

The rear sight as other stated is a Model 1901 not a Buffington. The Buffington rear sight was only on the Trapdoors.
Nice find.

[butlersrangers]

FWIW - 'mark1' is correct.

But, it is also true that the model 1901 sight for the Krag bears strong similarities to the 'trapdoor' Buffington designed sight.
The model 1901 rear-sight was adopted for the Krag while Buffington was in command at Springfield Armory.

[oldfoneguy]

I had read that in nineteen-oh-something Buffington ordered all then in-service Krags to be converted to the M1901 sight and corresponding handguard. He felt it was the most accurate sight available at the time and far superior to the M1902 with the cheesey rotating peep. Both rifles and carbines received the "upgrade" including my 1903 manufactured Krag rifle. I really like the M1901 sight and wouldn't have said the same of the M1902 sight that originally came on my rifle.

Also isn't the M1903 rifle 1903/1906 sight a simplified M1901 sight which was a simplified Buffington trapdoor sight? You can definitely see the lineage when you look at all 3 of them side by side.

[butlersrangers]

'oldfoneguy' is correct in my opinion. The 'Buffington' rear-sight on the model 1873 'trapdoor' Springfield, the Krag model 190l rear-sight, and the model 1905 rear-sight of the 1903 Springfield rifle all share a pedigree and the influence of Chief of Ordnance - Adelbert Buffington.

(By the same token, the Krag model 1898 & model 1902 rear-sights, as well as, the sight found on the early 'rod-bayonet' 1903 Springfield rifles share features designed by Lt. Tracy C. Dickson).