Benicia Arsenal/DCM Krag Carbines ...

[Dave]

This reminds me of the ongoing debate on the "Carbines fitted for slings", mentioned in a ordenance memo. No one knows if any were ever done (I believe a 100 were athorized) but many were done by individuals and probably Kirks and and other firms. So everyone wants to believe they own one. NRA carbines were made but not identified in any way, except by sale papers. Some of these papers have surfaced, even after these many years. No reason they could not have used cut-down rifle stocks but can it be proven? And even if it can it proves nothing about an individual rifle. Even with sale paper--the stock could have been broken and replaced with cut-down. So the best anyone can say about their cut-down is "it is done in the style of an NRA carbine". I have one (carbine stock) and thats what I say. I think you are on a useless quest.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Nick Adams]

*** NRA carbines were made but not identified in any way, except by sale papers. Some of these papers have surfaced, even after these many years. No reason they could not have used cut-down rifle stocks but can it be proven? And even if it can it proves nothing about an individual rifle. Even with sale paper--the stock could have been broken and replaced with cut-down. So the best anyone can say about their cut-down is "it is done in the style of an NRA carbine".

They should be methods to vet these carbines other than 80yr old sale papers. As I noted, perhaps squirrelled away somewhere are old Arsenal documents from that period w/ serial numbers of converted rifles. Has anyone ever made an inquiry for such records? Did Brophy? How about with the NRA?

If it ever panned out, at that point it wouldn't matter whether your Krag had a genuine carbine stock (as Brophy says) or a cut-down rifle stock. You'd have a vetted BA-made/NRA carbine linked by serial # to the Arsenal's work on it.

"I have one (carbine stock) and thats what I say."

I'd be happy to see a pic of it. Can you post one?

The gunbroker auction link to pics of an "NRA or Bannerman" Krag carbine in my earlier post above could be a twin of mine.

"I think you are on a useless quest."

Whether the pursuit of relevant information to answer my initial questions is "useless" is for me to decide. But thanks anyway.

[5MadFarmers]

This reminds me of the ongoing debate on the "Carbines fitted for slings", mentioned in a ordenance memo. No one knows if any were ever done (I believe a 100 were athorized) but many were done by individuals and probably Kirks and and other firms. So everyone wants to believe they own one. NRA carbines were made but not identified in any way, except by sale papers. Some of these papers have surfaced, even after these many years. No reason they could not have used cut-down rifle stocks but can it be proven? And even if it can it proves nothing about an individual rifle. Even with sale paper--the stock could have been broken and replaced with cut-down. So the best anyone can say about their cut-down is "it is done in the style of an NRA carbine". I have one (carbine stock) and thats what I say. I think you are on a useless quest.

Want to bet?

I now have records of them being done at Springfield and Rock Island.

Cheers.