Krag Carbine Help..........(Pics)

[5MadFarmers]

Wow!!!! Thanks for the looooooong answer. I can't help but feel somewhat of a rant in your lines. I guess I'm passing on the little bits of information as it is acquired from the soldiers family............with the hope that someone more experienced than myself might see a "clue" that might somehow tie the carbine to service.........or soldier. I'm starting to see from your last couple of posts that this may be a "pie in the sky " notion at best. Of course how would I know this..............never even held a Krag until I stumbled across this carbine a couple of month ago.

If it's from Big Lou's Sporting Goods........That's fine. It's still a nice carbine (mismatched bolt bits aside). It just seems to me........when looking at the whole collection...........that service use could be possible.......but what do I know anyway???

To 5MF, Jon & Chuck and others on this site that I've exchanged PM's with, "Thanks" for helping out the novice. The messege that I'm getting is it may be time to let this thread fade off into the sunset.....

Thanks Again!

No, not a rant. Just thinking out loud. Don't get discouraged. Dig. We're telling you not to get your hopes up, documents are scarce, but that doesn't mean to stop digging. One never finds gold unless one digs hard.

This I know as I'm a digger.

[target-panic]

No, not a rant. Just thinking out loud. Don't get discouraged. Dig. We're telling you not to get your hopes up, documents are scarce, but that doesn't mean to stop digging. One never finds gold unless one digs hard.

This I know as I'm a digger.

OK........I don't mind digging at all. It's where to start that is the problem. I've done a zillion Google searches.........but I guess I could walk right by some key information and not even know what I'm looking for.....

[jon_norstog]

Target Panic, guys,

Well, the enlistment dates work out pretty well up to 1905. Our soldier was in one of the companies that was left behind in Tientsin while I,K,L&M went on the march to Peking (beijing). He then went to the Philippines.I may be able to dig up some action reports.

Troop L of the 6th was Lt.jg Pershing's first unit, which may be one reason he wanted them along in Mexico in '16-17, and found a way to get them to France, if only for rear-echelon duty, in the spring of '18.

As you can see, I am more interested in the soldier than the gun. 5MF is probably right about it not being our man's service weapon. But maybe not?

I for one am enjoying working on this case. I think we should keep the thread going - I meAn it's got almost 2,00 hits, that's gotta be some kind of record. I thought I would get some assistance from a real military historian, see if he has some ideas about where to find records.

Having the units helps a lot. With that we can pin down some of the actions our man was in and maybe discuss what went down, what he would have seen and maybe done when the s**T hit the fan.

Target,

you've been an angel!

jn

[target-panic]

Thanks Jon,

I'm frustrated though............ As I said before my knowledge of how to do research is limited to numerous Google Searches. All this seems to do is confuse me more..... I started thinking about the Michigan Naval Brigade certificate in the collection..........It said something about him becoming an Ensign (SP?) and I think it was dated 1911. This would mean that he may have joined sooner......correct? This may fill in some of the time gap between 1905 -1911. I thought that I read somewhere in one of my Google stupors that the Michigan Naval Brigade was made part of the National Guard......who went to Mexico in 1916??? It's a long shot I know...!!!
Some of the postcards in the collection had pictures of ships on them. I'll have to take a closer look and see what they say. I hate to bother the grandson right now though..........He's 70 and just had a heart catherization (SP?)......he had some complications the other night, and took a ride by ambulance to the ER. I guess he's doing OK now though........but I think I'll give him a while before I bother him.

Also......To anyone following this thread. I'm missing one of the saddle ring screws. If someone has an extra......shoot me a PM and maybe we can work something out.......

[jon_norstog]

Target-P

I'll give it a look as to the National Guard. I'm thinking more along the lines of consistent though intermittent service in the 6th Cavalry. My plan is to contact a US Army historian and see what they think or can point me toward. Knowing which troops our soldier served in is a plus. The troops, if not the trooper, will be listed in the annual reports.

Yeah, give the grandson a little rest ...

good luck!

jn

[sail32]

The bayonet is not an 1895 Mannlicher, the blade's sharp edge should be on the same side as the muzzle ring.

[webfoot10]

I am looking for a front sight for a Krag carbine. Does anyone know where I can get one?

[target-panic]

Thought I'd just drop in and see how everyone is doing. The guy that I bought the carbine from is in Texas for the winter. So I have no new information. I kind of hit a dead end.........I really like it though. I have not shot it yet. I'd like to deer hunt with it sometime. I got two real nice bucks this Fall.........never thought to use the Krag.

[jon_norstog]

Target-P,

Glad to hear you are still on it. I haven't really tried any new tricks either. I was thinking about just contacting one of the Army's historians. The 6th cav museum is really not research-oriented I'm afraid, just a bunch of old guns and a couple stuffed horses.

My curiosity is up, and once it is up I never give up until I am satisfied ...

Well, the Krag is almost too much gun for deer, IMHO. Others will disagree but we have seen a creeping escalation in the amount of firepower that is considered appropriate for deer and big game hunting. The Krag was at one time consedered just right for elk, moose and big bear. Now everyone is looking to step up from the puny 300 win magnum to something with a little more killing power.

It's the triumph of marketing over common sense.

rant rant rave ....

jn

[robertb6112]

I have a 30-40 krag. It was my grandpas. But it has no markings on it. And i'm almost positive its a springfield Because it has the magazine cut off on it. And the Denmark ones don't have the cut off.