1898 carbin???

[vrichard]

I don`t know if this has been made into a carbin.1898.ser.#108967.
Dick

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[jon_norstog]

Vrichard,

The 1898 carbine is a very rare bird. Presently someone like 5MF will weigh in on your S/N. I would guess it is a fake, partly because of the '03-type front sight, the saddle ring stock (worth some $$, BTW) which has been sanded some. I would say, a cutdown, but a nice one. Put the right front sight on it and you have a nice replica shooter.

I would check the headspace before firing it, in case it was assembled from mismatched parts.

The Krag carbine was the best hunting rifle Springfield Armory ever made.

Good luck!

jn

[Harlan (Deceased)]

It appears to be a very nice looking faux 1898 carbine.

Original 1898 carbines were in the 113609 to the very low 200000 range and they're very rare as Jon said, with only 5002 made. Cutting down rifles to resemble carbines, as well as assembling carbines from parts has been going on for many years.

The rear sight placement and handguard doesn't look to be correct for an original 1898 carbine.
Is there a 'C' stamped on the rear sight? All variants of Krag carbines should have a 'C' stamped on the rear sight.

It was common practice to use an '03 banded front sight on cut down 30 inch barrels because it's much easier to slide on this type of banded sight than to cut an inlet for a Krag type front sight.
(An original carbine barrel should have the inlet for the front site)

Carefully look at the front end of the stock to see if it has any filled in areas where lightening slots would have been to see if it might be cut down.
If not, slide the barrel band forward and carefully check under it to see if a new section of wood has been spliced in.
There are also reproduction Krag carbine stocks on the market.

(Info taken from 'Collector Notes' in the Krag section of Bruce Canfield's new book - U.S. Military Bolt Action Rifles)

There are also several other minute details covered, and how to spot reproduction hand guards etc, but the serial number range and barrel alone would rule this out as originally being an original carbine.

[vrichard]

I posted the wrong serial # on my 1898 carbine,the correct ser.# 162967
vrichard

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Just for clarification, the 5002 carbines were built along side the standard Krags with both in the 113609 to the very low 200000 range.

[andiarisaka]

The hand guard has been shortened too.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

I didn't know if it had been shortened or if it was a different hand guard, but you are correct. It should go back further and cover the receiver ring.

The Krag Collectors Assoc site has two photos that show a correct rear site and hand guard. The sight is next to the barrel band and the hand guard is shaped differently to fit the sight's more forward position.
(This is also how it's shown in Canfield's book)

Photos

As said before there should be a 'C' stamped on the sight as well and the front sight should be cut into the top of the barrel.

In the lower part of the first page of this older thread, Badger shows a photo of a carbine rear sight and the inlet front sight -

My 1898 Krag - Is It A True Carbine?

[5MadFarmers]

Isn't that amusing? Here I though I was alone with that sense of humor. I see somebody else, at some point, shared it.

Parts for 5,002 Model 1898 carbines were made but not all 5,002 were assembled as guns.
You've all missed something very basic and very important: the number of 1898 carbines assembled by Springfield with the 1898 carbine sight is "0."
The serial range for 1898 carbines does not run into the 200,000 range but given your other comment, which is correct, that this one can be ruled out by serial I'd say you made a typo.

This is the only Model 1898 carbine with the Model 1898 carbine sight that I am aware of:



I assembled it.

What you have is a collection of parts. Very interesting parts. If you decide to sell it let me know. I won't be alone in needing that stock though so, as Jon mentioned, they're worth money. Better pictures would tell me about the other bit - I think it's received an additional blue job.

[phillyriverrat57]

actually krag carbine sights for the 1898 year have a C stamped at the top of the flip up near the 2000 range mark, and also a C stamped on the side of the sight base. they will have a screw type adjustment for setting the sight. the sight appears to be correct for this gun. all 1898 crags had a thin wrist stock which is present and saddle rings. they went into the philepines with the 4th and 5th cavalry. it wasn't until 1899 that springfield started modify rifles into carbines. how do i know, i have a 1898 cavalry carbine and it is untoched and serial number is correct for the ones produced