need help on 96 Krag

[rice 123]

I friend called me yesterday and said that a guy brought in a 96 krag carbine. The guy said that it was his grandfathers. I looked at it today the cartouch is worn off most of the finnish was worn off. By the book everything is right except for the 1896 rear sight is a rifle sight. With out pulling off the handguard I tried to measure the barrel and it appears to be the right length I looked over the front sight and it does not appear to have been monkeyed with. I can buy it for 1200 would this be to much if everything is right except for the rear sight. I know what he paid for it and there is no room to dicker.

Information

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[andiarisaka]

Pics please, can't advise you without seeing it. Saddle ring? Serial #? Need more details in order to be of help.

[rice 123]

It is at a store I do not know if they would let me take pics the serial was in the 77000 range

---------- Post added at 06:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:23 PM ----------

My biggest worry is it could be a cut down rifle but I could find no evidence of this barrel was the right length the front site did not appear to be messed with

[Salt Flat]

Rice, It appears to be in the correct serial range for a 1896 Carbine.
M1896 Carbines 25135-37582 and 67010-79499
I can't remember the source for this but I had it in my notes. Maybe someone else can verify it.
Salt flat

[rice 123]

I did not write down the serial because I did not think you could identify a carbine by the serial# everything looks right (except for the rifle site is a big red flag) as far as I can tell the barrel does not appear to be cut down or the front site reattached. it has the correct sight protector barrel band If I buy it I would be taking a 1200 gamble

[jon_norstog]

Rice,

the rifle sight should raise a red flag. The serial number ranges tell you where some carbines were made, but there were a lot of rifles made in those ranges, too. Post some pictures?

jn

[rice 123]

pictures of the krag

[andiarisaka]

The serial # is outside the carbine range given by Poyer, but he isn't the greatest authority.

[andiarisaka]

Looks to be the real McCoy, from what I can see. The why, of why a rifle sight, has to do with the fact that the carbine sights can bring nigh $500 at times. Traces of the cartouche might still be visible in the right light, but they were placed in a high wear area on the carbines, behind the saddle ring. I used to have more detailed info, but lost it after a computer crash. I'd suggest asking on Culver's shooting page forum for verification of the serial #. There were distinctive "blocks" of serial #s when carbine's were done, and 5madfarmer's has quite a list.

[jon_norstog]

+1 on the Culver page. That's where all the Krag heavies moved.

jn