1899 Krag Carbine

[browningautorifle]

I purchased this carbine at a local show. The barrel is about what I'd expect, not much left inside, cleans out but very well shot and worn. I expect it'll handle jackets well enough though. Everything appears to me to be correct except the handguard is cut forward by three inches due to damage I suspect, there's a monster crack in it still. The front sight was replaced at one time with a Marbles or Sheared and this was likely used for hunting. The inspection marks are all but gone. The rear sight is marked for carbine. It's a 1901 model sight and this gun falls in 1901 manufacture I think...I'd like to replace the handguard and front sight. Problem is here in Canada, no one knows what these are so there's very little future market for them I fear. I payed $725 CDN for this one...

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Information

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[butlersrangers]

Jim: Nice looking Model 1899 Krag carbine. The parts you desire are hard to come by. The Rifle type hand-guard for 1901 sight also saw use on carbines, prior to development of 'humped' hand-guard.
Possible sources for Krag parts are a couple of gentlemen, who advertise in 'classifieds' on Krag Collectors Association forum. Repro front sight blade and hand-guards are available from S & S Firearms, Glendale, N.Y. Their catalog is viewable online.
I have an 1899 carbine, #349187, which I restored (top one in photo). The arm predated the 'humped' style hand-guard. It took me at least five years to locate and acquire correct parts. I got very lucky on the carbine front sight blade. (Some sources place my carbine around Sept. 1901 and yours around Nov. 1901. Supposedly the ' humped' hand-guard came in around February 1902).


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[butlersrangers]

Jim: Some references place my carbine, #349187, as being made around September, 1901, and yours around November, 1901. When first assembled, it is possible they had the same style hand-guard as the rifles with 1901 sights. The 'humped' hand-guard came in around February, 1902, to address the problem of sights getting broken in scabbards.

---------- Post added at 10:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:49 PM ----------

Jim: Joe DeChristopher has a good reputation. I prefer an original 1901 Rifle hand-guard to a repro 'humped' one on a carbine made in 1901. Your Krag carbine may accept .310, .311, or .312 diameter bullets, if .308s don't shoot well.

[browningautorifle]

I have a site, De-Christopher Militaria...that has sight blades and cleaning rods and oilers...is he any good? The flat handguard is like the one on my other Krag, will S&S have originals or am I going to have to settle for a repro? I have a site, schwartz@partsforantiqueguns.com that makes repro for all and the reputation seems good...I don't know how well I'll do here in Canada fishing around for originals. I probably should make my way to the Krag site for more leads...?

I just slugged the shaggy bore in the carbine, it goes about .310...swallows a bullet to the casing. Guess I'll have to settle for shooting the school gun.

[browningautorifle]

Thanks for the date confirmation, I'm working by feel here. Your suggestions about the handguard make sense to me too. I think a jacket might shoot passably through this pipe. I may order a front sight from Joe, he claims to have the high ones...

[browningautorifle]

Interesting, I found a thread here from 2009 on this very same carbine. Don't think this was the same owner I bought it from though... 1899 Krag Carbine

[bearhunter]

The .310 bore diameter is common to many of these rifles. The shooter Krag I have also has a .310 bore but in much nicer condition than the bore in your carbine. The shooter I have has been tampered with by Bubba but still shoots well. I use 174 gr Sierra SBT bullets loaded to 303 Brit specs.

You bought the rifle from that fellow I sold it to last spring in Penticton BC.

[browningautorifle]

I'm still trying to decide exactly what to do with that carbine...but I have a shooter that resembles a school gun. Shot it today matter of fact with 180 factory ammo. It has a .308 bore, slugged it and was pleasantly surprised. I bought it in Chilliwack last year as exactly what it is, a shooter. This carbine also, as a carbine...that you don't get to see very often...still happy to have it.