Krag "carbine"

[highpower3006]

I recently bought a Krag at a yard sale. I normally only try to buy guns that are in original condition and haven't been messed with, but this little carbine called to me. What I liked about it is that it has an absolutely pristine bore, it was complete (no parts missing) and it was cheap. In my book the perfect trifecta for gun buying.

While I am far from an expert on Krags, I do know enough to be dangerous to my wallet. Anyway, as I mentioned, this one was cheap enough at $250 to entice me into bringing it home.

What I got was this cut down rifle in what I believe is a genuine 1898 Krag carbine stock. The sight base is from a '98 rifle and the leaf is from a 1902 sight. It has been reblued except for the front band and sling bar, which I believe still have the original finish.

The original cartouche with an 1898 date is just legible and the "P" proof is likewise just visible. All in all not a bad little rifle and for the money I think I did okay.





I can't get a decent picture that shows the date, but in the right light you can see it.


The front sight is different from the normal '03 Springfield sight band you usually see.

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[browningautorifle]

The front sight is different from the normal '03 Springfield sight band you usually see.

I think that's still a 1903 Sprg sight, just that it's been butchered a bit. I'm pretty sure the stock is a rifle stock that's been shortened, it looks all out of scale. The front end is too short. The top wood looks to have been cut back too. Mine has a couple of issues but is a real carbine...here it is for comparison.

[butlersrangers]

OP's front-sight looks like a Stokes Kirk (not 1903 Springfield) after market sight.

The Stock does appear to be a model 1898 carbine Stock (with sling-bar), as 'highpower3006' stated. The barrel-band is correct for this stock, but, the rear sight is not.

The rear-sight intended for this stock and barrel-band is the model 1896 carbine sight.

The hand-guard may be an original carbine one, but, it is likely the sight opening has been altered.

The rear-sight now on this Krag is incorrect. It appears to be either a model 1898 or model 1902 sight base, with a 1902 leaf.

'browningautorifle' supplied a picture of a Krag carbine with the model 1899 carbine stock, which has a longer forearm and uses a different barrel-band.

[browningautorifle]

a Stokes Kirk (not 1903 Springfield) after market sight.

I see...

'browningautorifle' supplied a picture of a Krag carbine with the model 1899 carbine stock, which has a longer forearm and uses a different barrel-band.

That was just to show the length of the stock for comparison. Like I said, mine had it's share of issues. They're not common around here at all...unless they're a cut down rifle.

[butlersrangers]

Jim - 'highpower3006' did well on his yard sale purchase.

The model 1898 carbine stock, sling-bar, and barrel-band are desirable and worth more than the $250 spent.

The model 1896 and model 1898 carbine stocks (as first issued) had a short forearm. The finger grooves (actually lightening cuts) are not as long as those on Krag rifle stocks. The carbine 'finger-grooves' extend almost to the sight protecting barrel-band.

The model 1899 carbine stock was lengthened, in part, to share wood machining operations with the rifle stock and simplify manufacture. The barrel-band was also changed.

Later replacement stocks for model 1896 carbines were made with the longer forearm and eliminated the sling-bar. Model 1898 carbines were fitted with model 1899 carbine stocks, when replaced.

[highpower3006]

Thanks for the kind words butlersrangers. Like I said, I know just enough about Krag carbines to be dangerous to my wallet. When I first saw this one, I knew that the barrel was cut down from a rifle and the sling bar told me that the stock was probably a real carbine stock. I am not sure if I would have bought it if the price had been higher or the bore was bad, but when I looked down the tube, the bore looked like a brand new barrel inside. At first I was going to harvest the stock and sell off the bits and pieces and make a bit of money. But it has grown on me since then and now I am going to leave it alone and just enjoy it as a nice shooter.

[browningautorifle]

when I looked down the tube, the bore looked like a brand new barrel

That would have done me too, I'd be in.