Sporterized 1896 carbine
Sporterized 1896 carbine
Hey guys I'm new here and recently picked up a 1896 krag carbine with an unknown stock and a side scope mount. I'm looking for advice on finishing the stock and cleaning up the rust. It's missing a few things and I have ordered a few parts to finish it off. Thoughts comments and ideas to complete this rifle would be great.
Re: Sporterized 1896 carbine
I just bought a barreled receiver recently not for a build just to look at and measure. It had a lot of paint of all things and some rust. Some of the paint removers are very toxic so I used brake fluid to get the paint off.
Important is do no harm, so sand paper, wet or dry paper and abrasive scotch brite would be a no/no for me. Penetrating oil and paper towels can do a lot, on heavy rust maybe fine steel wool with lots of oil. There is a nonabrasive scotch brite made from blue plastic for dishes, not sure how it would work on steel parts with oil for flushing it out. Might be worth a try.
Picture of the stock will help the others give the best advise. Oh and we like to see Krags anyway, even if it does not help us give advice.
One more thing, Welcome to KCA.
Important is do no harm, so sand paper, wet or dry paper and abrasive scotch brite would be a no/no for me. Penetrating oil and paper towels can do a lot, on heavy rust maybe fine steel wool with lots of oil. There is a nonabrasive scotch brite made from blue plastic for dishes, not sure how it would work on steel parts with oil for flushing it out. Might be worth a try.
Picture of the stock will help the others give the best advise. Oh and we like to see Krags anyway, even if it does not help us give advice.
One more thing, Welcome to KCA.
Re: Sporterized 1896 carbine
She's not pretty and I took it apart last night 
Re: Sporterized 1896 carbine
Here is a closer picture 
Re: Sporterized 1896 carbine
Just curious if you plan on scoping it. Not that it matters much since it already had been scoped with the modifications already done. Looks like a personal choice in my opinion. But your choice may give you different advice on going down the path you have chosen. Also curious about the dovetail for a sight with straddling tapped holes for a different configured sight. Doe the barrel have any markings on it, especially near the muzzle? What is the length of the barrel? 24"?
Re: Sporterized 1896 carbine
Aaron, Welcome to KCA during the world pandemic for the flu. Nice to be playing with Krags during the govt controlled lockdown and violation of our freedoms! Great country we live in!
We love Krags here and are always willing to lend a hand in figuring out what you have and what to do with it.
First, if you can post some more pictures of the Krag including the receiver. Are there holes drilled at all in the receiver? I can't tell from the pictures you posted. What is the serial number? Krag carbines were made at different times and have a variety of serial number ranges. Sometimes we can tell for certain, based on the serial number, if the Krag started out as a carbine or rifle and was cut down to carbine length or had a barrel switch. As Knute pointed out, barrel length is important. That's the measurement from the muzzle to the front of the closed bolt face. The carbine is exactly 22 inches. With a banded front sight, you may have a cut down barrel done after production.
The raw wood stock would certainly appreciate numerous coats of Boiled Linseed Oil. That will give it a nice darkened military finish. Let the coats settle in for a while before wiping down repeatedly.
If you mount an authentic Krag rear sight, it should cover the added dove tail on your barrel. These sights are available on ebay and Gun Broker as well as other parts sites on the internet. Check out granpasgunparts.com. He's running a sale right now on Krag parts and he's a great guy to work with for what you need!
As you progress, let us see more pictures so we can enjoy your progress.
How is the bore condition? Many Krags have very pitted or worn bores from years of use with corrosive primer shooting. But, even a shot out or pitted bore can still shoot well, we have found out.
Good luck and thanks for sharing.
We love Krags here and are always willing to lend a hand in figuring out what you have and what to do with it.
First, if you can post some more pictures of the Krag including the receiver. Are there holes drilled at all in the receiver? I can't tell from the pictures you posted. What is the serial number? Krag carbines were made at different times and have a variety of serial number ranges. Sometimes we can tell for certain, based on the serial number, if the Krag started out as a carbine or rifle and was cut down to carbine length or had a barrel switch. As Knute pointed out, barrel length is important. That's the measurement from the muzzle to the front of the closed bolt face. The carbine is exactly 22 inches. With a banded front sight, you may have a cut down barrel done after production.
The raw wood stock would certainly appreciate numerous coats of Boiled Linseed Oil. That will give it a nice darkened military finish. Let the coats settle in for a while before wiping down repeatedly.
If you mount an authentic Krag rear sight, it should cover the added dove tail on your barrel. These sights are available on ebay and Gun Broker as well as other parts sites on the internet. Check out granpasgunparts.com. He's running a sale right now on Krag parts and he's a great guy to work with for what you need!
As you progress, let us see more pictures so we can enjoy your progress.
How is the bore condition? Many Krags have very pitted or worn bores from years of use with corrosive primer shooting. But, even a shot out or pitted bore can still shoot well, we have found out.
Good luck and thanks for sharing.
Re: Sporterized 1896 carbine
Also, if you have some surface rust, I have found that if you take a copper penny (made before 1982) and scrape the rust with the edge of the penny, it will scrape off rust well without even damaging bluing. Put oil on the rust before scraping. It's a neat little trick that I have used for years. Scrape carefully with oil and see what happens. Helps a lot for surface rust but cannot fill in holes if pitted, of course.
Re: Sporterized 1896 carbine
Looks like I have a p on the barrel right past the receiver on the bottom side. I believe the serial number 81502. Also I did think about scoping it as it's already drilled and tapped for a mount. I put the bolt in and measured 22 1/2
Re: Sporterized 1896 carbine
Pictures help but the "P" is usually there as a proof mark put on at Springfield Armory to show that the barrel passed pressure testing . If the barrel is 22 1/2 inches, it probably is, then, a cut down Krag rifle barrel. That's real common. Long 30 inch rifle barrels were frequently cut down to be used and carried easier for hunting. The .30-40 Krag round is a great hunting caliber in this part of the world.
I don't have my lists with me but the Krag serial number 81502 was made around October 1897.
By memory, I believe that this was made slightly after the second grouping of M1896 carbines and would, therefore, have been originally made as a rifle. That would confirm that this was a M1896 Krag rifle cut down to carbine length.
I don't have my lists with me but the Krag serial number 81502 was made around October 1897.
By memory, I believe that this was made slightly after the second grouping of M1896 carbines and would, therefore, have been originally made as a rifle. That would confirm that this was a M1896 Krag rifle cut down to carbine length.
Re: Sporterized 1896 carbine
That's what I was afraid of, it definitely is a nice length. I found a 1901 rear sight on eBay. I also ordered the selector switch for single feed or magazine fed. I will try to get more pictures and will take a good look at the bore. Thanks for a knowledge