Need help identifying my Krag

Sporterized and unofficial modified Krags
Post Reply
tanker365
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Oct 29, 2022 3:33 am

Need help identifying my Krag

Post by tanker365 »

I recently purchased my first ever Krag, but I am very unfamiliar with the type of krag it is exactly. I belive it is a sporterized or maybe a unoriginal stock of a carbine version. It is not a very big rifle which makes me belive it is a carbine style. It is an model 1898 with a serial number of 383371. The main thing I'd like to know is if this is in fact a carbine or what exactly it is because the stock and the way it looks is nothing like the pictures of the other carbine style krags I have seen online. So im not really sure what it is lol I will post pics below but I have not been unable to find any markings on it other than the serial no. and the model no. I have not been able to a cartouche stamp on the stock althought very faintly i can see what looks like the outline of where it once was but i cant be certain, it looks like it was sanded down so its hard to tell. I also have not found any "p" markings. The only stamps I've found are a small "S" just in front of the rear sight block and a sideways "U" on the side of the front barrel clamp which holds the front sling swivel Any help would be appreciated!
Attachments
20221028_234034.jpg
20221028_234034.jpg (139.57 KiB) Viewed 621 times
20221028_234048.jpg
20221028_234048.jpg (130.88 KiB) Viewed 621 times
20221028_234039.jpg
20221028_234039.jpg (136.9 KiB) Viewed 621 times
20221028_234028.jpg
20221028_234028.jpg (133.35 KiB) Viewed 621 times
20221028_234007.jpg
20221028_234007.jpg (133.39 KiB) Viewed 621 times

tanker365
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Oct 29, 2022 3:33 am

Re: Need help identifying my Krag

Post by tanker365 »

Additional pictures
Attachments
20221029_000448.jpg
20221029_000448.jpg (142.02 KiB) Viewed 619 times
20221029_000435.jpg
20221029_000435.jpg (116.5 KiB) Viewed 619 times
20221029_000421.jpg
20221029_000421.jpg (134.88 KiB) Viewed 619 times
20221029_000415.jpg
20221029_000415.jpg (112.02 KiB) Viewed 619 times
20221028_234129 (1).jpg
20221028_234129 (1).jpg (57.5 KiB) Viewed 619 times

User avatar
butlersrangers
Posts: 9827
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 11:35 pm
Location: Below the Bridge, Michigan

Re: Need help identifying my Krag

Post by butlersrangers »

'Tanker365' - Welcome to the KCA Forum - Foot in Photo Chapter!

Your Krag is a bit of a "mixmaster". It is a 'cut-down' U.S. infantry rifle that got parted together by the R.F. Sedgley Company of Philadelphia, into an economy hunting rifle. The small "S" in a circle was Sedgley's trademark.

Your Krag, serial number 383371, was originally assembled, around April 1902, at Springfield Armory. When first manufactured, the barrel was 30 inches long.

The stock on your Krag appears to be Italian walnut. It was originally much longer.

It is likely that your barrel and stock were shortened at Sedgley's shop to make it handier for 'hunting'. The Sedgley Company remained in business until the end of WW-2.

The front-sight on your shortened barrel is a 1903 Springfield rifle 'banded' front-sight.
The rear-sight is a long obsolete model 1892 Krag rifle-sight, that probably was purchased at a government scrap auction.
(The rear-sight has been installed backwards on your barrel).

The "U" on your Krag barrel-band is an assembly aid. The "U" should be on the right-side of the rifle, with the open end pointing toward the muzzle.

Your Krag is no longer in a configuration that Springfield ever produced. It is a 'cut-down' combination of surplus parts, that played a role as an inexpensive civilian hunting rifle and still has utility value.

It can be useful, accurate and a lot of fun at the Range.
Lots of KCA members started with a Krag like yours. Many of us still enjoy shooting these old 'Deer Guns'.

Thanks for the foot in your photo. You're in the club!
Attachments
Sedgley cover.jpg
Sedgley cover.jpg (116.71 KiB) Viewed 609 times
tanker-foot-ed.jpg
tanker-foot-ed.jpg (119.35 KiB) Viewed 609 times

tanker365
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Oct 29, 2022 3:33 am

Re: Need help identifying my Krag

Post by tanker365 »

Thank you butlersrangers! Happy to be apart of the foot club ! Lol, do you have any info on where I could possibly get an more original banded front sight for this? also are there other aftermarket sights I could put on this because I did intend to use it as a deer rifle in the future but the sights on it now are very hard to see even for me, thanks for all you're info though its nice to know what I have now.

User avatar
butlersrangers
Posts: 9827
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 11:35 pm
Location: Below the Bridge, Michigan

Re: Need help identifying my Krag

Post by butlersrangers »

'Tanker' - The original Krag front-sight was not 'banded'. It was a fixed base that was neatly dovetailed & brazed into the barrel. A plain blade was pinned into the base. Its .050" thickness makes it very difficult for old eyes to see clearly.

Your 1903 Springfield sight has the same problem with a very thin blade. Your 1903 'banded' front sight can be made to work better. Commercial front-sight blades with a thick 'bead' were made to replace the issue 1903 blade. These old replacement blades show up on ebay under '1903 Springfield rifle'.

Numerous old commercial 'banded' front sights show up on ebay. The inside-diameter of the 'band' will vary for different barrel lengths and tapers. It is necessary to precisely measure your barrel diameter to know if things will fit.

There were "no-drill" receiver 'peep' sights that were made by Pacific and Redfield for easy installation on the Krag. These appear from time to time on ebay under 'Krag rifle'. They can cost around $100 but help improve sighting.

Just turning around your current 1892 sight and using 1-power 'Reading Glasses' may improve things for target shooting at the Range. U.S. military sights were not made for old eyes!
Attachments
Springfield 1903-1905 sight.jpg
Springfield 1903-1905 sight.jpg (79.12 KiB) Viewed 592 times
SprgfldBarrelB2.jpg
SprgfldBarrelB2.jpg (136.45 KiB) Viewed 592 times
sheard.jpeg
sheard.jpeg (71.1 KiB) Viewed 592 times
Krag_no-drill_sights_011.jpg
Krag_no-drill_sights_011.jpg (149.24 KiB) Viewed 592 times

Post Reply