New owner with questions.

U.S. Military Krags
Fivestring63
Posts: 10
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2021 7:12 pm

New owner with questions.

Post by Fivestring63 »

Just gonna jump right in on it. Springfield carbine Serial 272XX. It has 1895 on it but assume it's a '96 by the serial number.

It's missing the cut off. I seen 2 different lengths. 2 and 2 1/2 inches. Which would mine take?

It needs a butt plate. It has 2 holes cut in stock for the cleaning rods. Would any year butt plate work as long as it has the door? I seen something about some being flat and they rounded them later.

It has what I think is called the Buffington rear sight where you can move a tab and adjust for windage? I thought those didn't come out till the late models.

It also has the indent on it where the bolt will stay locked back. I thought those didn't come out till the later models.

I'm new to these and researched some but would like to know a little more.

I will add some pics tonight after work. Thanks.

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

Re: New owner with questions.

Post by butlersrangers »

'Fivestring63' - Welcome to the KCA Forum.

They began making 'model 1896' Krag carbines, in 1895. Your 272XX serial number falls in a known carbine range.

When your receiver was made, the '1895 marking' denoted the year of its manufacture. This practice was carried on with early '1896 marked' receivers.
Ultimately, "model" was added in front of the 1896 and the receiver marking was no longer a manufacture date.

Actions were 'notched', when manufactured, for the bolt 'hold-open pin' on receivers that are marked simply '1895' and '1896'.

To be correct, your action uses the 'magazine cut-off lever' with the long shaft.
(Actually, the short-shaft lever, made for the U.S. Krag 1898 & 1899 models, can also work).

There are three variations of 'long shaft' magazine cut-offs.
The first type is retained by a 'flat-spring' and was used on the early 'model 1892' Krag rifles (marked 1894).
The second type is retained by a spring-loaded spindle.
Around 1897, the magazine cut-off was re-engineered, to reverse the positions of operation.

The intention was to replace all early 'cut-offs', (which blocked cartridge feed when the lever is 'up'),
with the third 'magazine cut-off' type, (which allowed cartridges to feed when the lever is 'up').

Clear photos of your front-sight base will allow verifying that you have a real carbine barrel.

If you have a 1901 rear-sight, it is likely you have a later type of stock. (Model 1896 carbine stocks are 30 inches long).
(Many early carbines were updated to a configuration similar to the model 1899 carbine with a 31 & 3/4" stock).
Most Krags use the same butt-plate. It has a slight 'recurve' at the toe.

Photos will help sort out what you have.

Fivestring63
Posts: 10
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2021 7:12 pm

Re: New owner with questions.

Post by Fivestring63 »

Well, I tried multiple ways to add pictures but none worked.

Thanks for the info using the long shaft on the cutoff. I want to keep as original as possible. I knew about the different angles for the cutoff. I'm sure mine would fall into the second type that you described.

I can guarantee it is a carbine barrel from my research. The stock measure the 31 and 3/4 you mentioned. There are no sling attachments, cartouches, saddle ring or bayonet lug.

As i mentioned it has the rear sight, you can move a tab and adjust for windage. On the left side it is incremented 1,2,3,B,4,5 and then a "C" to the left of the 5. The ladder sight starts at 1 and ends at 23. One odd thing I just noticed is there is an indentation to the rear and left of the rear sight on the stock. It also doesn't have the same barrel band other 86's have that I've seen that are shaped like a U on top that sits against the rear sight. No hump in the stock past the rear sight.

On one side of the bolt handle it has what looks like a capital A and possibly a small c under the A.

Thanks for the help and any more info.
Last edited by Fivestring63 on Sun Oct 17, 2021 6:01 am, edited 1 time in total.

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

Re: New owner with questions.

Post by butlersrangers »

Does your Krag have a wood hand-guard on the top of the barrel?

Your description sounds correct for the 1901 carbine rear-sight.

Photos have to be smaller than 1MB. Below 2KB is probably even better for viewing on the KCA Forum

Attached are my pictures of a 1901 carbine sight, a Krag Butt-Plate, and a pair of 1899 carbines. Also, KCA photo of some model 1896 carbines.
Attachments
1896carbines01-1.jpg
1896carbines01-1.jpg (149.49 KiB) Viewed 1278 times
1896carbines12-1.jpg
1896carbines12-1.jpg (152.47 KiB) Viewed 1278 times
a project-ed.png
a project-ed.png (370.32 KiB) Viewed 1278 times
a pair of 1899 carbines-1.jpg
a pair of 1899 carbines-1.jpg (329.12 KiB) Viewed 1278 times
krag-1901C-slide_001.jpg
krag-1901C-slide_001.jpg (35.78 KiB) Viewed 1278 times

Fivestring63
Posts: 10
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2021 7:12 pm

Re: New owner with questions.

Post by Fivestring63 »

I edited some things on my last post with some more details.

Fivestring63
Posts: 10
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2021 7:12 pm

Re: New owner with questions.

Post by Fivestring63 »

That rear sight you posted is like mine. also mine looks more like those 99's than it does a 96.

FredC
Posts: 1991
Joined: Fri May 31, 2013 4:38 pm
Location: Dewees Texas

Re: New owner with questions.

Post by FredC »

viewtopic.php?p=39631#p39631

Link to info on getting photos reduced to allowable size. PC and Apple info included. Doing it on a phone or tablet- beats me, maybe some one else knows.

Fivestring63
Posts: 10
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2021 7:12 pm

Re: New owner with questions.

Post by Fivestring63 »

Looks like I was finally able to put a pic up. If you look inside where the bolt slides it looks like there was a hole drilled there. Anyone seen anything like this? I got the cutoff and it won't slide all the way in.
Krag4.jpg
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Fivestring63
Posts: 10
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2021 7:12 pm

Re: New owner with questions.

Post by Fivestring63 »

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Fivestring63
Posts: 10
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2021 7:12 pm

Re: New owner with questions.

Post by Fivestring63 »

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