Page 2 of 3

Re: My first US Krag, an 1899 Carbine

Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2020 1:11 am
by Monster Man
The sight base is marked with a "C" and the ladder is graduated to "23". I assume from photos I have reviewed on-line that this is the authentic Carbine sight for the Krag Carbine.

Re: My first US Krag, an 1899 Carbine

Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2020 2:45 am
by butlersrangers
You have cited two identifying features of the model 1901 carbine sight.

Your sight should also have a small "c" on the eye-piece (to the left of the 'V'-notch).

Re: My first US Krag, an 1899 Carbine

Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2020 3:50 am
by Monster Man
I had to get out my magnifying glass to see the little "C" on the slide face. I suppose this is significant?

Re: My first US Krag, an 1899 Carbine

Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2020 5:30 am
by butlersrangers
I suppose it mattered to Springfield Armory, U.S. Arsenals, Depots, and Armorers, to help keep carbine and rifle sight parts from being mixed-up.

The Krag 1901 Rifle Sight had a compensation for 'bullet-drift' built into the leaf. Also, the sight-leaf range graduations were calculated and spaced for the longer sight radius of the 30 inch barrel.

The 22 inch carbine barrel had a much shorter sight-radius, so graduations had a different spacing. The carbine barrel did not show the degree of bullet drift of the rifle barrel.
There was no need to shift the eye-piece as range increased.
The 'legs' of the 1901 carbine leaf are equal in width and leaf edges are parallel. There are no inclined interior edges (like on the rifle version) to shift the eye-piece to the 'left', as the eye-piece is elevated for increased ranges.

Attached: 1. Krag 1901 carbine & rifle sights, (green markings show differences to compare). 2. Yellow circles show "C" markings on 1901 carbine-sight, (total of three). 3. Model 1899 carbine front-sight.

Re: My first US Krag, an 1899 Carbine

Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2020 4:50 pm
by butlersrangers
FWIW - Three sections of the Krag cleaning-rod are long enough to 'service' the 22" carbine barrel.

Four sections of the issue cleaning-rod are required to project out of the 30 inch rifle barrel.

If indeed, only two rod-sections were placed in the carbine butt-trap, a Cavalry Trooper, (like an Infantryman with only three rod-sections), had to borrow a rod-section from a mate to properly clean his barrel.

Now the butt-trap steel rods were only a 'field' expedient. In 'Quarters', full-length 'Brass Barracks Rods' are seen hanging on Arms-Racks, in period photographs.

(Just an observation: Mauser and Arisaka rifles carried steel cleaning-rods that were only a fraction of their barrel length).

Re: My first US Krag, an 1899 Carbine

Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2020 1:34 am
by Dick Hosmer
Chuck, does the rifle sight in your above example have a little chip off the ladder right at the pin? I never paid attention to that area before.

Re: My first US Krag, an 1899 Carbine

Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2020 4:42 am
by butlersrangers
I'm not quite following the question, Dick?

(There is nothing 'chipped' or broken off of the Leaf of that 1901 Rifle sight, that I can see).

Re: My first US Krag, an 1899 Carbine

Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2020 5:29 am
by Parashooter
?
1901 sight chip.jpg
1901 sight chip.jpg (102.23 KiB) Viewed 2207 times

Re: My first US Krag, an 1899 Carbine

Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2020 6:10 am
by Dick Hosmer
Yes, there. Guess I'm getting senile - sorry!

Re: My first US Krag, an 1899 Carbine

Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2020 6:28 am
by butlersrangers
Thanks - I will have to go through my Krag sights and find that one, over the weekend, for a closer look.