My 1898 Carbine

U.S. Military Krags
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Stiff
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun Feb 16, 2020 4:31 pm

My 1898 Carbine

Post by Stiff »

Good day to you all,

A number of years ago I shared this example on Jouster2 ( Mr. Hosmer and a few others may recall) and decided to join and share on this spectacular site as well. At the time I was actively searching for a M1896 Carbine, I happened across and traded into this particular example. It is a "Carbine" (SN# 124847) that according to the owner, he acquired from Bill Mook. Bill told him that it was "a parts gun as was 90% of the carbines out there" and the gentleman I traded with made no attempt to claim that it was an original Carbine at all to me. Carbine also bears the name “Wm Mook, 2005” in what appears to be silver pencil inside the stock (see attached image).

Thank you kindly for allowing me to share, and will add my M1896 and M1898 rifles as time allows as well.
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butlersrangers
Posts: 9827
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 11:35 pm
Location: Below the Bridge, Michigan

Re: My 1898 Carbine

Post by butlersrangers »

You have a nice looking "parts" Krag carbine, with a great story.

(It was very ethical of Bill Mook to mark his assembly of original parts for posterity).

Does your "carbine" have a model 1896 carbine rear-sight?

Do you think the receiver came from a model 1898 rifle?

Thanks for sharing!

Stiff
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun Feb 16, 2020 4:31 pm

Re: My 1898 Carbine

Post by Stiff »

butlersrangers wrote: Sat May 15, 2021 4:35 pm You have a nice looking "parts" Krag carbine, with a great story.

(It was very ethical of Bill Mook to mark his assembly of original parts for posterity).

Does your "carbine" have a model 1896 carbine rear-sight?

Do you think the receiver came from a model 1898 rifle?

Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for the compliment, it is appreciated!

I absolutely concur on the ethics of marking the stock. Yes indeed, M1896 Carbine rear sight assembly, and all other components appear to be authentic to the M1898 Carbine variant as well. As for the receiver, although it does fit with in the serial range of an original, I myself would choose to err on the side of it not being original unless proven otherwise.

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Dick Hosmer
Posts: 2273
Joined: Sun Nov 20, 2005 4:11 pm

Re: My 1898 Carbine

Post by Dick Hosmer »

I'd like to think that Bill would not have used a cut-off rifle when he assembled that, especially when he put his name on it.

Rather, I'd prefer to believe that he 'rescued' it from 1899 configuration, and simply meant that all of the parts, even though "correct", were not from the same gun.

Stiff
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun Feb 16, 2020 4:31 pm

Re: My 1898 Carbine

Post by Stiff »

Dick Hosmer wrote: Mon May 17, 2021 12:30 am I'd like to think that Bill would not have used a cut-off rifle when he assembled that, especially when he put his name on it.

Rather, I'd prefer to believe that he 'rescued' it from 1899 configuration, and simply meant that all of the parts, even though "correct", were not from the same gun.
Thank you very much for your opinion Mr. Hosmer, it appreciated. I had not considered the avenue of a restoration route prior. I agree that seems the mostly likely course of action as well!

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