New Rifle and Carbine

U.S. Military Krags
Zac952
Posts: 159
Joined: Wed Apr 07, 2021 1:37 am

New Rifle and Carbine

Post by Zac952 »

I wanted to share with you guys some of my recent additions, an 1898 Krag rifle with excellent finish, it was missing both the upper handguard and rear sight. Total price was about $700.
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Then an 1899 Carbine, the stock had been sanded by the butplate as a chip was likely there, it had a incorrect front sight and a rifle rear sight, but was otherwise in good condition with a great barrel. Metal finish is pretty worn on all the case hardened parts, stock has no cartouche but has no proof mark with a stamped 64 behind the trigger guard so I believe it is a field replacement. Total price was $840.
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I swapped my 1901 Carbine sight that I had fitted rifle slide assembly to this Carbine so its mostly correct, I also fitted a SS firearms replacement front blade to it so it looks correct, I filed it down to the correct Carbine sight height and flame blued it, the pin hole in the front sight base was enlarged so I had to also drill out the replacement blade hole. I think it looks OK. Better now then with the brass bead it had.
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I had a 1901 handguard on my short rifle that I put on the 1898 Rifle with the 1901 Rifle sight from the carbine.
Last edited by Zac952 on Sat Jul 31, 2021 6:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Zac952
Posts: 159
Joined: Wed Apr 07, 2021 1:37 am

Re: New Rifle and Carbine

Post by Zac952 »

Here is the whole family!
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Also the 1898 Rifle serial number is 468193
The 1899 Carbine serial is 286257
Feel free to add them to the database

Zac952
Posts: 159
Joined: Wed Apr 07, 2021 1:37 am

Re: New Rifle and Carbine

Post by Zac952 »

Some more pictures of the carbine, it may be Italian walnut? Not sure I just know it's significantly more yellow than my other Krags, the handguard on it that would have been replaced when the sight was updated is also much darker than the stock, what do you guys think?
Here are a few more pictures
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Ned Butts
Site Admin
Posts: 1257
Joined: Mon Apr 01, 2002 5:02 am
Location: Western Catskills NY

Re: New Rifle and Carbine

Post by Ned Butts »

Rifle serial number sure looks like 488... in the pictures. Could be the shine of the finish makes it hard to tell.
Carbine stock looks like Italian walnut, what does the inside look like?
Very nice looking additions for sure!!

Whig
Posts: 1992
Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2016 12:53 am

Re: New Rifle and Carbine

Post by Whig »

I sure thought that he had a 488K Krag also. Higher than my 482K. But, I'll take op's word for the 468K. The picture enlarged does show slight difference in the shape of the top right side of the number that coincides with the "6" as different than the "8". Picture is not as sharp as needed to tell for sure.

But, you have a great collection of Krags there. Keep up the good work!
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Ned Butts
Site Admin
Posts: 1257
Joined: Mon Apr 01, 2002 5:02 am
Location: Western Catskills NY

Re: New Rifle and Carbine

Post by Ned Butts »

Whig's enlargement does show the second number to be more like a 6. Thanks

Zac952
Posts: 159
Joined: Wed Apr 07, 2021 1:37 am

Re: New Rifle and Carbine

Post by Zac952 »

The 1898 Rifle is 468193, the 6 is stamped deeply making it look like a 8 in every picture I try to take. Here is the inside of the Carbine stock, it's dark from all the oil over the years,
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Thanks Whig! Krags sure are addicting!

Whig
Posts: 1992
Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2016 12:53 am

Re: New Rifle and Carbine

Post by Whig »

I think Italian Walnut stocks are way over called. Just because some wood looks a little light does not mean it is Italian Walnut. It is an interesting variation in Krag collecting but not too important. I actually love the deep American Walnut look better with 100+ years of patina.

I didn't see where you have shot any of your Krags yet. Time to do some reloading and go to the range for some Krag blasting! Then you've really had some fun.

It is amazing how, as time goes on, we see more and more Krags that are being reconfigured to try to get them more "correct" to how Springfield Armory manufactured them. I have done so some myself. This will never make them more "original" but it is a valiant effort to try to get them complete and correct sometimes (not always!). There are still many among us who think that we should keep as many Krags as possible as found, if not sporterized or significantly abused or damaged. because many of these Krags are as they are because of the long military history they may have experienced. If we keep reconfiguring good Krags, we lose a lot of that honest historical change to our Krags as well as a lot of the mystery that keeps us studying so many variations and changes.

But, when you come across a Krag that is missing vital pieces or is terribly incorrect, as with op's Krags, it is reasonable to try to fix them up.

Good job and let us know when you take them out to the range.

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

Re: New Rifle and Carbine

Post by butlersrangers »

Nice Krag Battery!

Zac952
Posts: 159
Joined: Wed Apr 07, 2021 1:37 am

Re: New Rifle and Carbine

Post by Zac952 »

I'm with you there Whig, when I found out the front sight hole was too big I decided since I had to modify a blade I would go with a reproduction, I couldn't bring myself to modify an original part, I also try not to support ebay sellers and others who break up good Krags for parts. This really jumbles history in finding an "original krag".
I should get out to shoot it today, so I'll post some pictures tonight.

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