New to Krags

U.S. Military Krags
Travelworn
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue May 17, 2022 7:23 am

New to Krags

Post by Travelworn »

I got this Krag at an auction about a month ago. The serial number range doesn't make sense to me for an 1896, but that is what it is stamped as. The barrel is about 21 1/2 inched long. The stock has been sporterized and the rear sight is missing. The bore cleaned up beautifully and the action is butter smooth after oiling. I plan on making this a shooter, but I'm trying to figure out if I actually have a sporterized carbine or a sporterized rifle. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Bear with me while I upload photos.
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FredC
Posts: 1991
Joined: Fri May 31, 2013 4:38 pm
Location: Dewees Texas

Re: New to Krags

Post by FredC »

The front sight looks like it could be original. If so the barrel should be exactly 22 inches for an original carbine. You might want to verify that measurement. Members here have recommended using a cleaning rod to touch the bolt face. Then measure the cleaning rod. To make a shooter out of it for hunting distances one could put any sight in the rear and cut a front blade to a good zero point. How about a photo of the bolt handle side?
A nicely done sporter can be fun to shoot and a lot more affordable than a clean as issued carbine.

Correction made to not cause confusion, not 21.
Last edited by FredC on Tue Jun 28, 2022 11:53 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Parashooter
Posts: 706
Joined: Thu Feb 04, 2010 5:14 am
Location: Kragmudgeon House, CT

Re: New to Krags

Post by Parashooter »

FredC wrote: Tue Jun 28, 2022 3:38 am. . . the barrel should be exactly 21 inches for an original carbine. . .
21 inches? :o
I have been under the impression it was 22 inches.

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

Re: New to Krags

Post by FredC »

Parashooter,
Sorry, I knew it was not a fractional number. 22 inches is correct. That even makes more sense if Travelworn measured to the edge of the receiver instead of the bolt face.
Thanks again for the correction.

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Culpeper
Posts: 1520
Joined: Wed Mar 30, 2005 2:01 am

Re: New to Krags

Post by Culpeper »

It is already a sporter of sorts. It looks like it has a cut down stock with rifle sling metal. If the barrel really is twenty-two inches long measured from the bolt face then it looks like you have a Model 1896 Carbine on your hands. I see you have rear sight screws on the barrel. DO NOT LOSE THEM or fill in the holes. All you would need to do is to get a 1896 rear sight and you would be good to go. Finding a rifle sight is easier than a carbine sight, which would run big bucks, and because some jackass would have stripped it off a carbine to make a quick buck. I suspect that may have happened to yours. Plus more rifles were made than carbines making the sights less rare.

So you need to get two more pics for us if you please. One of the front sight and muzzle crown and, two, the right side of the stock at the front band. We need to verify if it has a pin (rifle stock) or a spring (carbine stock). My money is on rifle stock.

All the best
Deacon in the Church of the Mighty Krag. Member of PETA (People Eating Tasty Animals).  Liberty Works Radio

Travelworn
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue May 17, 2022 7:23 am

Re: New to Krags

Post by Travelworn »

All right gentlemen, I'll get those pics later tonight whenever I get back home, it'll be after 9 pm eastern time. I'll also get a better measurement of the barrel length. I appreciate all the help.

Travelworn
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue May 17, 2022 7:23 am

Re: New to Krags

Post by Travelworn »

Ok...here are the other pics. It looks like a rifle stock plugged and cut down.
I put a cleaning rod down the barrel with the bolt closed, it came out to 22 inches long.
Anymore help would be greatly appreciated!
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FredC
Posts: 1991
Joined: Fri May 31, 2013 4:38 pm
Location: Dewees Texas

Re: New to Krags

Post by FredC »

Sure looks to me you have a carbine barrel on a 96 receiver. I have no clue on the stock. I hope that is grease or something noncorrosive in the end of the barrel. There are leaf cutting bees here that will fill every hole with a nest and the resulting bee larva poop is very corrosive in bolt holes and anything else they nest in.
Since you will be needing a rear sight you might think about some of the after market sights of days gone by. Br has thought of doing a test on the ones that can be scrounged up today. viewtopic.php?p=41630#p41630 Maybe cheaper and better to go this route instead of pursuing a 96 carbine sight that may cost $1000.00.
Others maybe able to tell if your serial number on the receiver is in the range of known carbines. If so watchful waiting could find bargains on restoring to a more original look. Or maybe you will stay with the sporter look and avoid the rabbit hole of trying to make an original carbine out of it.

Travelworn
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue May 17, 2022 7:23 am

Re: New to Krags

Post by Travelworn »

Belive it or not, that "thing in the end of the muzzl" is from the flash of the camera. I cleaned and cleaned the barrel. Lol
I'm still trying to decide which direction to go. When I bidded on the rifle the auctioneer said the barrel was drilled and tapped for a scope. I looked at it and realized it was were the rear sight went. I'm amazed the original screws are still with it. I've learned those are like finding hens teeth!
Because of the description and the stock I got it for WAY less than I imagined possible.

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

Re: New to Krags

Post by butlersrangers »

'Travelworn' - Welcome to the KCA Forum.
It appears you obtained a useful Krag that should give you some good recreational value.

It is my opinion that you Krag is simply a 'parts gun' and has no model 1896 carbine content.
I believe your front sight has been neatly re-attached to a rifle barrel that was cut to 22 inches.

The muzzle-crown and front-sight attachment do not look exactly correct to me.

Your Krag, #93620, was manufactured around February to April 1898. Krags manufactured near your serial number are all model 1896 rifles.

(Model 1896 carbines are clustered around #24709 - 35792 and #67010 - 79764).

I believe your stock is a 'sporterized' model 1892 rifle stock. These stocks had a 'cleaning-rod groove' in the forearm.
Your stock appears to have the crudely filled remains of such a groove.
The definitive 'proof' would be if your stock has a steel 'cleaning-rod stop' inletted into the wood below the receiver-ring.

Attached: Photo of your stock tip compared with details of model 1892 stock and your muzzle crown/ front-sight base photo contrasted with an actual carbine muzzle area.
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