Can't find info on this gun

[kylemountainguns]

Purchased a rifle with barrel/action noting model 1898. The barrel is 24" and the stock seems to be a carbine. Anyone know if this is an 1898 variation or what would explain this?

Photo Attached.


Thanks for any help.

[FredC]

Welcome to the KCA.
It certainly is a nice looking Krag. As fa as i know there was none produced with a 24 inch barrel. All rifles had 30 inches except a very small number of BoOF rifles with 26". Carbines of course were 22inches. Your front sight looks like a modified or aftermarket substitute. A close up will tell more.
The stock looks nice, others will be able to tell if it is a carbine stock of a modified rifle stock. A close up of the front end of the stock will give more clues.

[kylemountainguns]

Here are other photos.

[Whig]

Kyle,

Welcome to the KCA forum!

You have a cut down rifle barrel in a cut down rifle stock with no hand guard, an after market front sight but a nice Model 1901 carbine rear sight. A lot has been done to alter this Krag rifle from its original Springfield Armory configuration but if the bore is good, it should be a good shooting Krag. These sporterized Krags were commonly made by different people or places in the 20s and 30s when Krags were easy to buy for a couple dollars and people wanted nice hunting rifles. Cut down 30 inch barreled Krag rifles were easier to carry to hunt with and .30-40 Krag ammo was plentiful and inexpensive years ago.

If you plan to shoot it, make sure the bore looks clear and that the bolt functions well and that there are no obvious cracks in the bolt. Very uncommon but some have had problems. Most of these shoot well and all factory Krag ammunition is fine to use in these Krags. Keep us informed.

[butlersrangers]

Welcome Kyle - What 'Whig' said!

Krag rifles that were cut-down for Deer Hunting are a lot of fun, but just not very valuable.
They often have great bores.

The 'banded' front-sight appears to be a 1903 Springfield sight. Your carbine rear-sight is worth about $200 to $275.

[butlersrangers]

A couple of additional points about Kyle's stock.
I believe it is actually a 'cut-down' model 1896 rifle stock. The 'scalloped' relief around the bolt-handle, (indicated by the white arrow), is not present on model 1898 rifle stocks.
Also, the barrel-band has been moved to the rear about 2 & 1/4 inches. Now the barrel-band is behind the stock mortise for the front handguard clip, (note red arrow).

[psteinmayer]

Hi... and let me add my welcome to the KCA forum! You've found a great bunch of Krag enthusiasts here!

That is a sweet looking cutdown sporter there... it should be a great shooter!

I suspect that with the barrel band moved rearward as it is, it no longer fits the dimensions of the barrel (because of the taper) unless the person who sporterized it also filed the band to enlarge the radius. With the 1898 barrelled action in the 1896 stock... could this be a Bannerman?

[FredC]

A couple of additional points about Kyle's stock.
I believe it is actually a 'cut-down' model 1896 rifle stock. The 'scalloped' relief around the bolt-handle, (indicated by the white arrow), is not present on model 1898 rifle stocks.
Also, the barrel-band has been moved to the rear about 2 & 1/4 inches. Now the barrel-band is behind the stock mortise for the front handguard clip, (note red arrow).

I did not catch the cut out on the stock. The serial number is too high for a 96 isn't it? With the shadow around the bolt and 96 notch in the stock I am thinking that is a 98 receiver. Will a 98 receiver drop into a 96 stock?
Certainly a beautiful rifle with a colorful history.

[Whig]

The '98 drops into the '96 but not the other way around.

[butlersrangers]

Whig is correct about a model 1898 Krag action being able to fit into a model 1896 stock.

It just leaves a large gap around the bolt-handle, which is a bit unsightly.
(Attached is a 'brightened' copy of Kyle's stock).

Out of need, I once altered a model 1898 (cut-down) stock, so that it would accept a model 1896 action.
It was fun proving to myself that it could be done.