1898 Krąg Carbine Handguard Issues

[BigGreen2000]

Hello!

I’ve got an 1898 Krąg carbine handguard (repro) giving me trouble. I have no Krąg handguard clips, and need to adapt something else (1903A3 clips ?). In addition, the handguard only protrudes under the stock band by a mm or two. Not the cm that the carbine band is actually relieved for. Thoughts? Thanks in advance.

[butlersrangers]

Some photos will help with suggestions.

Only 5,000 U.S. Model 1898 carbines were built.
Originally, they had a short stock, (very similar to the model 1896 carbine stock), with a saddle-ring & bar.
The barrel-band is located closer to the action and it has sight-protecting ears.
Originally, the model 1898 carbines were fitted with the model 1896 carbine rear-sight, handguard and barrel-band.
The handguard is very short and has only one spring-clip, anchored to the wood with two rivets.
The front of the handguard inserts into the rear of the sight-protecting barrel-band.

However, most Model 1898 carbines were rebuilt, to be identical to the U.S. Model 1899 carbine.
They were updated with the longer model 1899 stock and a simpler barrel-band, which locates further up the barrel.
There are four or five different handguard possibilities, all of which are long and have two spring-clips.

Replacement clips can be made from steel-strapping for pallets.
Properly, riveting them to the wood is the tricky part.
Rivets can be fabricated from steel nails with a suitable sized head.

This is all a tricky project, that I have not attempted!

[BigGreen2000]

The handguard doesn’t really slide under the band here

IMG_9420 2.jpg (52.49 KiB) Viewed 510 times

[butlersrangers]

Are those all Rifle Shoppe parts (wood and metal)?

[BigGreen2000]

Nope. Prestigious Woods Stocks, Canada

[butlersrangers]

I have no direct experience with the 'Prestigious' Krag stocks or handguards.

I have made a facsimile of a model 1896 carbine stock and handguard, using a severely cut-down model 1898 rifle stock and a damaged rifle handguard (for the m-1896 sight).

The front part of a model 1896 carbine handguard is 'stepped' and fits solidly into the rear of the 'sight-protecting' carbine barrel-band.

Attached 1896 carbine handguard is borrowed from KCA main page photos:

[butlersrangers]

Do you have the replica handguard in the correct forward position?
Is your barrel-band original?
Is your new handguard cut for the sight-opening?

It is easy to have a Krag handguard too far to the rear.

The back edge of the Krag handguard DOES NOT line-up with the edge contours of the stock and receiver.
There should be some receiver-ring metal showing.

You may have to remove some handguard wood, from the rear of the sight opening and clean the corners, with small files.
Your reproduction handguard could be 'hanging-up' on the rear-sight base and not fully forward.

Also, the handguard wood in front of the sight is 'stepped'.
The stepped part of the handguard starts at the forearm 'shoulder', (that seats the back of the barrel-band), and continues forward.
The stepped projection slides deeply into the rear of the barrel-band.

[BigGreen2000]

Bingo! That solves my issue—thank you!

[BigGreen2000]

Here’s my hand guard clip solution: spring steel strip (from pallet straps) glued and screwed with brass screws. Ground down and polished flush.

IMG_9620.jpeg (771.61 KiB) Viewed 85 times

[butlersrangers]

Nice job of riveting the spring-clip to the wood.

What model Krag rear-sight are you using?

Your spring-clip appears cut-away to provide an opening for the sight base?

I don't understand. Your spring-clip appears positioned in an extremely forward position.
The rear 'clip' on all Krag handguard models is in the same position, well back of the sight-opening.