new to me Kraig 1894 saddle ring carbine
new to me Kraig 1894 saddle ring carbine
hi this is my first post as I have just purchased at auction a 1894 saddle ring carbine with a serial no date of 1896. As of yet i am awaiting delivery in about 2 weeks. the only thing I have found out about it is the manufacture date. I am not shure how many photos i can upload but the one showing the receiver with the rifle details has two later addition screws and wondered if they were for a scope mount? or something similar
Re: new to me Kraig 1894 saddle ring carbine
I am not even close to good at recognizing original carbine stuff. The first thing I saw was the saddle ring, could be OK. Then the plugged scope mount screws.
The thing that really looks wrong is the front sight. I guess there could be a slot under the added sight where the original Krag sight was removed??? If not it may be a cut down barrel.
Details of the rear sight may be necessary to identify it.
The thing that really looks wrong is the front sight. I guess there could be a slot under the added sight where the original Krag sight was removed??? If not it may be a cut down barrel.
Details of the rear sight may be necessary to identify it.
Re: new to me Kraig 1894 saddle ring carbine
Hi GHS and welcome to the official Krag Collector's site where we love to see Krags in any shape, condition and design. We'll help you answer questions about what you have bought and, preferably, help you figure out what to buy in the future.
I'll give a few observations about your new purchase from the pictures you have kindly posted.
You have coming to you a very late Model 1894 Krag rifle that has been cut down with a shortened barrel possibly to 22 inches to resemble a carbine. You measure the barrel length by sliding a cleaning rod down the EMPTY barrel with the bolt closed and measure the barrel length at the end where the cleaning rod and the muzzle meet. Many Krag rifles were considered to be too long with a 30 inch barrel for hunting, so, they were frequently cut down to carbine length to handle better in the field. They still shoot great as cut down rifles but they are not considered collectible when cut down like this because they have been altered from original military configuration. The screw holes are where a scope mount was used before.
Your cut down rifle also has been neatly fit into a real saddle carbine stock, it appears from the pictures. That stock has a good bit of value if it is not damaged or cut itself. The original Krag rifle front sight has been removed when the barrel was cut and a Springfield Model 1903 (from 1905 rifles) was affixed to the end of the barrel. This was commonly done on these "sporterized" Krags.
I can't see the rear sight well but it looks like an older Model 1894 sight but I'm not sure. Krag carbines always had different sights than rifles because of the shorter barrels and different ballistics. They were always marked somewhere with a "C" to designate a carbine adjusted sight.
The sporterized rifle you have looks quite nice overall. Look at the "Sporterized" Krag section of this website to read more about your type rifle.
And, please post more pictures for us. Include more of the stock and rear sight.
I'll give a few observations about your new purchase from the pictures you have kindly posted.
You have coming to you a very late Model 1894 Krag rifle that has been cut down with a shortened barrel possibly to 22 inches to resemble a carbine. You measure the barrel length by sliding a cleaning rod down the EMPTY barrel with the bolt closed and measure the barrel length at the end where the cleaning rod and the muzzle meet. Many Krag rifles were considered to be too long with a 30 inch barrel for hunting, so, they were frequently cut down to carbine length to handle better in the field. They still shoot great as cut down rifles but they are not considered collectible when cut down like this because they have been altered from original military configuration. The screw holes are where a scope mount was used before.
Your cut down rifle also has been neatly fit into a real saddle carbine stock, it appears from the pictures. That stock has a good bit of value if it is not damaged or cut itself. The original Krag rifle front sight has been removed when the barrel was cut and a Springfield Model 1903 (from 1905 rifles) was affixed to the end of the barrel. This was commonly done on these "sporterized" Krags.
I can't see the rear sight well but it looks like an older Model 1894 sight but I'm not sure. Krag carbines always had different sights than rifles because of the shorter barrels and different ballistics. They were always marked somewhere with a "C" to designate a carbine adjusted sight.
The sporterized rifle you have looks quite nice overall. Look at the "Sporterized" Krag section of this website to read more about your type rifle.
And, please post more pictures for us. Include more of the stock and rear sight.
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butlersrangers
- Posts: 9944
- Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 11:35 pm
- Location: Below the Bridge, Michigan
Re: new to me Kraig 1894 saddle ring carbine
'GHS' - Welcome to the KCA Forum.
It appears you have a U.S. model 1892 rifle that has been cut-down. Your Krag, #23195, was likely built around October to November, 1895.
(I don't know exactly why it was 'dated 1894', but, there are other rifles, near your serial number, that are similarly marked).
Your stock is a cut-down rifle stock, on which some one has installed a carbine sling-bar. There is likely a wood 'patch' at the butt-toe area of the stock, where a sling-swivel once resided. There is probably a patch or 'plug' at the forearm tip.
It looks like your rear-sight is a model 1892 rifle sight.
Your front-sight and barrel 'crown' are not correct for a U.S. Krag.
Your Krag was likely altered by a civilian for Hunting purposes.
It appears you have a U.S. model 1892 rifle that has been cut-down. Your Krag, #23195, was likely built around October to November, 1895.
(I don't know exactly why it was 'dated 1894', but, there are other rifles, near your serial number, that are similarly marked).
Your stock is a cut-down rifle stock, on which some one has installed a carbine sling-bar. There is likely a wood 'patch' at the butt-toe area of the stock, where a sling-swivel once resided. There is probably a patch or 'plug' at the forearm tip.
It looks like your rear-sight is a model 1892 rifle sight.
Your front-sight and barrel 'crown' are not correct for a U.S. Krag.
Your Krag was likely altered by a civilian for Hunting purposes.
Re: new to me Kraig 1894 saddle ring carbine
Thank You gentlemen when the cut down rifle arrives I will try to post more photos
Re: new to me Kraig 1894 saddle ring carbine
Oh and just to keep things kosher, it is a "KRAG", not "Kraig". Common mistake.
Thanks for sharing and we'll anxiously await more pictures.
These are great rifles to collect and shoot.
Thanks for sharing and we'll anxiously await more pictures.
These are great rifles to collect and shoot.
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Parashooter
- Posts: 708
- Joined: Thu Feb 04, 2010 5:14 am
- Location: Kragmudgeon House, CT
Re: new to me Kraig 1894 saddle ring carbine
Just one thing - No "i" in "Krag" >:(
Re: new to me Krag 1894 saddle ring carbine
the one photo i did not include is a half shot of the rear sight
Re: new to me Kraig 1894 saddle ring carbine
Yes, that is a stepped M1894 Krag rifle sight. It works well but does not have windage adjustment or fine adjustability like some of the later sights used on the Krags.
The cracked hand guard is very common and unfortunate but can be carefully glued and repaired.
If you are interested in trying to repair it yourself, let us know and we'll give you some important pointers in disassembling and repairing the hand guard and cleaning things. it will be nice to know the condition of the bore when you get it delivered.
The cracked hand guard is very common and unfortunate but can be carefully glued and repaired.
If you are interested in trying to repair it yourself, let us know and we'll give you some important pointers in disassembling and repairing the hand guard and cleaning things. it will be nice to know the condition of the bore when you get it delivered.
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butlersrangers
- Posts: 9944
- Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 11:35 pm
- Location: Below the Bridge, Michigan
Re: new to me Kraig 1894 saddle ring carbine
I wonder .... maybe the OP's stock is a carbine stock.
(It could be an 1899 'long forearm' carbine stock, the variation made to update model 1896 carbines).
There may be a carbine barrel-band spring 'hiding' in the photo's glare.
Still, someone has altered the stock to accept a model 1896 'sling-bar'.
(It could be an 1899 'long forearm' carbine stock, the variation made to update model 1896 carbines).
There may be a carbine barrel-band spring 'hiding' in the photo's glare.
Still, someone has altered the stock to accept a model 1896 'sling-bar'.