Krag Collectors Association Forum

I'm with BR. Your stock likely got changed during some rebuild. 22018 has an 1895 cartouche. Can't say it didn't get swapped someone along the line. The high hump sights are the same sights that were shipped later for the 1896 Cadet rifles that were already delivered sans sights.

Geez, I guess there are too many variables. But I just couldn't explain the 1896 cartouche. Now if it is because of a stock replacement, well then that changes the pedigree. So during the 1896 updates the original stock was replaced and didn't stay with the gun? A different already altered stock was grabbed (from another 1892 rifle)? Then the stock original to this rifle, if it was still in good condition, was altered and put on a different rifle? Splitting hairs here, but researching details, on things that interest me, sometimes I go farther than most would.

As I understand things, during re-building and major updating of Krags, at Springfield Armory, the Rifles and Carbines were taken apart.

The parts were inspected and serviceable parts underwent specified treatment and refinish.

The 'recycled' metal and wood components went into Bins. The 'rebuilt' rifles were assembled with randomly selected parts.

The rebuilt arms were function tested and fired. When "passed", a 'circle P' was applied to the stock wrist in the area behind the trigger-guard.

Ohhtay!!! So my stock may not be original to the rifle, but it was still likely installed by the armory. Plus, I got a high hump rear sight. I'm good with that. :)

This is NOT intended as ANY sort of put-down, or any desire to stop the discussion. We find many 'odd' assemblies today. Some are so goofy that they can be dismissed out of hand, but others are quite logical, and MAY well be (within reason) "correct". The arms have passed through too many hands, with no chain of custody, to be 100% certain in all cases.

Bottom line: The personnel of the Ordnance Department were trying to field the most up-to-date TOOL that could be provided to the soldier, and that involved swapping some parts, not always at the same time, or place, and not always with the same parts(!) though they WERE also striving for interchangeabiity. They had absolutely NO thought that they might be confusing future participants in a hobby that had not even been invented yet!

End of rant :) :)

These were the early days of fully interchangeable parts and they tested the limits, when doing refurbs. In earlier days mixing parts like this would have been impossible.

BTW - Knute's bolt (body) is the early type or "model 1892", with the solid rib.

The 'Striker Mechanism/bolt sleeve/extractor' are of a later type.

His bolt body has none of these listed changes.

The dragnet for non-converted model 1892 rifles in 1901.

Hmmmm - wonder where you would find one with a "Model 1892" stamping?

The following is from The Secretary of Senate report fiscal year ending 6/30/1897. It lists the expenditures for the Springfield Armory. Circled in blue is in regards to model 1892 alterations. Not sure if I understand what it means.