1899 carbine with odd barrel

[butlersrangers]

FWIW: If your bore is good, I would recommend fixing the rear sight knob and enjoying your nice Krag, as it is. Put the additional money into shooting, developing a library, and more Krags!

BTW: That is a correct model 1901 carbine sight on your Krag. There are three "c" markings: on base, side of leaf, and on 'slide-notch'.

[RedLeg0811]

Will do, thanks. I have wanted a Krag for a long time, but the ones that I saw were either too expensive or messed with and the person wanted unmessed with prices. I will get a Krag rifle to add to my collection. Just not sure when.

Thanks

[butlersrangers]

'RedLeg0811': I am curious about the length of your Krag's barrel.

Your Krag is a nice utility rifle that you don't have to feel guilty about using. Carbine length Krags are fun shooters.

IMHO - You also have some valuable parts: 1899 carbine stock ($300), 1901 carbine rear-sight ($150), 1899 carbine barrel-band ($50), plus all the other parts. More fun than money in the bank!

(p.s. - If they appear chewed up, your barrel's sight-screw holes were probably damaged by 'forcing' incorrect thread replacement screws. Original Krag sight-screws have an unusual .156"X30tpi thread).

[RedLeg0811]

I will try and measure tonight as I will be in the shop working with my son on his Cub Scout regatta boat.

This is why I like the old military firearms as it is like a puzzle to figure out what happened with it. I do find it interesting that the barrel was replaced as the rest of the rifle is in good shape very little rust in some of the cervices that I was able to clean up with Corrosion X, cotton patch and elbow grease. Wonder if it was shot and not cleaned then the bore was super corroded.

Thanks
Martin

[butlersrangers]

Martin: The U. S. military .30-40 ammo was quite corrosive with the early smokeless powders and mercuric priming. If proper cleaning was not done, soon after firing, there was damage to the bore.

I have a model 1899 Krag, similar to yours, that was used for Hunting. It has a pristine bore and a replacement 'banded front-sight'. The barrel is a original Krag barrel, but, it is 22&1/4 inches long. It has to be a rifle barrel that was shortened. When I got the Krag, it was in a horribly re-shaped Krag carbine stock. I put it in a cut-down rifle stock and it is probably my favorite Krag for shooting!

The Krag was very inexpensive and popular, as a Hunting rifle, in the 1920s to 1940s. There were surplus parts and barrels. There were commercial 'after-market' sights available. Sometimes 1903 Springfield barrels were altered to .30-40 for use on the Krag. The 1903 Springfield front-sight was a cheap and viable replacement sight. Altering Krags was common work for professional and amateur gunsmiths of that era.

IMHO - Barrel replacement seems to have been relatively common on Krags used for Hunting. (Who wants a crappy bore)?

[RedLeg0811]

I measured the barrel and it was 22".

Here are some other picture. Noticed the 48 by the proof mark. Not sure what it is for? It has been awhile since I have read Poyers book, so it might be in there.

[butlersrangers]

The #48 is believed to be a sub-inspector or stock worker mark. Most Krags have initials or a number in that area. (The exact identity or significance is now unknown).

Nice New Jersey marked butt-plate.

The barrel crown is not the correct muzzle 'contour' for Springfield Armory work. It is likely someone cut a longer barrel to 22 inches.

Then again, maybe the crown just looks odd because a 'step' was turned at the muzzle area to accept the 1903 'banded' front-sight.

FWIW - Fitting a 1903 Springfield front-sight was a common and inexpensive 'Civilian fix' to provide a sight on a shortened barrel. It is unlikely this would be done on a carbine barrel, which had a perfectly nice front-sight base, for which various commercial sight blades were available.

(For comparison - photo of 1899 carbine front sight & muzzle area):

[RedLeg0811]

Thanks for all the info. It will still be a fun rifle to shoot. I have not had the chance yet. It is annoying that I belong to a range and have not had time to use it between, family stuff, work and Cub Scouts with my son.

Thanks again
Martin