Krag Collectors Association Forum

Looking for one for restoration project.
Does anyone know of one for sale and what the going price is currently?

Not to be too discouraging but Model 1896 carbine sights are, like my grandfather used to say, as rare as hen's teeth. They are out there but very, very hard to find. Last one I saw that sold went for around $1,000. How's your plan for total restoration now? I need a couple but don't have my hopes up too high. I already have found a few over the years but took a lot of careful searching!

Be very careful! There are fakes out there. I just posted a topic on a high end auction house selling a nice Model 1896 carbine with a fake carbine rear sight. They changed the item description to include that little factoid after I placed a healthy bid on the carbine when the original item description said it was an authentic carbine sight. After I saw the change, I retracted my bid and won't bid on that auction site's items again! They screwed me once before.

But, please let us know about the project. Just get a much cheaper Model 1896 rifle sight which might set you back $80-100.

Hey Whig, just a question. My correct 1899 constabulary/school rifle has a correct ‘C’ carbine rear sight on it. My faintly cartouche [lightly sanded I think] 1896 saddle ring carbine that I found last March has a ordinary rifle sight. Which rifle would be more valuable with the coveted ‘C’ sight not that I plan to muck with either sight.

96 Saddle ring carbine

Agree. Switch them out. Can you show us a picture of the carbine sight? I have seen about 5 fakes so far. I doubt your's is fake but it would be good to see it, confirm it is real, and drool over another good Model 1896 carbine rear sight! Glad to hear you have one. They are out there!

Here it is. [attachment=

'Baltimoreed' - You are having a senior moment.

That is a model 1901 carbine sight, that you have shown in your photos.
It is not compatible with your model 1896 carbine stock, hand-guard, and barrel-band.

Leave the 1901 carbine sight and its specific 'protective' hand-guard on your school rifle.

The 1901 and 1902 carbine sights were intended to be used only with 1899 dimensioned carbine stocks.
(The 1896 carbine sight was also used on some 1899 carbines, with a specific protective hand-guard).

There was a late replacement stock made for the 1896 carbine, that used 1899 stock dimensions. This stock utilized the 1899 barrel-band and did allow the use of model 1896, 1901, and 1902 carbine sights, when coupled with appropriate (sight 'cut-out') hand-guards.

Thank you sir for the clarification. Not the first time I’ve been confused. Probably not the last either.

Big difference between the two but it is still a nice Krag carbine rear sight to have. These are more readily available and are on ebay a lot often for $150-200 or so. Keep looking for the Model 1896 rear sight. Quite a treasure if you run across one these days.

Model 1896 rear sight: