New Krag Carbine

[Whig]

Krags have all kinds of number and symbol stampings that are not meaningful- assembly or inspector marks. I don't know why yours would have a "99" stamped. Take pictures and show us these. Make sure there are no vise marks from changing barrels. Also, there should be a "P" proof stamp on the barrel right in front of the receiver. It's always a good idea to inspect the barrel and stock for anything unusual or unexpected which could indicate tampering or alteration changes. Most Krags have bee changed from their original military configuration from Springfield Armory. That's a good sign about the front sight blade having the "c" stamping, though.

[tke466]

Hi tke466,

Once again welcome to the KCA Forum.

You have a very nice 1898 carbine that you've added to you gun collection and I hope your able to acquire some some ammo to go shoot that thing!

You've submitted very nice pictures of your new girl (or old lady) and by all appearances your workshop seems impeccable...a true gunsmith.

BTW: If you already haven't learned/figured this out...the correct way to remove the handguard is to:

1. Remove the rear sight.
2. Slide the handguard toward the muzzle.
3. Lift the handguard off the barrel.
4. After removing the handguard place a quarter in between the large retaining clip and a nickel between the smaller. Doing this helps prevent the handguard from cracking due to the clips spring tension.

Please DO NOT try to pry the handguard up and off the barrel from it's current location.

Congrats once again on your superb 1898 Krag carbine...you have a good eye for guns!

Great tip. I was concerned of the fragility of the handguard when I removed it to clean the gun and inspect. I feel that I may have gotten lucky. I will use this procedure for piece of mind.

Thanks for the kind words, but this is just a temporary work space for me while I'm building my house. It works for now.

I'll take the gun back down and get the group some shots "under the hood".

[butlersrangers]

Jeremy's front sight-blade is a bit of an enigma.
His "C" is visible, when the blade is installed in the base.
The blade, if removed from the base, appears that it would measure .355 inches in height, which would be correct for use with the model 1901 and model 1902 rear carbine sights.

The enigma is that the "C" is on the left-side of the blade.

Typically, the carbine front blade, that goes with the model 1901 and model 1902 carbine rear-sights, measures .355 inches.
The "C" is visible with the blade installed in its base.
But the "C" is normally on the right-side of the blade.

(The 1896 and 1898 carbines, when first built, were fitted with the model 1896 carbine rear-sight.
The front sight-blade was shorter and measured only .266 inches.
It was marked with a "C", down low on the left-side.
The "C" mark was not visible, when the 1896 carbine blade was installed in the base 'stud)'.

[Maybe, like with the 1902 carbine rear-sight bases, some elderly 'part-time' worker couldn't get the "markings" consistently correct]?

[tke466]

Under the hood pictures.

[tke466]

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[tke466]

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[tke466]

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[tke466]

Cont... Sorry, it seems these pictures are uploading out of order!

[tke466]

Pulled the front sight back out and took some detail for you guys.

[Mike4MSU]

The enigma is that the "C" is on the left-side of the blade.

Typically, the carbine front blade, that goes with the model 1901 and model 1902 carbine rear-sights, measures .355 inches.
The "C" is visible with the blade installed in its base.
But the "C" is normally on the right-side of the blade.

Oddly, my 1899 Carbine also has the “C” on the left side of the front blade.