1898 Krag sights

[Bill Rogers]

Hello I just picked up another Krag. It was a good deal the action and barrel are all in good to great condition for its age. The stock is a mess. Someone sportsterized it and it's been screwed, glued, and maybe chewed back together. I do have an old empty Krag stock which I may use or I may keep this one as a sporter and put a newer custom stock on it. My question is the rear sight on this one is unlike any of my other Krags. The horns are very tall which makes the initial target view easier to line up. I was talking with my smith and he referred to it maybe as a battle sight. The front blade looks fairly standard. I tried to attach a few pics but didn't have luck figuring out this system and path to do so. Has anyone seen the tall horns on the rear sight?

[Bill Rogers]

going by old soldiers pictures it most closely resembles the 96 carbine sight except for those horns. I have looked very closely and can't see where it looks like it was added to or altered.

[FredC]

Sure would be a coincidence if that is the 98 carbine sight that Br has been looking for.

Even if it is not, photos would help the wise persons here identify what you got.

[Bill Rogers]

if someone can help me post the pics I would send them to you

[butlersrangers]

If you send images to me, I will repost your photos on the KCA Forum.

[Bill Rogers]

I am also considering a nice sporter stock for this one as I have several originals. I did a 1909 Argentine Mauser with a Boyd stock but it seems they have stopped the Krag production. I have seen some others and I am going to keep poking around. Have any of you used a particular sporter stock from a particular company? I'd be interested in checking them out. I have seen some ranging from $150-$400.

[butlersrangers]

Attached are Bill Roger's photos of his sights.

The rear-sight is a U.S. model 1896 rifle sight. It is installed on the barrel 'backwards'. A coarse large "V" has been soldered on the top of the original 'eye-piece'.
(I don't totally know why this extreme extension was done. Part of the problem was too tall a front-sight).

Bill's front-sight is a 1903 Springfield 'banded' sight. The 1903 sight is taller than an original Krag sight.

[FredC]

Backwards to improve sight picture?

[butlersrangers]

A previous owner may have been nearsighted.

[MooseNugget]

I think it's a scarce Buffington Bunny Ear sight modification done at the Springfield Armory.