1899 Krag Carbine

[GUNZABLAZIN]

I found a Carbine in a pawn shop, it has the C on the front and rear sights , bbl is 22 inches , hump sight protector, 2300 yard on the sight. The S/N is weird, the first number looks like an 8, should probably be a 3 . Now the bad , the stock looks maybe to be sanded, or possibly verry worn, stock has been drilled for a sling, and a rubber buttpad has been attached , from the trigger to the end of the butt is exactly 13 inches, and a wood plug is fitted into the top of the butt. How much would these hurt the value of a real Krag Carbine ? I can only post so many pictures, Ill have to post more in another thread .They wanted $1250, Igot them down to $1100.

[GUNZABLAZIN]

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[Whig]

Welcome to KCA. Thanks for stopping by and asking about this Krag carbine before buying it. Maybe we can help you make a more educated decision.

You are examining a Model 1899 Krag carbine. These are most common and the least expensive of the Krag carbines seen. But, they are still desirable. The altered stock makes this a sporterized stock which does lower the value of the entire carbine. It has a correct carbine rear sight which is good. The barrel looks uncut. The serial number jumble is interesting but doesn't detract from value. I would say this might be worth around $800-1000. Some people may say more but it is hard to find a correct replacement carbine stock in good condition for a replacement. Hopefully, also, the bore is in good shape. A bad bore drops value even more. If I wanted a correct military configuration Krag carbine, I would keep searching. I am assuming, also, with this Krag that the butt was cut down slightly to fit the butt pad it has on it. If no damage was done, a replacement butt plate might be able to be added. Replacement parts are OK but anything cut or permanently altered is not good for value. If that black spacer is screwed in and the original cutout for the edge of the metal butt plate can be popped out, a replacement butt plate could be re-attached. That stock is certainly very worn as you can see from the finger grooves which are almost gone. If it had been sanded overall, the cartouche would be gone also. If you can find one, a replacement carbine stock would run around $500 or more. You don't see many around. Correct Model 1899 carbines are selling for around $1500-1800 recently. I'd try to get them down more or keep looking.

[Culpeper]

Buy it. Don't think twice. Oh, sorry. That was my inner voice telling me what to do if I was standing in front of it.

Welcome to the Greatest Krag Forum in the known universe. The smarter guys will be along in a bit.

Culpeper

[GUNZABLAZIN]

The Cartouche is there , hard to read , i think its 1901, S/N makes it a 1902 I think , the length of the butt measured 13 inches from the trigger to the end of the butt , you can see the plug on top of the butt, if it could be removed i think you could just screw on the metal plate .

[butlersrangers]

Yes, that is a real model 1899 carbine. Too bad about the stock being sanded and the butt being cut square for a rubber butt-pad.

The front and rear-sight look totally correct.

To install an original Krag butt-plate, it would have to be hand-fitted and would be 'proud' (project) at the sides and bottom.
About 3/8ths inch of wood has been cut-off the butt, to eliminate the 'recurve' in the toe area.

(I think, I have a couple of 'altered' Krag butt-plates that could be made to work, which are free for the asking).

The sling-swivels are add-ons, and the screw holes could be filled.

The crazy serial number looks like a double-strike by a damaged Die.

IMO - The price is not a bargain, but, if the bore is 'Stellar', the price is not too far off. With some decent wood repair, it could look pleasing.

attached photos - OP's possible purchase, the mis-stamped serial number, a normal '99 carbine number from the same production 'block', a Krag butt-plate, and a restored model 1899 carbine (with 1902 carbine sight).

[Dick Hosmer]

Yes, I'd keep looking for a better one, as has been stated above.

As an aside, that is the first good picture I've ever seen of one of the (in)famous "800K" stamps. Even though we KNOW it HAS to be a "3" I can certainly see how someone (especially a novice) might argue otherwise, and pretty strongly at that! In fact, I'm even wondering if little Bobby Buttweasel actually managed - in the dim and smoky light - to insert an 8 into the holder, and a few receivers were run before it was noticed. That does NOT validate the "wrong" number as an 800, however - and any such number should be arbitrarily reported - on our inventory list - as a 300. Remember that Krag production was very carefully accounted for as we were paying a royalty.

[butlersrangers]

I would hold to the 'broken' Die Theory, because the first digit appears to be in a 'taller' font, than the following digits, which are all of equal height.
Something had to be 'floating' or moving around, when the serial number was rolled or stamped.

(The only other explanation, I can think of, is that a single "8" hand stamp was used to alter and overstrike the original Armory "3", but this would be farfetched).

An informed dealer would be in a real quandary recording this serial number on a BATF form!

BTW - serial number, 356106, would date from around November 1901.

[scottz63]

That sure does look like an 8. the crossover in the middle is very 8 like.

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[Mike4MSU]

That sure does look like an 8. the crossover in the middle is very 8 like.

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I agree. The crossover looks too clean to be anything other than an 8.