Krag Collectors Association Forum

Very nice trapdoor and with a history to boot.
The rifle is a bit of an oddity. I believe that it is an arsenal rebuild. If it was indeed from 1889 it would have a model 1884 stamped block. So it's a model 1873 rebuild from an unknown time period but most certainly after 1889 but undoubtedly before 1898 in order for it to have served in Cuba.
The Buffington sight didn't appear until 1884 and was one of the updates of that model. I noticed that your rifle doesn't have the correct middle band for the Buffington sight. It should have a divit on the top so the sight snaps down and locks in place on the large mounting screw.
A friend of mine has an equally strange trapdoor rifle. It's an 1873 block and action with an 1890 cartouched stock. It has the Buffington sight with correct middle band and had the useless ramrod bayonet retrofitted to it.
Myself I have a model 1888 trapdoor cartouched in 1892 so it's among the last batch ever made. SRS returned no hit. It's in excellent condition and the bore would give yours a run for the money. It shoots amazing with my handloads. I did add a raised front sight to shoot accurately at 100 yards. I recently loaded up some rounds with Hodgdon FF 777 bp substitute and can't wait to try them out.
Most of my pictures won't load as they're too large so I have to work on them.

Let's see what pictures work.

The front sight cover was actually part of the Buffington system. Unfortunately the raised front sight I added doesn't fit under the cover so I can't use it in the current configuration.

Trying a few more.

The main feature of the model 1888 is the ramrod bayonet which sucked and was 90% useless. When he saw it for the first time in Cuba, Teddy Roosevelt referred to it as a travesty. As bad as it was the feature disappeared on the Krag but inexplicably returned on the 1903 Springfield for a short time

The target is a 100 yard 3 shot group with 405gr heads over Hodgdon 4198.

I referred to op's TD as a Model 1884 solely because the SN of his rifle 434153 is listed in the SRS records as an "84R". That's why Dick needs to comment.

Hosmer should see this and respond sometime soon!

I really appreciate all the input from everybody. Since I posted this thread I’ve been in communication with Dick Hosmer and he confirmed this is a Model 1884. He’s helping me get a 1884 Block and correct non dated Side Plate.

It does have the correct middle barrel band for the Buffington site. I’m gonna try to post a picture of it here.

Great news. You're in good hands! Oh, and make sure the firing pin is there. That was the only thing I needed for mine when I got it. Keep us posted.

Hammer wrote: ↑Mon Apr 01, 2024 12:33 am I really appreciate all the input from everybody. Since I posted this thread I’ve been in communication with Dick Hosmer and he confirmed this is a Model 1884. He’s helping me get a 1884 Block and correct non dated Side Plate.

It does have the correct middle barrel band for the Buffington site. I’m gonna try to post a picture of it here.

I only mentioned it because in the side view of your rear sight it wasn't laying flat. Mine had the wrong middle band and that was why it didn't lay flat. The sight could also not be fully retracted so the relief in the sight doesn't line up with the large screw in the base which is easily remedied.