Model 1898 Rifle

[Dvcam]

Hello all, what a great group of people here. I’m new.
I have a 1898 rifle (I’ll try and post pictures) that I have a few questions about. 1898 on barrel, 1900 JSA cartouche. Serial # 415190. Rear site looks like a 1901 site (?); it has what I think is that lateral adjustment lever in front.
So, (here come the questions, sorry if these have come up before, or many times before!)
-Is there any chance that all is original? Seems impossible if there is a rear site newer than the cartouche date of 1900, right?
- I cannot make out the small mark on the stock near the trigger guard… is that an important piece of information given all of the other markings?
-Should I input this into the database you have?

I am selling off my very small collection of Springfield Armory pieces, and I feel I owe it to whomever I sell it to, to be as accurate as I can in the details of this rifle. But boy, they don’t always make it easy, do they?!

Thanks in advance for any help. I truly enjoy reading your posts, and are grateful you folks are out there. - Doug

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[butlersrangers]

'Dvcam' - Nice job of providing pictures! That is a rather nice looking U.S. Model 1898 Krag.

That is the clearest Krag serial number, that I have seen in a long time!
Your metal looks very fine.
You are correct that your rifle is equipped with the model 1901 sight

Your rifle, serial number 415190, was originally assembled around October of 1902.

The present stock, with its blemished [J.S.A. - 1900] acceptance cartouche, is not original to the receiver.

Your rifle may have gone through an arsenal rebuild, which results in most or all parts (except barrel & receiver) getting mixed.
Another possibility is that a hobbyist may have switched stocks, between rifles, to make one of them "more better"?

The markings behind the trigger-guard are a 'circled script P' (function proof) and the small initials or # of a stocker or sub-inspector.

(Note - Most U.S. Krag rifles and carbines underwent at least one arsenal rebuild during their service).

Your Krag Stock has a couple of very noticeable blemishes that will hurt its sale value:

1. There appears to be a large headed nail driven through the "J." of the cartouche.
Possibly, the stock had begun to split at the rear of the action and this is a crude recoil cross-bolt?

2. Stock wood has been crudely carved away, in front of the left Side-Plate. The stock should crowd the front of the side-plate,
which requires the stock to be removed, to take the side-plate off of the action.

Your Krag appears sound for use, but the crude blemishes hurt collector desirability and value.
The 'modifications' are not skilled Armourer work.

[Dvcam]

Thank you very much! It makes sense that the stock had been changed out.

I also noted the 2 blemishes you saw. The cartouche blemish is somewhat interesting. I believe it is actually a piece of wood - perhaps part of an old stock? - that was carved dowel-like and placed in the hole (why the hole was there is anybody’s guess.) I think over the years the repair shrunk, this making the blemish even more obvious.

The other blemish, near the left side plate, was painful to discover a few days after I bought it, I remember. I knew about the cartouche, but it wasn’t until I actually received the rifle by freight (bought it at a show in Phoenix, and had it shipped home to Massachusetts). My own fault; I missed it when I was at the show.
Having said all that, I enjoyed owning this rifle, and no regrets.

Thanks again for helping me sort out the particulars! I appreciate it.

Doug