Sight interchangeability?

[waterman]

If I had an 1896 Krag rifle, one that shot reasonably well, could I substitute a Model 1898 sight or a Model 1901 sight with no other changes? Would the sight be in the proper place so that I could use a handguard? If so, which one?

[Culpeper]

The rear sight screw holes are universal across all models. So yes, you could substitute any rear sight, though, you would not be able to use the 96R hand guard with the 1898 or 1901, 1902 rear sights. Hand guards are rear sight specific. The rear sights may have different height screws between the models but that is beyond my knowledge. BR may be able to answer that question.

See link and photo.

https://kragcollectorsassociation.org/k ... guards.jpg

[butlersrangers]

Changing the U.S. Krag rear-sight type, requires changing the handguard.

Handguard sight openings are sight specific.

[waterman]

As the sights changed over time, was the sight radius, rear to front sight, kept the same?

[Culpeper]

No, not that it mattered too much. It was somewhat of a moving target over the coarse of the Krag period. The 1894 and '96 sights had the V notch on the front edge of the sight making it a "short" radius in relation to the front sight whether rifle or carbine. The 1898, 1901, and 1902 sight had their V notches towards the shooter making them "long" radius' in relation to the front sights. The '98 and the '02 have the longest sight radius's. Again, see the links and the photos.

It matters not though because the makings were geared towards the ammo. When Springfield upped the speed to 2200 they changed the sights to reflect the change. Then they had a oopsie where the field was reporting cracked front lugs so they reverted back to the sights for 2000 fps ammo.

For our purposes in the modern era I ignore the markings on the sights and set them where the bullet will strike at 100 or 200 yards. I have a Ray-Vin micrometer for my M1903 rifles but it will work just as well for the Krag 1901 rear sight.

https://kragcollectorsassociation.org/k ... hts-II.jpg

https://kragcollectorsassociation.org/k ... Sights.jpg


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[waterman]

In 1902, Stevens-Pope marketed the Pope micrometer, advertising it on Page 27 as specially made for the 1901 sight. In their 1905 catalog, the only change was Page 27. By 1905, the sight micrometer was "specially made for the New Springfield sight".