Krag Collectors Association Forum

First, thanks in advance for helping me. I've looked at the photos on this sight and read some stuff but it looks as if many of you are being super helpful by commenting on a new thread too...

Picked this up for a decent price to complement the full rifle I have. I'm gathering it was arsenal refurbished and may have had features updated. I can see the rear sight has no "C" for carbine and is a plain (rifle?) 1901 sight. Is this still technically a carbine or did I lose out on this one?

See google photos link below, couldn't post here due to size.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/qD96bqjiUweAV7ts5

Welcome and thanks for posting. Others will be along shortly more knowledgeable than myself.

What you have is a cut down rifle. The rear sight is not correct as you’ve pointed out. But neither is the front sight. The barrel was cut short and the stock has also been cut down. Hopefully it’s a good shooter for you to enjoy, but it’s not a true carbine.

Mike4MSU wrote: Sat Jul 11, 2026 3:09 am Welcome and thanks for posting. Others will be along shortly more knowledgeable than myself.

What you have is a cut down rifle. The rear sight is not correct as you’ve pointed out. But neither is the front sight. The barrel was cut short and the stock has also been cut down. Hopefully it’s a good shooter for you to enjoy, but it’s not a true carbine.

Thanks for the quick reply! So I'm clear, would the cutting down of the rifle stock/barrel and updating sights ever have been done for military use (during an arsenal refurbishment) or was this done after military service for purposes of faking a carbine?

I'd be fine with it if the military did it for their own purposes but I don't care for a "faked" one. Thank you!

Nope. Springfield, being the government, would refurbish it to the current standard with approved replacement stocks, scrap it, or dispose of it as excess. Regarding the sights they did up grade them and because of hot ammo cracking bolt lugs, retrograded to previous sights.

You can see them at the main KCA page

https://kragcollectorsassociation.org/photos/

If it came in a rifle it left a rifle. If it came in a carbine it left a carbine.

Now could the Armory receive a rifle from the field and spun the barrel off to put on a carbine barrel and stock. Sure. But there is no documentation to support that fevered dream. So no. Every cutdown today was after the Krags left the government.

Thanks Culpeper. I figured that might be the case.

You shouldn't look at cutdown rifles as "faked carbines". Times were tough in the 1920s - 1940s. Krags were sold out to surplus dealers. A Krag could be had for a few bucks to guys looking for a cheap good shooting deer rifle. Gunsmiths could shorten rifle and give you a good woods gun for cheap compared to new factory guns twenty or thirty dollars. There are plenty of posts on the web showing prices from a hundred years ago.

Culpeper wrote: Sat Jul 11, 2026 4:00 am You shouldn't look at cutdown rifles as "faked carbines". Times were tough in the 1920s - 1940s. Krags were sold out to surplus dealers. A Krag could be had for a few bucks to guys looking for a cheap good shooting deer rifle. Gunsmiths could shorten rifle and give you a good woods gun for cheap compared to new factory guns twenty or thirty dollars. There are plenty of posts on the web showing prices from a hundred years ago.

You're making a very valid point, and I agree. In this case, the dealer sold it as a "carbine" with "all parts correct", so that's why I'm using the word "fake"...but I see what you're saying!

I would get my money back because he misrepresented what is Krag carbine is to an unsuspecting buyer.

Or

Buyer beware and research before you purchase.

Take your pick.

Both! I am going to try and return tomorrow, but either way, I bought an education...won't be the last time!

Find a Model 1899 carbine if you are set on having a legit compliment to your rifle.