I was given a Springfield model 1898 rifle. I’m looking to try and put a value on it. It’s in really nice condition I think for a rifle from 1902. It appears to be all original I think. I can’t find any stamp that tells me what caliber it is. I’m assuming it’s a 30/40 Krag. Is there any way to tell? I wish I knew how to post pics. If you need some pics sent to you just let me know and I can email or text some. Thanks for any help.
Springfield model 1898
- Thread starter muckwa
- Start date
It has a 29 1/4” barrel. The sites are spot on from any picture I can find. Overall length just about 49”. What I have noticed is the stock has been cut about 3” after the front swivel ring. That’s all that looks different from any pictures of original ones that I can tell.
That depends on who cut them down. A lot of them were cut down to carbine configuration by the US military arsenal at Benicia Arsenal.[4].
These were done for the NRA, starting around 1926.
OP, look it up. The date I gave could be wrong.
The NRA rifles were only sold to members. The rifles didn't have any marks to indicate they were for the NRA/CMP program that I know of.
They are quite distinctive by their stocks, which are slightly different from the original carbines, especially the upper handguard and the one I have is fitted with an adjustable rear sight that is left over from its original rifle configuration, rather than the original, smaller carbine type.
The CMP supposedly has serial number records of the rifles they received. You may want to contact them.
As Purple mentioned, a lot of folks cut them down to the desirable carbine configuration. Most of them are pretty obvious.
The NRA/CMP examples are hard to come by and will fetch quite a premium over those done by Bubba.
Of course, the original carbines will fetch a premium over the long rifles and are very hard to find, especially when you're looking for one. They are distinctive by their rear upper handguard, which has a "hump"
I just saw your last post.
You have a long rifle. Bubba got to it and tried to give it a sporter configuration.
Still, a lot of people are looking for Springfield made Krag rifles and it should still have some value.
They're usually very decent shooters. Ammunition can be difficult to come by at a local gun shop and you will likely have to order it online.
Same goes for cases if you reload.
They were intended to shoot 220 cupro nickel round nose bullets. However, those are next to impossible to find
The 1-10 twist rate will allow them to be accurate with anything from 135 grain flat base spitzer bullets up to 200 grain boat tail spitzers.
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Thanks for the info
https://s1307.photobucket.com/user/muckwa76/slideshow/ I’m trying to figure this out yet
Your rifle has the original Front sight, So it is not a cut down rifle for the NRA. The NRA cut down versions have a front sight like a 1903 Springfield and a Krag carbine stock.
The barrel length should be 30", It's completely restorable, original parts are available as well and very high quality repro stocks and handguards. How is the bore?
Should look like this when restored.. As for value, $300 to $400 if the bore is in good shape. If it had a carbine stock it would be worth more as a parts gun.
I have a NRA carbine rifle and couldn't sell it for $400 with 40 rds of Remington brass(no longer made).
The barrel length should be 30", It's completely restorable, original parts are available as well and very high quality repro stocks and handguards. How is the bore?
Should look like this when restored.. As for value, $300 to $400 if the bore is in good shape. If it had a carbine stock it would be worth more as a parts gun.
I have a NRA carbine rifle and couldn't sell it for $400 with 40 rds of Remington brass(no longer made).
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I’m restoring one as we speak, splicing the forend and fixing a crack in the 1898 dated stock, all the parts are in lockdown at the border right now, even got an original hand guard for the 1901 sight that’s on it I’d take pics but I’m too far away, good luck with your rifle op
