Krag Carbine Originality and front sight help

Bolivar

Bolivar

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Outside Barrie ON, Native to South Shore of NS
I purchased a 1898 Krag in carbine form last fall. I had assumed it was genuine but now I'm not too sure.

Serial number is 152### which I understand maybe outside of the range for 1898 Carbines. Also, the 1901 rear sight does not have a 'C' marked anywhere

Had it at the range today with test loads approximating original ballistics 220 Gn round nose at about 1850 fps. With the apreture sight at 300 yds, impact was about 7 inches low. With the sight set to 400 yards, impact was 6 inches high.

The front sight blade is approximately 0.385 inches high with a total height from the bottom of the barrel of 1.370. Based on the range results, the front sight is way to high. I could cure this with a file but I don't want to bubba an orignial rifle.

If the rifle is actually a fake or a cut down, I won't care so much and I am pretty sure I can file the front sight down and cold blue it so it is not too ugly.

I also want to know in case I ever have to sell it. I don't want to pass off something as genuine if it ain't.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance

Bolivar
 
The 1901 carbine rear sight is graduated to 2300 yds,the left side of the moveable base-leaf + eyepeice are marked "C",the 1901 rifle sight is graduated to 2000 yds.The 1898 carbine serial# range is #123161 - 130965.In the late 1920's the U.S. government allowed M 1898 rifles to be altered to carbine configuration for sporting purposes.As all carbine rifles had special rear sights the regular rifle sight that is on your Krag rifle will always be off no matter what you do to it.What is the barrel length?I got info from the book The Krag Rifle Story by Frnklin B. Mallory ISBN 0-9603306-0-7
 
Barrel length is 22 inches. No "C" on the sight, graduated to 2000 yards so definately a rifle sight.

Okay, so basically I have a government authorized alteration of an original Krag rifle. Sort of an Offical Bubba job I guess.

Is there any reason to not file down the front sight then? Does the rifle still have any intrinsic collector value that I can ruin by doing so?

Like all my milsurps, I want to shoot it so being able us the 100 yard peep setting would be good. It gives a much better cheek weld than when set at 300-400 yards.
 
I think with the rifle being sporterized like the Lee Enfields the collector value would be if someone wanted to restore it if possible or use as a parts rifle.With the rifle barrel being cut down to 22 inches like the original carbines I would try posting an add on the E.E. parts forum looking for a carbine rear sight.If you file the front sight to get a tight grouping at 100 yds,when you try to shoot it at 200,300 or 400 yds it will be worse than before.
 
Bolivar said:
I purchased a 1898 Krag in carbine form last fall. I had assumed it was genuine but now I'm not too sure.
Click to expand...

There are two "all correct" examples of Krags, complete with extensive photo montages in the United States - Milsurp Knowledge Libraryhttp://www.milsurps.com/forumdisplay.php?f=22.

Model 1899 Krag (Caliber 30-40) Carbine (click here)
(Mfg by Springfield in 1901)

(Click PIC to Enlarge)


Model 1898 Krag (Caliber 30-40) Rifle (click here)
(Mfg by Springfield in 1899)
Regimental Marking "5th 24 D"

(Click PIC to Enlarge)

You may find it helpful to compare yours against those Knowledge Library entries ....

Regards,
Badger
 
Badger

Thanks - those pics helped some. The rifle definately has a correct carbine stock but the rear sights and upper hand guard are rifle style.

There is a very faint cartouche (sp?) under the wrist but I can't make out more than the round circle. No idea if it is original. It has some handling marks consistent for a rifle this age, but Numrich sells drop in carbine stocks now so somebody could have replaced it.

I'm pretty sure this is a cut down Krag (based on serial number and rifle parts) but it seems like a nice one. Wish it could tell me where it has travelled for the last 110 years.

I have ordered some carbine rear sight parts for it to restore it a little more. If the GD snow gives us a break soon I'll take her to the range for some more load testing and enjoy her, which is why I bought her in the first place.
 
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