Krag carbine

[highpower]

Picked up this Krag carbine the other day. Serial number dates it to 1898 and my research shows that the Model 1898 carbines are the rarest of all the Krag carbines with fewer than 5000 produced and very few remaining in original condition.

Generally speaking I have stopped trying to rescue orphan guns that have been messed with, but this one was A;cheap, B;not really screwed with and C;I need a Krag carbine.

Pros:
1-Original 1898 carbine stock (no filled cleaning rod hole or inletted for rear sling swivel) with a legible cartouche with the appropriate 1898 date and no cracks.
2-Original carbine barrel with very nice bore.
3-Original finish on all parts.
4-Correct serial number for a '98 carbine.

Cons:
1-Somewhere along the way it lost the handguard.
2-The rear sight was an incorrect 1901 style although it was an original carbine sight.
3-The front sight blade was changed to a aftermarket sight blade.

I had a 1896 style rifle rear sight in my junk box which is the same dimentionally and is nearly the same appearance wise as the correct '96 carbine sight. Now the hunt begins to see if I can locate the right sight and handguard. I am patient and am willing to hold out for the right parts at (hopefully) a price I can afford.

[THBailey]

Looks good! That correct rear sight is rare as hens teeth and will be priced accordingly no doubt. Good luck.

[DBA]

nice find!

[Bainter1212]

If you get the rifle cheap enough, I figure it is usually worth it to get those last couple of correct parts, even if it costs you a bunch.

I inherited an M1 carbine with ALL original type 1 parts, except the original high-wood stock was badly cracked and bubbaed to boot, non salvageable.

I searched for an paid $450 for a correct Inland high-wood stock and I consider it well worth the investment, considering how those early carbine prices have been shooting into the stratosphere.

My grandparents had a chance to buy a lot on the shore of Lake Tahoe back in the 50's. They declined because they thought it was too expensive at the time....well, as we all know that was a dumb decision.

Sometimes it is best to invest in something that they don't make anymore of.

[highpower]

If you get the rifle cheap enough, I figure it is usually worth it to get those last couple of correct parts, even if it costs you a bunch.

That's the way I figure it. I paid $400 for the rifle and I sold the 1901 carbine rear sight for $250, so I now have a grand total of $150 in it as it appears in the pictures. Unlike European military rifles, the only serial numbers on US military firearms are on the receiver, so any 1896 style carbine sight will screw right on and be 100% correct. Even if I have to pay four bills for one, I am still way ahead of the curve. I see handguards in the $100-$200 range so I figure even in the worst case scenario, I will still have a rare Krag for well under a grand.... and that aint bad.

[THBailey]

"My grandparents had a chance to buy a lot on the shore of Lake Tahoe back in the 50's. They declined because they thought it was too expensive at the time....well, as we all know that was a dumb decision."

I think it was 1956 when we were up there on a family vacation and I recall my Dad saying, "$5000 is too much for a lot on this lake."

[Bainter1212]

LOL yep. And now both you and I are thousands and thousands of dollars poorer.
I suppose we all do that kind of stupid stuff in our lives.
Just like the sporterized Johnson rifle on Gunbroker the other day.....some rube back in the day thought he'd make it into a neat hunting rifle.

[Air]

Lucky! I want a Krag so bad, but the ones I have seen locally have all been roached. The hunt continues...

[19K]

I have a cut down krag carbine. I love that rifle. It’s what made me start reloading. Yours looks excellent!

[wpage]

Had one from gramps. Let it go.

They are beautiful guns.

[highpower]

I have another carbine, but it's a cut down rifle and the stock is currently missing. Before I found this one, I was thinking about putting it back together as it has what has to be one of the best bores I have ever seen. Now that I have this little beauty, I think I am going to pass it along for a reasonable price so that someone who wants a Krag can finish it. I found a pretty nice cut down rifle stock on ebay that will probably sell for about $100 and I think that another hundred bucks or so will make it into a pretty nice little rifle.

[Sutcliffe]

I have to agree

The lines on Krag's are just beautiful.

Yeah, that side box is an oddity, but......