1898 Carbine

[dave]

Saw one at last months Novi Antique Arms show. 114*** serial. About 1500 dollars. It had the short stock but no sling ring. Were such stocks made? a replacement? Odds the number could be a real one? Slim I suspect. Condition not bad. I am not enough of an 'expert' (none really) to tell about other details.

[Dick Hosmer]

Yes, and they are pretty darn scarce - only a few were made, and I have no idea what the application criteria was - certainly, in 1901 (which is supposed to be their period of manufacture) it would have seem to have been so much simpler to just fit a long "1899" stock to any needy carbine. The lack of ring reflects manufacture after the Army went from sling to scabbard.

[dave]

Think its worth taking a chance its a real carbine (98) for 1500?

[Dick Hosmer]

If it has a genuine 1896C rear sight, and no other "problems", such as obviously mixed (color and wear) parts, I would think so.

However, you should be aware that the serial number is on the fringe - only one 114xxx (114962) number has been recorded, along with three 112xxx and three 113xxx arms. The 1898C peak is at 118-120xxx. The stock would be difficult for a faker to obtain - be sure it has the simple 1898 bolt notch, not the scallop of an 1896. 1898 metal will drop into 1896 wood, but not the other way around.

[dave]

Yes I knew it would be on the fringe---the reason I used the XXX was I just didn't know the numbers. I only glanced at the rifle, thought it would be out of bounds for my budget (probably is), but have . been thinking about it since! Don't even think I checked the sight! No gap in wood around the bolt. This guy always seems to have 3-4 Krags, don't move very fast, may have it at next show.

[Kragrifle]

The stock in question was fitted to 1896 style carbines, not 1898. Check the cut out around the bolt handle. If it really is an 1898 carbine action in a short stock without sling ring, this would be very unique.

[Dick Hosmer]

The stock in question was fitted to 1896 style carbines, not 1898. Check the cut out around the bolt handle. If it really is an 1898 carbine action in a short stock without sling ring, this would be very unique.

That's what I thought too, but figured a few might have been made the other way as well. The real problem for any faker is the grasping grooves on the 30" stock. All sorts of tricks are potentially possible with the longer 32" model, but a short one is either real or completely hand-carved from a blank, which should show in pictures.