My 1898 Carbine

[stiff]

I recently traded for a M1898 "Carbine" (SN# 124847) that according to the owner, he acquired from Bill Mook. Bill told him that it was "a parts gun as was 90% of the carbines out there" and the gentleman I traded with made no attempt to claim that it was an original Carbine at all to me. It appears to my less experienced eye compared to most of you, to be made up of mostly correct parts (M1896 "C" marked Carbine rear sight ladder and base, Saddle ring, right serial number range,ect). If I may ask, is it remotely possible it once was an original Carbine that was "restored"? The upper handguard appears to me to be a reproduction, as the rivets do not appear quite "right" to me nor does the wood. I appreciate your opinions!

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[Dick Hosmer]

AFAIK, you have as "right" a carbine as any of them. The *stock is the "rare" part, which most people lack, and yours is a VERY nice example - much better than mine. Everything else can be cobbled up.

The number is close - not one of the 100 or so that are recorded of the 5000 made - but no one alive can say with ironclad certainty if that receiver was, or was not, on a carbine.

MOST, probably nearly all, of those now found in short stocks are a second marriage, but, again, I'd guess that SOME slipped through the net back in the day. Having it come from Bill (whom I miss greatly) is a two-way street. On the one hand, he would know what was right, on the other hand, if he assembled it, you'd never know! I'd just enjoy it and not worry.

*But I do think you are right about the handguard - the rivets look a little hinky.

[stiff]

Thank you very kindly for your nice words and information Mr. Hosmer, I certainly appreciate them! I am leaning more to this example being put together by Bill, as it is marked inside the stock "Wm Mook 2005". I am perfectly fine with that and will enjoy it for what it probably is, a representative example of a M1898 Carbine that was once owned by a fine gentleman and an invaluable asset to the preservation of the history of the Krag :)

[Rick the Librarian]

I wish I could have bought one of Bill's rifles. He was a real gentleman and I remember his phone calls. He'd always ask, "When are you coming down here??" (He lived in Colorado). Alas, I never made it down.

[sdkrag]

Bill must have spent a lot of time on the phone. He would call out of the blue. I decided that life is full of "alas" and "shoulduve" and loaded my two sons and a bunch of Krags in the trunk and made the trip. I am glad I did. One thing I learned. The Nebraska Cornhuskers came before Krags.

[jon_norstog]

Stiff,

That is a nice carbine. My guess is, if Mr. Mook stamped his initials in the wood it was to let people know he made the gun up. But he did it right! It is definitely museum quality.

jn

[stiff]

Thank you very much Jon, That is my belief as well as to why he marked his name and date in silver pencil-cannot think of another logical reason. Regardless of the reason, it stays :)

[Kragrifle]

I have seen one SRS verified 1898 carbine. Was issued to a cook in Cuba a few months after the fighting ceased .