Why so few 1896 rifles?

[FCPDAVE]

Hi,

I've been looking at Gun Broker etc. for listings of 1896 rifles and don't see many. Any ideas why? I see a lot of 1898's.

I have an 1896 rifle. When I bought it years ago, the rear sight was broken - I bought it anyway. That's when I learned that the sights and hand guard were changed (I bought an original sight for too much money). I bought it from a very old gentleman at a Forks of the Delaware show in Allentown, years ago. He told me that he worked at a Phila. gunsmith shop long ago and they changed bbl's on them and made "carbines". He told me not to shoot the '96. Said that they would drop them from a 2nd floor railing and only use the ones that didn't break.

Dave

[Kragrifle]

Probably Ross Kircher or another parts guy whose name eludes me at present. Interesting story and more 1896 receivers will be found mated to a short barrel, but far fewer 1896 rifles were produced because they redesigned the 1898 to be easier and cheaper to produce. Both models are safe to shoot just be sure they are as produced, correct headspace and general sound condition,

[Kragrifle]

Ron Geis (spelling?) was the other gentleman.

[FCPDAVE]

Thanks for the info. He was very interesting to talk to.

[Dick Hosmer]

Just by the numbers produced, there were way more 1898 rifles than 1896 rifles - something on the order of 3-1, off the top of my head.

[Brad]

I have a rifle with a 1896 dated reciever, but it is only a three digit serial number?
How can that be?
I think it is 762, without looking.
Thanks

[Dick Hosmer]

It cannot be, unless the number has somehow been defaced or the date has been altered. It has to be 1894. Please provide a good clear photograph - no rush - this question will produce discussion.

[John Sukey]

Bannermans Bought loads of them after the Spanish American war and "sporterized" lots of them by chopping the stocks.
Another funny fact, the caretaker in Bannermans Island would knock the bronze hubs off gatling gun carriages to sell them for booze during prohibition

[blackhawknj]

How long were they in production ?

[Kragrifle]

Model 1896 rifles were produced from early 1896 to early 1898.

[Dick Hosmer]

Model 1896 rifles were produced from early 1896 to early 1898.

And, both rifles and carbines will be found with two different 1896 markings - "1896" and "Model 1896". The earliest "1896 style" carbines (and a very few rifles, likely including the elusive cadets) will be dated "1895".

For nearly 40 years I have owned the highest-known "1896" specimen, a rifle, 37045.

The "1896" stamp, found on both rifles and carbines, is the least common date mark, with only about 7,000 so struck.

[butlersrangers]

FWIW - "Model 1896" is stamped very deeply on many Krag receivers. This causes a lot of unknowledgeable 'Owners and Sellers' to misread 1896 as 1898. Of course, the two models, 1896 and 1898, have many differences. But, I have seen a fair number of model 1896 Krags mislabeled on auction sites as '1898 Krags'.

By rough estimate, I believe approximately 84,335 model 1896 Krag rifles and carbines were manufactured. By contrast, approximately 389,908 model 1898 rifles, model 1898 carbines and model 1899 carbines were manufactured. The difference in numbers, between model 1896 and model 1898 Krags, is over 300,000.

Less than 1/2 million U.S. Krags of all models were manufactured. Model 1898 actions (along with model 1899 carbine variant) certainly make up the vast majority.

[Rick the Librarian]

I remember looking for an 1896 rifle maybe 2-3 years ago and it was far from easy. And often the rear sight or other feature has been changed, when you do thing you've found one. But keep looking - they're out there!

[FCPDAVE]

My 1896 is serial no. 108743. I read that 1898 production started at 109,100 in 1898 - is that correct? thanks

[butlersrangers]

I believe Franklin Mallory found model 1896 Krag rifle, #109020, the highest model 1896 serial number to be reported in his research.

Model 1898 Krag rifle, #109128, was the lowest model 1898 rifle serial number, in Mallory's data. (Destroyed 5/17/1929, New Cumberland Guard).

I imagine it is very possible there could be some overlap in serial numbers, as 1896 actions were in parts bins going through manufacture and assembly into rifles and bins of 1898 actions began the process.

Krag #109100, as the model change, would fit pretty neatly between highest model 1896 and lowest model 1898, reported in Franklin Mallory's work.

But, there was a War going on when the transition was occurring, during June-July, 1898, and things don't always happen cleanly!