1896 Krag rifle

[JimG]

I am wanting to know what you all think about this Krag. Any thoughts as to does it look correct. Pictures are not the greatest, but they are a first for me.resized_20170420_012323.jpgresized_20170420_012343.jpgresized_20170420_012426.jpgresized_20170420_012456_001.jpgresized_20170420_012517.jpg

[JimG]

More pics.resized_20170420_012706.jpgresized_20170420_012559.jpgresized_20170420_012736.jpg

[Dick Hosmer]

Nothing wrong there - very nice-looking rifle!

[JimG]

Thanks Dick. Any idea on the value of this rifle?

[Fred]

Nice clean Krag

[Dick Hosmer]

Thanks Dick. Any idea on the value of this rifle?

Probably between $1000 and $1500 to the right person. A comparable 1898 would, since there are so many more of them, bring less.

[JimG]

Thank you Sir. I think I will hang onto it for that. I haven't seen many this nice and unmolested.

[Kragrifle]

In today's market Dick may be a little high.

[m1903rifle]

The "crispiest" M1896 that I have ever seen. I agree with Dick.

[Dick Hosmer]

In today's market Dick may be a little high.

Agreed, hence "the right person" qualifier, AND the fact that it is not an 1898. Not the greatest photos, and, like many, the rifle is depicted "dry". Wipe that down with an oily rag and you've got a stunner - there are a few dings but very little wear. Definitely a keeper.

[JimG]

Thanks guys. I am going to clean it up this weekend. I'll try to get some pictures of the bore. The bore is dang near perfect. I haven't figured out how to get really good pictures. Still working on it though. I was curious about the 1898 cartouche. I am assuming it is right for this rifle. My research says it was made in 1897. Any thoughts?

[Kragrifle]

I'm with Dick as well. I have a lot invested in Krags. Never saw one I didn't love!

[Kragrifle]

Remember the cartouche follows the fiscal year. If all parts of the rifle match to fit and finish I wouldn't worry too much about the date, but this early a number may fit better with an 1897 date. Remember, Krags, unlike trapdoors tended to follow dates and serial numbers pretty closely.

[Dick Hosmer]

Remember the cartouche follows the fiscal year. If all parts of the rifle match to fit and finish I wouldn't worry too much about the date, but this early a number may fit better with an 1897 date. Remember, Krags, unlike trapdoors tended to follow dates and serial numbers pretty closely.

The receivers were stored in trays on rolling carts and were pulled as needed at random but with a natural/physical bias towards FILO (first in, last out) so an "1897" one could easily have not received final inspection until 1898. Now, two years "off" could well be suspect, and of course the cartouche should never be a year earlier than the estimated receiver date!

[madsenshooter]

Speaking of that 1897 date. A fellow on facebook recently showed off a model 92 that had an 1897 cartouche. I don't know how that came to be unless some officer wanted his rifle to be like the one he was using at West Point.