Which Krag do I choose?

[Kragrifle]

If you plan to attend the upcoming Tulsa show I may still have a little nicer 1896 rifle (with cartouche) on my table.

[free1954]

did you decide, or take them both?

[Mark Daiute]

Some simple rules I live by

I generally find 1896 sights on 1896 rifles, but not always. If an 1896 does not have an 1896 rear sight I look a little harder at the rifle.

Regarding 1898 rifles: The only "wrong" rear sight on an 1898 rifle is an 1898 rear sight. Nada, zip, never. The 1898 rear sights were withdrawn from service, never, ever to be used again by our military establishments.... as an 1898 rear sight. Many of them were re-configured to 1902 format, that's fine, but the 1898 rear sight did not stay on any Krag rifles. Another wrong rear sight for any rifle aside from and unaltered 1892 rifle, is the 1892 rear sight.

Aside from that there is no right or wrong, rear sight for an 1898 rifle, while in service your rifle could have had the 1902 rear sight or the 1901 rear sight. In my view it is unlikely that an 1896 rear sight would have remained on an 1898 rifle even tho some of the early 1898's sported them early in production, but that's another story altogether.

[Kragrifle]

Actually the 1898 rear sight would have been installed on 1899 dated rifles and very early 1900 dated rifles. True you will find some of these sights that have been altered by rounding off the sharp edges but will remain on the rifle unless/until they are refitted with later (mostly 1901 sights and handguards). As for the 1892 rear sights they were installed on a number of 1898 dated rifles when the 1896 sights were found lacking. Interesting, the 1896 style sight was used on a few early 1901 dated rifles.
There is an excellent , though lengthy, video on the Krag rifle on U Tube that goes through the evolution of the Krag rifle sight that is well worth watching.

- - - Updated - - -

BTW, I own a number of as new Krag rifles to back up my claims and the video. Alas the only rifle I have yet to find in original condition is the 1898 rifle as everyone mistakenly thought the 1892 rear sight was incorrect and replaced it with the “right sight “.

[Dick Hosmer]

My 200722, as new, with 1899 cartouche, has a 1902 sight - I always assumed it was changed from the 1898, prior to release from stores.

[Kragrifle]

One of the two people who were true Krag experts was Bill Mook. He once compiled a list of possible Model 1898 rifle rear sight possibilities and came up with over 60 variations! Don’t forget the 1898 sight can still be found as original, with rounded edges and even with the flip up Sargeant’s peep.
BTW, the other true Krag expert in my book is Tom Pearce. Always hoped that Bill and he would have produced a book on the Krags, especially the Model 1892 that they compiled an insane amount of data on.

[Dick Hosmer]

One of the two people who were true Krag experts was Bill Mook. He once compiled a list of possible Model 1898 rifle rear sight possibilities and came up with over 60 variations! Don’t forget the 1898 sight can still be found as original, with rounded edges and even with the flip up Sargeant’s peep.
BTW, the other true Krag expert in my book is Tom Pearce. Always hoped that Bill and he would have produced a book on the Krags, especially the Model 1892 that they compiled an insane amount of data on.

Amen to that - wouldn't even think of disagreeing!!

[sdkrag]

Bill was a really neat guy. Once he vetted you there was no end to his sharing.