1896 Krag Carbine

[gijunk]

Gentlemen

Upcoming local auction has an 1896 Krag Carbine serial #49883 listed . No pictures. Is it in a serial number range for known Carbines or most likely a cut-down Rifle ? Thanks Kenneth

[Dick Hosmer]

NOT a carbine range - in other words, "Danger, Will Robinson."

Moderator please delete duplicate post. Thanks!

[gijunk]

NOT a carbine range - in other words, "Danger, Will Robinson."

Moderator please delete duplicate post. Thanks!

Dick, found this pic of said Carbine on auctioneers website.

[Dick Hosmer]

Well, it LOOKS perfectly proper in that one picture - the 30" stock cannot be faked from anything else. Is the rear sight correct? The receiver is ABSOLUTELY out of range for original carbine production, but if it were overhauled at an Ordnance repair depot, they would not have cared. How much is it?

[gijunk]

It’s at a local auction house , to be auctioned off on Saturday the 1st. Haven’t seen it in person.

[Dick Hosmer]

One of the most important things is the rear sight. It should be marked "C" and go to 2000yds. (20). There should be a little depression where the sighting notch is located at the top edge of the slider. The sight should look "old". There should be NO metal thrown up around the edges of the numbers from a fresh stamp. Correct sights go for $500-$700, and are almost impossible to find on the loose. They have been rare since the 1980s at least, and have been widely faked. If the sight only goes to 18 it is the rifle version.

[Lead Snowstorm]

A couple of photos of a 96C rear sight:

[Parashooter]

A few more pix -

Krag96cMontageGS.jpg

[Dick Hosmer]

Both postings are of what are called "lug" or "hump" sights as they have leaves made from M1892R blanks. Later M1896C sights lack the rectangular protrusion seen just above the pin when leaf is down.