Krag 1899 Carbine "project gun" arrives

[Rick the Librarian]

The Krag carbine "project gun" showed up. First, the good news - the bore is excellent, as is the bolt. The left side of the stock is good, as is the inspection stamp. The stock definitely was "eaten" by small critters and there is significant corrosion to the rear sight (which does have a C stamp), rear of the barrel and receiver. The corrosion seems to be kind of "deep" to the area where the barrel joins the receiver, but haven't had it apart, and won't get a chance to do so for a few more days to take a good look.

I'm posting a few pictures as it came out of the box (pictures admittedly taken in haste!) - the good, the bad and the ugly:

[Pentz]

Uh Oh......keeping my fingers crossed for you, Rick. If it were me I'd have that broken down in 10 minutes....good luck!!

[madsenshooter]

You got some work ahead of you, that's for sure, but doable.

[Rick the Librarian]

Well, you were right - did some cleaning and such.

[Rick the Librarian]

Rick B (who does most of my stock work) suggested just leaving it the way it is (with maybe some cleaning). The idea is growing on me.

[jon_norstog]

Rick,

That carbine really has character! There's gotta be a story, how it got rusted and rotten on that side, while still being pretty clean elsewhere. It reminds me of the Terminator in the first movie when his flesh started to fall away. I would leave it as-is, with the possible exception of a better sight.

Good luck!

jn

[Rick the Librarian]

I'll leave the sight because: 1) it matches the rest of the rifle and 2) because it has that little "C" stamp on the left side, which may not be apparent from the pictures. With the price of correct carbine sights, I don't think it is worth looking for another.

[Varmintpopper]

That Carbine may have gone up San Jaun Hill !

Good Shooting

Lindy

[Dick Hosmer]

No 1899 Carbine ever went up SJH. The war was fought with '92 and '96 rifles, '96 carbines, and trapdoor Springfields.

[Rick the Librarian]

It isn't mentioned in the SRS data -- in fact SRS has little on carbines in that serial range (at least in the edition of Mallory's book I have).