New Krag owner, need some advice.

[Smokechaser]

Thanks for that good info! Since I have the carbine 1901 rear sight, would I need the upper handguard that has the "hump" ?

[jon_norstog]

Smoke,

Don't be 'fraid to spend a little money. Most 1898 "carbines" are fake. Yours wasn't even trying to call itself a carbine, which makes me think it could be the real thing. How's that for cowboy logic?

Good luck!

jn

[JOHN42768]

Smokechaser, Your serial number doesn't make a hit in the SRS listings. At $60.00 it would be awfully hard to go wrong. John

[Smokechaser]

JN, cowboy logic works for me! I was able to remove the rear sight this evening after using a little kroil oil. I don't think it's been off the barrel in 100 years! The windage and elevation adjustments were quite frozen in place, but I was able to get them moving again. I ran a patch through the bore and it glided through like silk, except for a very small section about an inch from the muzzle. There seems to be a dark area almost directly beneath the front sight post. I might be able to polish it smooth, we'll see. So John, what does it mean a rifle doesn't have a SRS listing? make

[madsenshooter]

SRS is Springfield Research Service. They compiled a list of a variety of US martial arms that research found mention of the serial #s of. Hope you don't have one of the things I had that messed up a barrel for about an inch behind the muzzle. At some time mine had a mud dauber's nest in the end and it was there long enough to draw considerable moisture. I'll try to shoot it first, but have a reamer to counter bore the barrel if it won't shoot well. Might be an opportunity to post about the effect of counter boring.

[Smokechaser]

Man there's a lot to this! I've spent half the day so far doing research about correct stocks, forearms & rear sights, constabulary carbines, and on and on... These Krags have a lot of history. I wish they could talk.

[Rick the Librarian]

One reason I like Krags (and I've brought this up before) is that in the 10 or so years they were a first-line rifle, they saw a LOT of service! Spanish-American War, "Boxer" Rebellion, Philippine Insurrection and various Latin-American interventions, to name but a few.

[psteinmayer]

Not to mention rear echelon duty in the Great War (WW1).

[70ish]

Thanks for that good info! Since I have the carbine 1901 rear sight, would I need the upper handguard that has the "hump" ?

Yes.

[Smokechaser]

Thanks 70ish, I thought so. Does anyone have any idea how to disassemble that 1901 rear sight? I have it submerged in a tuna can of Kroil right now to loosen things up. I want to break it down to clean and re-blue it, but how it comes apart is kind of a mystery.

[Mark Daiute]

My .02, just do enough work on the rear sight to make it functional.

[psteinmayer]

+1 on Mark's suggestion. I wouldn't re-blue anything. Better to make the sight functional, but keep it original.

[Smokechaser]

Another reason I wanted to disassemble the 1901 rear sight was to tweak the spring that holds tension on the elevation bar, but the closer I look I don't see any way to break it down without possibly damaging it. I'll just leave it alone and be happy because it will function fine like it is.

[Smokechaser]

I've seen some barrel bands with sling swivels, and some without. Which one is appropriate for a carbine?

[sdkrag]

No swivels on a carbine. Carried on a shoulder strap attached to the sling bar on the 96 and early 98 short stock carbines. Long stock 98 and 99's were carried free and just uses a scabbard.