Dick:

You will be pleased to know that I won the GB auction for $1,500.00 !

The "seller" turned out to be a very experienced collector.

I asked him for a vertical closeup picture of the carbine sight and another of the cartouche.    He provided both.   I also asked him to measure the length of the stock.

The stock was exctly 30" long, and it is not new wood, so it is not a fake.   It is drilled for cleaning supplies.   The cartouche is a 1897.

Interestingly, the receiver year is "1895", not 1896.   The SN is 29716, so the receiver was produced in the last half of 1895, as part of the first production run.

The "seller" has an "opinion" as to how an "old" receiver ended up in a "newer" stock.

As production progressed some parts were more available than others.   Barrels were slow to be produced.   Thus when final assembly occurred sometimes an "older" receiver was fitted with a "just" produced barrel and a "newer" stock.

When I studied the Krag Association photos of the 1896 Carbine, I noticed that both 1896 and 1897 cartouches were included.  Apparently it is not unusual  to have an 95 /96 receiver with a 97 stock.

You can read the exact commentary.  The GB auction number is #183762781.

I checked the Krag Association pictures of the 1896 carbine sight, along with your discriptions.   With the vertical photo provided, I determined that the sight was not a fake.   The "seller" also mentioned that the second "C" on the right side base of the sight was present.

In any case, the carbine is a "reasonable" buy,for the money involved.

I want to thank you for helping me with this project.   It is obvious that you have much Krag knowledge..


Thanks again;

geo69jock
Rus