I'm very new to the site and wanted to ask a question about a 30-40 Krag that my father is handing down to me. 

As I understand it, my grand uncle was in WWII in Europe and brought home a 30-40 Krag that he gave to my grandfather who was stationed stateside.  It was passed on to my father and now on to me.  The barrel is stamped 1894 Springfield with SN 20258.  I believe that based on my limited research it would be an 1896, but I'm uncertain.  He told me that it has a has a Lyman rear sight with 10 graduation lines, no numbers.  Not sure if that helps the ID.

My father told me that the barrel and stock appear to have been shortened at some point in the past, but I'm not sure of who or why it would have been done.

Can you help me to identify the true year of manufacture as well as any known history if rifles around this SN range?

Thanks!
KJ

Your rifle is actually a "Second Pattern Model 1892" made in early 1896. My website (click on my profile) has a picture of what it looked like in military configuration - see serial 20197 in the Krag/1903 album. While some Krags did go to France during WW1, I'd be VERY surprised if such an early one did, since it would have had some features that were deemed quite obsolete.

Such Krags did not see combat, but were used in the rear areas for training and practice. Remington filled a LARGE contract for ball ammo in 1918 - I have a crate still containg a few of the original 20rd boxes.

Thanks for the great info!  Although unlikely that it was used in combat in WWI, is it possible that it was brought back from another overseas location? I'm not 100% sure that my grand uncle was in Europe, but that was my understanding so far.

Thanks!

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That's a nice-looking "conversion" - some are REALLY ugly.

With a number that low, the rifle could have been used in Cuba and/or the Philippines, during the Span-Am War, 1898-1902. In fact, such usage is FAR more likely than WW1 Europe. Your number is not listed in the extant records.

Try and find your relative's unit, from old family records, then see where it served. Google will be a great help, once you get some idea what to search for.

Outstanding!  I really appreciate you sharing your knowledge with me on the rifle.  I"ll let you know what I find out through some family records searches.
Thanks again!