Hi folks after days of beating my brain about buying this gun that Bubba had thought he made better I bought it. Sights had been changed, but that didn't worry me I'll just restore them. Oh by the way it's a 1896 ser#62488. I thought it was a carbine without a saddle ring, but the barrel when measured with bolt closed comes to 23 3/4 inches. I could see there the dome had been on the barrel that made me think it wasn't a cut down, but after not finding that size barrel I think it is a chopped rifle. Then I got really down on myself for buying a so called sporterized rifle which is against my better judgement. So with depression setting in I figured I'd go buy some ammo ( not that depressed ) and try it out, after firing a few rounds I found all was right once again. I fell in love with my 1st Krag. Whoever did the work on the gun did a good job.        Now I have a question did they put a long base on the front sight?

waterdogg:  Welcome to the forum.  If you post some pictures of your Krag, you will get some useful feedback and information.  I am not sure I understand your question about the Krag front sight base.  Original front sight looks like this picture:

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OK here's a pic. I hope! Well posting a pic of my rifle is about as challenging as finding 1 lol. says m file is too large. any suggestions?

you will have to resize  the picture or change the file format to reduce the size of the file as this site will only take picture up to a certain size there are instructions on the site as to how to post a pic and the max size that is allowed.

Here is a pic of my 1st Krag. It needs some work, but I'm not sure which way to go. Barrel is 22 inches when bolt is closed. I'd like to change the sights and get a mag cutoff. any suggestions?

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As you can see when the front sight was removed the previous sight has a band that went around the barrel.

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I am not sure of the serial number of your weapon as to weither it was a rifle or carbine. I can tell you it has a new or a cut down and sanded stock on it and looks like a cut or replacement barrel that has been cut with all new sites placed on the rifle. Over all a nice sporter while stying in the militatry lines of the rifle. How much did you spend for it? I have 3 now my self, one carbine and two cutdown rifles plan to restore the carbinf and the model 94 rifle and got the 98 for parts and to trade or sell it to others for parts. It does have a nice late model handguard that I sadly cant use on eiother of my other rifles.

waterdogg:  Your Krag (#62488) appears to be an 1896 Rifle that was cut down.  Your stock is a Krag Rifle stock that was shortened and slimmed down.  There is no telling what banded front sight was once on it.  It would have been commercial or 1903 Springfield style, but not original.  If it were mine, I'd enjoy it as is for hunting or plinking.  You can pick up a magazine cut-off for around $15.00 on ebay or GunBroker or at a gun show.  Cut-offs are not rare and any of the different Krag types will work.  The cut-off shaft serves a purpose and will smooth cartridge feeding.  Your present front sight is commercial and your rear sight looks like a Williams.  I think an 1896 or 1902 Krag rear sight would look better than the Williams, but you would have to invest $50 to $75 for sight and screws (and this assumes the two original sight holes are salvageable).  Your Krag is worth around $300 to someone wanting a sporter (and not easy to sell).  If you put more money into it, it will be worth $300, IMHO.  I would add the cut-off or an old Pacific K-1 'no-drill' peep sight (to improve sighting).

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Thanks guys! I knew I was paying too much for it, but I don't feel burned. I payed 400 for it and I can say it is very accurate. I've seen these rifles before but never thought about buying 1 until I started collecting old military rifles. I cannot understand this krag fever that happens when you hold 1 for the 1st time. I normally don't buy sporters, but this 1 felt good in my hands. so far it's the oldest rifle I own by 8 yrs which that one is an unissued Swedish Mauser. I travel around my state alot for work and I hit every small town shop looking for old rifles needing rescue. I like the peep sight and it will really look good on my Krag. Once again thank you guys for your advice.

waterdogg:  The K-1 Pacific peep sight uses the hole for the magazine cut-off and attaches very securely.  It also fills the void in the receiver wall, left when the cut-off is removed.  This provides a smooth surface so that cartridges continue to feed without roughness.  The K-1 may require a slight notching of the stock for the sight to be moved to lowest elevation.  IMHO your Krag sporter may have an even more attractive appearance, if the forearm were shortened and the tip shaped like a Carbine stock, (this would require a wood plug to fill the exposed lightening channel).

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'Carbine look'

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I like the handguard. Does the rifle on the bottom have a band around the barrel on the front sight? If so what kind of sight is it?

Oh I stated earlier that my barrel was 22 inches I meant to say it was 24 inches. Leave it at 24?

yes unless you plane to sink a lot of money into it to restore it back to a rifle, anyone that knows Krags will know it is not a carbine just by looking at it without even measuring the barrel. it is a nice looking sporter leave it and enjoy it as is and look for one like you wont and then buy the one you would like to have. Use the one you have for fun and hunting.

waterdogg:  For economy, I would leave your barrel and front sight as is.  Especially in light of you stating your Krag is quite accurate.  The hand-guard (costing $65) on my (top) sporter is a reproduction 1898/1902 that goes with 1898 and 1902 Krag sights.  I believe your stock may be too thinned down to look right with a hand-guard.  The (bottom) sporter is an 1899 Carbine that appears to have been re-barreled with a shortened Rifle barrel (barrel is 22&1/4").  The banded sight is either a re-shaped early 1903 sight or the banded sight off of a Model 30 Remington rifle, I believe.  The 1899 Carbine stock has been drastically thinned down to the point that the finger grooves are no longer visible on the for-end.  The most economical banded front sights these days are Springfield Models 1903 and '03A3.  However, they usually require gunsmithing expenses to install, re-crown, and finish touch-up.    

waterdog:  It is hard to tell with the fuzziness of your photos, but judging by color and 'tiger stripe', I believe your stock wood is Italian walnut.  Springfield Armory purchased Italian Walnut blanks around 1899-1900 because of a shortage of American black walnut stock blanks.