I am wondering if anyone can help me figure out what year my Krag is by the serial #202012. It has a 22" barrel and is in very good condition. Is it a Carbine or is it sportorized? It has a c on the rear sight which I hope means Carbine. It looks as though it is the specs of a carbine Krag. It has the P on the bottom and the outline of where there used to be the JSA and date [    ] like that.

Pictures are going to help if you can post them.
Is the receiver marked 1898 or 1899? Is there a sling ring bar  (or filler) on the left side of the stock? How long is the stock? What does the barrel band look like, solid or split, humped for sight protector? Hand guard? Serial number is May (?)of 1899 production. It would be at the very top end of '98 carbine production and unlikely. Number is surrounded by '98 rifles with out the hint of a rogue carbine! The number is also quite close to the beginning of 1899 carbine production.

No, 202012 is NOT at the "upper end of 1898 Carbine production". That stopped at around 135xxx.

Receiver date is crucial in this case. If 1898 it is a cutdown rifle, if 1899 it could (by something of a major stretch) possibly be an early 1899 Carbine, though I think you have already nailed it when you say that number is surrounded by rifles.

The "C" on the sight certainly stands for carbine, but the mounting holes are identical, so that is not definitive. A 22" length (with no indication of what the front sight looks like) may or may not indicate a genuine carbine barrel, which would screw right into either receiver.

In short, the prognosis does not look good - sorry.

An AARP moment I am afraid!! I read 202012 and the mind thought 120212. Maybe time for new glasses!!