Krag Collectors Association Forum Archive

Krag Collectors Association Forum Archive
Firearms >> U.S. Military Krags >> 1899 Carbine to share http://www.kragcollectorsassociation.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1485735783 Message started by gkkid36 on Jan 30^th, 2017 at 12:23am

Title: 1899 Carbine to share
Post by gkkid36 on Jan 30^th, 2017 at 12:23am

Hi Everybody! This has been a great site to learn about these wonderful rifles. I recently bought an 1899 carbine at auction. Please check out the pictures and let me know how I did. From what I can tell, the stock, sights, and barrel seem correct. Unfortunately, the stock was refinished at some point in time. Also, a previous owner swapped out the original front site blade to something that looks modern and commercial. Lucky for me I found what looks like an original front site blade in a small bag in the cleaning kit compartment. There is no cartouche visible. However, there is a "U" behind the trigger guard. Does anyone know what that is? Thanks in advance for any feedback!

IMG_20170129_190239.jpg ( 87 KB | 1 Download )

IMG_20170129_190257.jpg ( 72 KB | 1 Download )

IMG_20170129_190313.jpg ( 47 KB | 2 Downloads )

IMG_20170129_190422.jpg ( 59 KB | 1 Download )

IMG_20170129_190448.jpg ( 94 KB | 1 Download )

Title: Re: 1899 Carbine to share
Post by gkkid36 on Jan 30^th, 2017 at 12:24am

More pictures.

IMG_20170129_191526.jpg ( 43 KB | 2 Downloads )

IMG_20170129_191656.jpg ( 73 KB | 1 Download )

Title: Re: 1899 Carbine to share
Post by psteinmayer on Jan 30^th, 2017 at 12:16pm

Looks pretty nice to me. That sight blade might have been replaced with a commercial beaded blade to make it better for hunting, and they wisely saved the original and placed it in the stock for safe keeping. Have you shot it yet?

Title: Re: 1899 Carbine to share
Post by h8pvmnt on Jan 30^th, 2017 at 2:17pm

Very nice find looks to be very complete. But i am not expert, just someone that was duped on an incorrect carbine. You did much better.

Title: Re: 1899 Carbine to share
Post by gkkid36 on Jan 30^th, 2017 at 3:07pm

I have. It shoots great! Although the front site blade is almost too big for the front site hood. From my research I think it may be a Lyman site? Does anyone have any idea what the "U" marking means behind the trigger guard?

IMG_0467_001.JPG ( 247 KB | 2 Downloads )

Title: Re: 1899 Carbine to share
Post by Dick Hosmer on Jan 30^th, 2017 at 3:50pm

That stamp, typical of such very random similar markings, was most certainly applied by someone in the Stocking Department at SA, as part of the production process, but the meaning has been lost to antiquity. There is no reason to believe that it is indicative of any historical usage, for example.