Have had these for a while but am not sure what I have. Would appreciate any help. Will post pictures as soon as I can find a 3rd grader to help me with it.

1898 ser # 477720     1899 ser # 858074

Thanks.

Well, assuming 477720 is in .30-40, you have a very late M1898 rifle, produced in 1903, but it could be a .22 GPR. If so it will be marked on left side.

You have misread the number on 358074, which is probably a standard M1899 carbine from 1901. First digit has to be a "3", as production stopped just short of 500,000.

Hurry up and find the kid!  :-)

Both are .30 cal.

That first number is an "8" and not a "3". Clearly something wrong there ?

Yes very wrong! Pictures esp. of the serial number will be a big help. Hurry up 3rd grader!! ;D
In the mean time you could email pics to Dick and/or me to get the ball rolling.

I just looked at the gun and it looks like this could be a "3" . Then enlarged the photo and it looks like an "8" but it does not appear to be the same as the other #8 stamps. Will there be additional ser #'s elsewhere on the gun ?

Ned,
Could you please send me an e-mail. I am having trouble on this end. Maybe I can reply you and then send pics ?
Thanks

The first "8" in the #858074 may be similar to the GB 1899 carbine #358749.  The "3" in this # when enlarged also looks very much like an "8".  Coincidence?

The GB auction # is 337707834.

You know, the point of asking questions is to get answers, not to argue. You were given the correct answer, right up front.

There are NO leading eights, period. Get over it. For one thing, we had to pay a royalty for every Krag, so they damn sure didn't shell out for 300,000 plus arms not produced! Now, today, if it were PC, they probably would, but that's a whole new can of worms.

"Coincidence" and "looks like" and "maybe" simply don't apply here.

There are many legitimate questions and puzzles, and what-ifs in the wonderful world of Kragdom, but this isn't one of them.

Sorry, off to take my meds now!   :-)

Two separate posters here. I believe the first wanted clarification the second was, I believe, implying the coincidence between the striking of the first 3 in such close serial numbers. Maybe the striker had a bad night!! After just viewing pictures I can see the confusion at first look, but further study indicates what we already know. No 800,000 serial numbers. (or anything close :o)

Ned, you picked up on what I was trying to point out.  With no Krags in the 800,000 numbers, how could two # in the 358,xxx range have an 8 as what appears to be the first #.

I don't have any third graders, but had my wife look at the GB carbine and she read the #as 858749.  The striker may have had a bad night thanks to Jack Daniels or Jim Beam.

Same situation as the non-existant "1878" trapdoor.

Given sufficient light and magnification, it always shows to be "1873"

Found a third grader. More pictures on the way.

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More of the first carbine.

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Second carbine pictures.

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two more

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The first one is a cut-down rifle, though it may have a genuine carbine stock.

The second one appears to be a genuine carbine, all the way. Note the differences.

Dick,
Thanks for the help. What can I look for if anything to tell if that's a carbine stock on the first one and do I care ?

Is barrel band held by spring (carbine) or pin (rifle)?

oldfireguy:  You have a nice looking 1899 Krag Carbine.  I wonder if your Model 1901 rear sight is the Carbine version?  What is the highest number on the sight ladder?  What is the highest number on the left side of the sight base?  I'm guessing some damage occurred to the serial number stamping die, when your receiver was marked.  I have an 1899 Model Krag Carbine that is numbered 8,162 lower than yours (picture attached).  A flawed stamp would explain the peculiar and easily mistaken "3".  It is easy to misread 3s, 6s, and 8s on some Krag Receivers.  A lot of Model 1896 Krags are misread as Model 1898.

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Yes the band is held by a spring=carbine.

I dont have my third grader here but will see if I can manage a pic of the rear sight.

I am glad to know I have genuine carbine and apparently a carbine stock on the other. Can I find a handguard that will work on the cut down rifle or will a cut down rifle always be a cut down rifle, I can be pretty happy with it as is. Just curious ?

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oldfireguy:  The sight ladder on your 1899 Krag Carbine is correct for the model 1901 Carbine sight.  The left side of the 1901 Carbine sight & base should have the markings shown by the attached photo.  The 1901 sight is correct for 1899 Carbines in your carbine's serial number range.  The hand-guards, for the 1899 Carbines with 1901 sights, were initially the same as the Rifle hand-guard.  Not the later type with the wood 'bump' sight protector.  Your Carbine has the correct hand-guard.

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oldfireguy:  Your shortened 1898 Krag Rifle appears to have been practically altered to be a 'Deer Rifle'.  Your Carbine stock is worth a lot more than a 'cut-down' Rifle stock.  The overly long side-plate screw and missing magazine-cutoff suggest it once carried a Redfield, #102 "no drill", after market peep sight.  (Picture attached).  Your front sight may be a modified sight from a Model 1895 Winchester-Lee Straight Pull (U.S. Naval Rifle).  This should be a fun rifle to shoot and hunt with.  The only modifications I would make would be to put a magazine-cutoff on it (a commonly available $15 part).  You might also consider finding a Redfield #102K peep sight.  It looks like you have the screw for one.  The correct issue side plate screw is not hard to find or expensive.

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Thanks again for the very good info. The side of the carbine rear sight is exactly as it appears in your picture. When I asked about a handguard I was curious if there would be a handguard that would fit on the cut down rifle. Not that it is necessary other than looks.

Thanks for pointing out the possibility that there had been a peep sight on this gun. I am pretty sure after seeing your photo that I have seen that same sight in a box of parts, somewhere.

I was also thinking that his would be a vey fun rifle to hunt with. If I can locate that sight I will post another pic with it installed.