Glad to be the proud new owner of an Model 1896 rifle serial number 511XX. By researching books and websites it was made in late 1896. The stock is beautiful and has a nice inspection cartouche but it appears to have a 1898 date on it. Did someone do a swap out or was it perhaps replaced after initial build? Or by chance could it be original? I would like to find out what whatever the case but I still love the gun. Thanks for any information you could offer. Also can anyone tell me what unit the gun was originally issued to?

welcome abord and hope to see a few pics of your rifle soon

Welcome to the forum, and to the wonderful world of Krags.  They are not just a rifle... they're a way of life!

Sounds like you have a very nice rifle!  I also would enjoy some pictures... 

I'm certainly not an expert here, but I believe an 1898 dated stock is not out of the question for a later manufactured 1896 rifle.  Anyone else know?

I believe that number is way too low to have originally been issued with an 1898-marked stock - if it were around 100000, I'd say such would/could be OK.

Will wait to see the pictures before making any further comments. First question though, are you sure it is 1898? Depending on wood grain, depth of stamping, wear, local impact damage, etc, it is possible to read a 6 for an 8 and vice versa.

Thanks for responding.  I will try to get picture on in the next few days. Appreciate your help!!!!

Guys,
Here is my best attempt to post pictures. Pictures appear to also show 1898 (in my opinion). Thanks for any feedback!!!

David

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I've played with the cartouche pic a bit, and I am satisfied that the last digit is definitely an "8". This leads to two conclusions - either the stock is not original to the rifle, or, if is, the receiver must have been held up for awhile - perhaps it got shuffled to the bottom of the bin, or got kicked under a bench? We will never know, but it is a very handsome rifle and I wouldn't worry terribly about the mismatch.

I like the "Kicked under a bench" theory   :D

That's a really nice looking Krag... with a nice hunk-o-lumber!

Hey, stuff happens!

As Joe Farmer says, there is not a man alive who knows the true story of any antique rifle, period.

We are faced with 110+ year old artifacts, made up of many parts, most of which are completely interchangeable. All anyone can do is make a best assessment, using knowledge and logic. Obviously, some things just aren't "right" but, if a component was swapped, or assembled grossly out of order, long ago and has since acquired an honest patina, it can be impossible to tell.

I'll give a trapdoor example. The so-called (but never so marked) Model 1888 rod-bayonet rifle was the last major type made. Normally they will have serials over 500000, but there are two exceptions. Nearly all of the 1000 experimental M1884 rod-bayonet rifles, were disassembled and rebuilt as M1888s, yielding perfectly correct specimens of the latter in the 315-320xxx range. And, just before closing down TD fabrication, SA assembled all of the loose parts they could find, including some teardowns, giving us a relatively few M1888s with numbers anywhere from 97000 and up, with 1893 or 1894 (then current) cartouches.

Dick,
I know its been awhile since I first posted this but I was showing the rifle to a gunsmith friend and he noticed the bevel around the bolt handle recess. He stated he thought that was an 1896 feature. I got out my Joe Poyer book and I do apparently have  type 4 stock but it still has an 1898 cartouche. Having the correct stock makes me feel better but still puzzled on the cartouche. Thanks for your help but I thought you might want to know.

Regards,
David

10ecvol:  Model 1896 Krags were still being built during the 1st half of 1898.  There never was a question as to whether your model 1896 Krag has the correct model of stock.  The question and curiosity is why an action produced in 1896 is married to a stock showing acceptance of an arm for service in 1898?