A buddy of mine just picked this up for $200.  Sights are perfectly regulated for 100 yards with my 180 grain handload.  Bore is in fine shape.  Serial number (133XXX) shows 1899 production.  He and I are planning on doing a detailed strip and clean, but doubt we'll find anything amiss.  Appears to be a well cared for gentleman's deer rifle.

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More pics

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Your buddy lucked out! I would like to see the front sight.

The stock, hand-guard, rear-sight (carbine sight is worth $600), and barrel-band are 1898 carbine. The receiver #133XXX is in the model 1898 carbine range and was built in 1898.

Only 5,000 model 1898 carbines were made. Many were updated to model 1899 carbine stock and are less desirable.

(I saw the front sight picture, after I first posted. The barrel is a carbine barrel with commercial blade).

IMHO, your friend bought a rare model 1898 carbine in very nice condition. He should forget 'Deer Hunting' with this Krag, due to its scarcity and high value. The "No Drill" Redfield #70-K rear sight should be removed and 'Cut-Off' replaced. It would be wise to contact Joe DeChristopher or one of the KCA advertisers to try and locate a carbine blade.

+1.   Wow, what a find for $200.00.

Yes, $2000 would not have been too much for that one.

Another case of "Someone didn't know what he had, and let it go for a song!"

" ....... and someone didn't know exactly what he was buying and got it for a song".

Yep, cuts both ways - unless you have unlimited funds, and/or just don't care, the ONLY answer is to educate yourself BEFORE buying OR selling.

PM sent on your buddies new Krag.
Steve

Well, I passed all you guys had to say regarding my buddy's new Krag Carbine and just got a shoulder shrug.  He want a hunting gun and thinks this is has the makings of one, with a little change here and there.  Another shooting buddy hunts with a Krag and he thinks this is what is needed.

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I tried to convince him not to but his mind is kind of made up. And yes, that is a three prong flash hider you see at the muzzle.

Keith

That is a shame. Your friend is going to turn a very rare and desirable Krag carbine, worth $2,000 to $3,000, into a $200 POS. (And spend money doing it)! Bubba is alive and unreasonable.

I would trade five Krag 'Deer Rifles' (with fine bores) and $200 cash money for his 'intended project gun', as is! (Serious offer).

I've got to go sit down and cry. I should not care, but, I do. I guess I didn't need to see this update.

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Ok, Ok.  I'm pulling your leg.  That picture is from one our shooting buddies who shoots a Krag deer rifle.  He doesn't have much money and got it cheap from someone who did a bubba job.

As to my buddy and the Krag I posted about he could not be happier with the information you guys provided.  He does intend to keep it just as it is, at least for a while, and use it to bag a deer or two.  But asked me to get all the parts he needs to put it back into 100% original condition.  This I've done except for the front sight blade.  Still working on that.  He has done a light cleaning of the gun, but has not disassembled it yet.  We'll do that later and give it a thorough cleaning when we can get together for a day.

We shot the gun this weekend at 100 yards and it printed a nice concentric 5 shot group under 2" in size.

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Needless to say, my bud could not be happier with his latest acquisition.

Keith: There is a special place for you, when you go to Port Clinton for 'The Vintage Matches'.

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Bwaahahahahahahahaha

Glad he was kidding, otherwise his buddy should stand at the top of the stairs over the embankment on Viale and wave to all us Krag shooters. 

butlersrangers wrote on Jul 13^th, 2015 at 2:40pm:

Keith: There is a special place for you, when you go to Port Clinton for 'The Vintage Matches'.

Not yet, not yet.  I'm having a challenge getting it to print consistently at 200 yards.  Part of it is my lack of familiarity with the ladder sight.  I got a 1903 Springfield ladder sight micrometer and next time out I'll get it figured out.  But for now my groups are staying well within the 9 ring and hovering close to 10 ring in size.  They are getting more consistent with less vertical stringing and far fewer uncalled flyers.  Making progress but it's slow.  I still have not tried the magnum primers yet but will next month.  There just is a wealth of difference between 100 and 200 yards.  What works at 100 just doesn't always transfer well to further out.  The journey continues.

Maybe some 'tutoring' is in order?

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butlersrangers wrote on Jul 13^th, 2015 at 9:43pm:

Maybe some 'tutoring' is in order?

Maybe.  I'll reach out to you all after my next range session.  By then I'll have tested the new loads and tried out the micrometer to change sight settings.  If all goes well, great!  If not, time to reach out to the experts.

I have to say however, that even with the slow progress I get more enjoyment out of the Krag than any other rifle I own, and I have a very nice collection.

I have to admit I was excited at the first post, then really liked the photos.  Then it turned.  Once i got back from getting sick, caught the gag, ate some blood pressure meds, it got better.  Whew!!

Gotta watch out for that Bill...  We're a knowledgeable and friendly bunch here... but with a wicked tendency towards messing with one's mind from time to time... Heehee

Please no scary clowns and caves pictures for me CHuck!

LOL ;D

How were we suppose to know, Keith was kidding?

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