Post by butlersrangers on Dec 12th, 2015 at 7:22pm
'a.10brink' - Welcome to the KCA Forum. Your Grandfather gave you a Wonderful Christmas Present!
It (#127789) does indeed appear to be a perfectly correct U.S. Model 1898 Krag Carbine.
Only around 5,000 real model 1898 carbines were made by Springfield Armory. Many of these were updated to Model 1899 carbine configuration, with later model rear-sights and a longer forearm stock.
Yours is the original model 1898 carbine configuration with a model 1896 carbine rear-sight (sight is worth $500-$600 by itself). You have the 'short forearm' stock, carbine 'sling-bar', and sight protecting barrel band. (Value of the Carbine is probably in the $1,800 to $2,500 range for 'insurance purposes'. But, as a gift from 'Grandpa', it should be priceless).
Model 1898 carbines are often faked, because they are relatively rare, valuable, and saw use during the Spanish-American War and Philippine Insurrection.
My copy of Mallory's, "The Krag Rifle Story", 2nd edition, lists Krag #127774 as an 1898 carbine, in the book's Appendix. So, there are other carbines (as well as rifles) near your serial number.
Stamped on your Stock, just behind the 'carbine-ring', there should be an 'Acceptance Cartouche' (round-cornered box with initials & date). The initials are a fancy "JSA" for James Sumner Adams and the date should be "1898". On the Stock behind the trigger-guard, there should be a 'circled script P'. This signifies the carbine was Proofed and function tested.
Hope this all helps and Merry Christmas!
(Photo in my collection - 5th District Scouts, Angeles, Philippine Islands, Feb. 6, 1901, with model 1896 carbines).
5th_Dist__Scouts_001.JPG ( 93 KB | 6
Downloads )
It (#127789) does indeed appear to be a perfectly correct U.S. Model 1898 Krag Carbine.
Only around 5,000 real model 1898 carbines were made by Springfield Armory. Many of these were updated to Model 1899 carbine configuration, with later model rear-sights and a longer forearm stock.
Yours is the original model 1898 carbine configuration with a model 1896 carbine rear-sight (sight is worth $500-$600 by itself). You have the 'short forearm' stock, carbine 'sling-bar', and sight protecting barrel band. (Value of the Carbine is probably in the $1,800 to $2,500 range for 'insurance purposes'. But, as a gift from 'Grandpa', it should be priceless).
Model 1898 carbines are often faked, because they are relatively rare, valuable, and saw use during the Spanish-American War and Philippine Insurrection.
My copy of Mallory's, "The Krag Rifle Story", 2nd edition, lists Krag #127774 as an 1898 carbine, in the book's Appendix. So, there are other carbines (as well as rifles) near your serial number.
Stamped on your Stock, just behind the 'carbine-ring', there should be an 'Acceptance Cartouche' (round-cornered box with initials & date). The initials are a fancy "JSA" for James Sumner Adams and the date should be "1898". On the Stock behind the trigger-guard, there should be a 'circled script P'. This signifies the carbine was Proofed and function tested.
Hope this all helps and Merry Christmas!
(Photo in my collection - 5th District Scouts, Angeles, Philippine Islands, Feb. 6, 1901, with model 1896 carbines).
5th_Dist__Scouts_001.JPG ( 93 KB | 6
Downloads )