To All,
I am collecting a list, by serial number, of Early Model 1896 carbines W/O the Model before the year date on the receiver.
Example: 1895 or 1896 Springfield Armory 123456.
ALL REPLIES WILL BE CONFIDENTIAL AS TO SOURCE!
I believe the number of survivors so marked is less than thought.
I fully intend to share my findings with anyone interested.
Lastly, although I rejoined the KCA yesterday, I am proud to be a founding member this great group. :)

Answered directly via email.

How many do you have in your list already?

I'm still picking the low hanging fruit from the SRS books, Mallory's book, etc.  So I don't even have a ballpark number, but it will be at least a couple of hundred I'm guessing.  After all I just started.  Do you have any??

Have a sporter 1894 but probably started as a rifle.  Barrel is currently 20 inches so not sure.  Serial is 9727, stock is off a rifle and cut down to full length, pistol grip spliced in and a higher comb added.

RichWIS wrote on Apr 8^th, 2016 at 2:31pm:

Have a sporter 1894 but probably started as a rifle.  Barrel is currently 20 inches so not sure.  Serial is 9727, stock is off a rifle and cut down to full length, pistol grip spliced in and a higher comb added.

ALL 1894-dated arms started as rifles, except for a handful around the 11,000 range used in sight testing, and the two full-stock ed ones - both of which are accounted for. All of the "1894 Carbines", sort of a staple on Gunbroker, have so far, been bogus.

To All,

I currently have a list of 203 Model 1896 carbines that do not have the word Model in front of the date 1896 on the receiver.
The lowest reported serial number on a receiver marked 1896 is 30352 and the highest reported serial number on a receiver marked 1895 is 30647; so the overlap of 295 provides a fairly large margin for error.  That said Model 1896 carbines with receivers without the word Model in front of the date 1896 are pretty scarce.  Again anyone with such a carbine is respectfully requested to forward the serial number to me, and hopefully over time we can get a pretty accurate number and survival rate of these arms.

A bump to keep this current and moved to the firearms section.

"1895":   24685, 24893
"1896":   32683

At one time. 24685 was the lowest production carbine known. It may have lost that title, but if so, not by much. I sold it some years back. Still have the other two - 24893 has the super-rare (per the late Bill Mook) earliest version stock with but two cleaning rod holes.

Any info or knowledge you can offer about this gun would be greatly appreciated.  From what I can tell, there are some discrepancies with the rear sight and stock compared with others that I have seen.

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'Ackbenny' - Welcome to the KCA Forum.

It appears your '1895 dated' Krag, #28230, is a model 1896 carbine that was updated to the 'model 1899 carbine configuration' in the early 1900s - ('Long forearm' replacement stock and 'humped hand-guard', 1899 carbine barrel-band, and 1901 carbine rear-sight).

Such legitimate carbines do exist, but, are not as desired as the model 1896 configuration. (Your front blade looks home-made from a penny, but, the sight base and barrel crown appear correct).

Neat carbine! Thanks for sharing.

Here is 30791.  Hope it fills in your data base

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This being my first post, I will submit the s/n off of the 1896 carbine i purchased for a bargain this last weekend.

1896  30982

I will have to post some photos later this evening.

Add mine to your list.

Krag Carbine 1896 SN: 31583

The scarcest "standard" Krag receiver marking is 1896 without model, with about 7,000 arms so stamped. Highest known is 37045, a rifle. I've always wondered about the 1895/1896 overlap at the low end of the range, and whether it was truly factual.

I picked up what I think is a 1896 carbine for dirt cheap this past weekend. Looking for info I came across this post. Unfortunately the stock has been sanded and redone so the cartouches are gone. It also looks to have some "home made" barrel bands and front sight. The original rear sight is gone, but in its place is a no-drill Redfield peep sight. If possible I would like to know more about the rifle. I feel it has lost its value and collectability with all the alterations, but I would like to try and restore it back to its original configuration.

(no model) 1896 / Serial#32389

I will have to post more photos later.

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Getting it dirt cheap means you get to have fun with it on a budget. Back in the day when they were almost given away, many were converted to something that the seller or buyer thought would be more usable. It would be a lot easier to customize to fit your own needs or tastes instead of going after expensive and rare parts for a restoration.
I keep watching threads open up with a newly purchased rifle or carbine hoping they got one new as issued condition and worth a gazillion dollars. It may happen one day, I will keep watching. In the mean time Krag sporters are fun and useful hunting rifles.
 

I have a carbine very close to that number. That ("1896 without Model) is the scarcest receiver marking. The only expensive part to replace is the rear sight. Unless future pictures disclose unknown issues, I'd say that it probably could be restored.

krag 34644 1896 carbine here no model on receiver, issued to either the 1st, 3rd or 10th cal probably the 3rd.

Ok guys, here's some more pictures.


spcaviation wrote on May 1^st, 2018 at 6:19am:

I picked up what I think is a 1896 carbine for dirt cheap this past weekend. Looking for info I came across this post. Unfortunately the stock has been sanded and redone so the cartouches are gone. It also looks to have some "home made" barrel bands and front sight. The original rear sight is gone, but in its place is a no-drill Redfield peep sight. If possible I would like to know more about the rifle. I feel it has lost its value and collectability with all the alterations, but I would like to try and restore it back to its original configuration. (no model) 1896 / Serial#32389 I will have to post more photos later.

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I think that is a first for me, a short fore end carbine stock streched to rifle like configuration. I believe that S&S Firearms has carbine fore end add ons and hand guards. 96 rifle rear sight will work, the hardest part will be the front sight.

I have seen that front-sight on a lot of 'sportered' Krags. I don't know who made them. They always makes me cringe!

I call it a "curtain-rod" sight. It looks like it was made by re-shaping an old time rod- bracket.

p.s. - Ned's idea of restoring the stock is a excellent one.

Ned Butts wrote on May 2^nd, 2018 at 9:58am:

I think that is a first for me, a short fore end carbine stock streched to rifle like configuration. I believe that S&S Firearms has carbine fore end add ons and hand guards. 96 rifle rear sight will work, the hardest part will be the front sight.

Same here! when I first saw it I thought it was a cut down rifle. Thanks for the info about the carbine fore end. I'll be ordering one when they are back in stock. Any other info about the rifle is appreciated.

Mine is a 1896 ser. 34947, 1901 carbine sight 1899 updates and front sight cover. Will send photos when I can figure how to do it

1895 serial# 30261

New acquisition today: "1895" Krag carbine SN: 25417

(Wearing an 1896 carbine sight!)

Congratulations!