Before I can post photos I have to post one non-photo note.

So... anybody have photos of a NRA Krag carbine?

thanks
Dutch

  (You need to Login   (You need to Login
  (You need to Login   (You need to Login
  (You need to Login   (You need to Login
  (You need to Login   (You need to Login
  (You need to Login   (You need to Login
  (You need to Login   (You need to Login
  (You need to Login   (You need to Login

'Dutch51' - Welcome to the KCA Forum!

You have a nice looking and useful altered Krag.

The "DCM/NRA" carbine is problematic, because it can only be confirmed by an actual bill of sale or shipping paperwork from Benicia Arsenal.

An 'NRA carbine' copy could be made (and often was) by anyone with a little talent, some tools, and surplus parts.

U.S. model 1898 Krag, #225698, does not appear in SRS data.

It is bracketed by #225683 (a model 1898 rifle, issued 07-01-1918, to Co. B, 34th Engineers, Ft. Benjamin Harrison) and #225705 (a model 1899 carbine, issued 03-22-1907 to Senator J.B. Foraker - Senate committee on military affairs).

Your model 1898 Krag was most likely built as a rifle. Its serial number is outside the range for model 1898 carbines. The presence of the 1905 banded-sight, rather than a carbine front-sight, suggests a shortened rifle barrel.

There are known model 1899 carbines with serial numbers lower than yours. But, your serial number indicates manufacture around August or September 1899. (That is near the start of model 1899 carbine production).

Your Krag does have a rather nice model 1899 carbine stock and 1901 carbine sight. (Any cartouche & date)?

It is curious that someone drilled a hole through your front blade-block. I haven't seen that before.

Welcome Dutch!

butlersrangers wrote on Sep 30^th, 2017 at 7:51pm:

'Dutch51' - Welcome to the KCA Forum! You have a nice looking and useful altered Krag. The "DCM/NRA" carbine is problematic, because it can only be confirmed by an actual bill of sale or shipping paperwork from Benicia Arsenal. An 'NRA carbine' copy could be made (and often was) by anyone with a little talent, some tools, and surplus parts. U.S. model 1898 Krag, #225698, does not appear in SRS data. It is bracketed by #225683 (a model 1898 rifle, issued 07-01-1918, to Co. B, 34th Engineers, Ft. Benjamin Harrison) and #225705 (a model 1899 carbine, issued 03-22-1907 to Senator J.B. Foraker - Senate committee on military affairs). Your model 1898 Krag was most likely built as a rifle. Its serial number is outside the range for model 1898 carbines. The presence of the 1905 banded-sight, rather than a carbine front-sight, suggests a shortened rifle barrel. There are known model 1899 carbines with serial numbers lower than yours. But, your serial number indicates manufacture around August or September 1899. (That is near the start of model 1899 carbine production). Your Krag does have a rather nice model 1899 carbine stock and 1901 carbine sight. (Any cartouche & date)? It is curious that someone drilled a hole through your front blade-block. I haven't seen that before.

Thank you for the information. The stock cartouche is barely there.

Dutch

Model number looks like it could be one of those 1899 back to 1898 overstrikes.

madsenshooter wrote on Sep 30^th, 2017 at 10:39pm:

Model number looks like it could be one of those 1899 back to 1898 overstrikes.

I see what you mean but what does it indicate?

Is that a known thing?

  (You need to Login   (You need to Login

Couple other fellows know much more about it than I do, so I'll wait for them.

Good eye 'madsenshooter', it does look like the last digit "8" was re-struck with a "9".

I knew #225698 was in the range where model 1899 carbines started being made. I guess 'Dutch51' actually has a model 1899 (overstrike) carbine.

I don't know the story on these 're-strikes'.

It is comprehensible that if Springfield had to turn out a block of model 1899 carbines in August-September, 1899, some 'model 1898' receivers in the parts bins, might get their model date changed.

I still think the barrel is a likely replacement made from a cut-down rifle barrel. If a good carbine barrel had been on this receiver, there would have been no reason to replace the front sight base.

I have seen one carbine where the old dovetail was found underneath the front sight band.   I guess the owner just wanted a front sight more like the one on the 03.  The hole he added may have been to simulate the two lightening holes of the rod bayonet Springfield's front sight.

butlersrangers wrote on Sep 30^th, 2017 at 7:51pm:

It is bracketed by #225683 (a model 1898 rifle, issued 07-01-1918, to Co. B, 34th Engineers, Ft. Benjamin Harrison) and #225705 (a model 1899 carbine, issued 03-22-1907 to Senator J.B. Foraker - Senate committee on military affairs).

Being so close to 225705 makes this all the more interesting. (mine being 225698)

And the overstrike date thing... I had another photo further taken further back and... well.. you tell me what it looks like from that distance:-)

  (You need to Login   (You need to Login

The one thing that bothered me about this carbine is the width of the handguard. Its narrower than the stock.

  (You need to Login   (You need to Login

Thanks for all the info. I have Brophy's book on Krags.

Dutch

'Dutch51' - Something looks funny about your hand-guard rivets in that latest photo. Maybe the hand-guard was refinished and the rivets are no longer 'recessed'?

Here is a photo of my 1899 carbine's hand-guard & 1901 sight for comparison:

---

Yes it looks like the handguard on mine has been sanded and has some remains of a "poly" finish that's not on the stock so I am left to assume the handguard came from a different weapon.

Dutch