I am new member, thanks. I am a 30-40 krag shooter at local military matches. I joined to ask questions, is there a no drill peep sight that will go on 1895 Carbine? It’s a good shooter, but my eyes are not happy with the notch sight. Thanks again.

Not that it matters on the no-drill sights, but do you have a military carbine or a sporterized military rifle? Inquiring minds want to know. Somebody else will have the info on the sights.

It is a military carbine

Forgive me for my manners, I'm not typically on the leading edge of welcoming new members, but welcome. Somebody with more knowledge will give you an answer on your sight. Most members here, including myself, go goo-goo ga-ga over pictures should you have a chance to post.  ;D We may be able to give you more info on your gun if you haven't researched much yourself.

'Jim30-40' - Welcome to the KCA Forum.

FWIW - There is not a model 1895 U.S. Krag carbine. There are model 1896 carbines that are dated "1895".

Both Pacific, (K1 & K2), and Redfield, (model #70K & model #102K), made 'no-drill' receiver sights for the U.S. Krag.

These sights require the removal of the Magazine Cut-Off Lever, (a reversible process), since they make use of the hole and machined area for the Cut-Off. These sights fit all U.S. Krag models.

The Pacific K2 has target knobs and vernier adjustments.

The Redfield 70 KT has 'target knobs' and the 70 KH has 'hunter' knobs. Both have vernier adjustments.

The downside of the vernier versions of the Redfield and Pacific sights is that there is no 'quick release' of the 'elevation slide'. The slide has to be laboriously elevated to clear the bolt for removal. (IMHO - It is simpler just to take the whole sight off of the rifle or carbine).

I prefer the simpler 'non-vernier' version of both makers sights. The 'elevation staff' can be quickly 'un-tensioned' and moved, so the bolt can be removed. These sights have a 'set-screw'. If used, this allows an easy return to the 'sighted-in' setting.

Some Krag owners prefer the vernier adjustment sights.

The Redfield 'no-drill' sights can introduce a roughness in cartridge-feed, because the 'receiver hole' for the magazine cut-off is left empty. Cartridge rims lightly snag on an 'open trough' in the receiver wall. This can be filled with a shaft, contoured, like the cut-off shaft or a glob of 'Bondo' filler, smoothed to fit .

Photos: 1. Various 'no-drill' sights. 2. Tip of Krag magazine cut-off, in 'cartridge feed' position. (NOTE - 'wear line' in metal finish from movement of cartridge rim along edge of receiver and cut-off shaft).

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Working on pics. Seem to be too big to send. Thanks for info. Any info on Rice sights?

I have seen a lot of "Rice" sights on 'Sportered' Krags. I have never used one. They always looked crude to me, but, I'm sure they worked well for 'woods hunting'.

(BTW - Photos need to be below 768 KB to attach in posts on KCA).

Photos from some old Rice literature, I accumulated:

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Sounds like, I’ll keep eye out for pacific K1, then Redfield if nothing else, thanks. Trying to figure out how to shrink my pics.

Picture

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I edit and store photographs on my computer's 'hard drive' with "Microsoft Office 2010".

If a picture has too many pixels, I edit it by choosing "compress picture for documents" and 'save it' as an edited copy, by adding 'ed' to the original name. (I save the original 'without changes').

Hey that's a pretty nice carbine. Looks like there's an area of wood damage above the 'saddle-ring bar'. (That could probably be nicely restored).
If you share the serial number, guys will check their Springfield Research Services (SRS) data.

I played with your picture a little bit.

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Got it. I’m on iPhone. Emailed it to myself as small pic, then saved. That worked

There is damage there, but doesn’t effect shooting. Number is 28,XXX. Something in that range

I shoot light loads in it, 9.6 grains Unique, cowboy bullets

There are a lot of documented U.S. model 1896 carbines in the 28K range.

The K1 Pacific sight is a nice little unit. They show up from time to time on Ebay. Depending on height, the 'peep' sight may require a taller front-sight blade.

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Well, I am now  :) on the hunt

Jim,
Welcome to the forum!  A have a Krag sporter that is equipped with a Pacific K1 sight.  The sight is a good choice.  I've got a problem with some notched sights also ... using this peep sight is a pleasure.

On my 98 Carbine is a peep flip up sight mounted on the back of the original sight. It looks original because a very close pro writer for a great gun mag. has one exactly like mine and mine and his are the same military sights and his is a trapdoor carbine made about the same time in 1898. To be honest, I've been trying to find out anything on these sights and even my friend Pete comes up blank, Why, I have no idea!! I have 2 Krags, a 98 rifle and a 98 carbine and a 1902 bayonet all 3 in amazing shape. New to THIS site but was member back in 2011 with a envelope from William Butts and my membership receipt, drifted away due to other weapons in my collection needing research a never ending quest!    Joe L.

"Joe L." - Welcome back to the KCA Forum.

The "flip-up Peep", that you mention being present on your model 1898 Krag carbine, is found on most Krag model 1902 rear-sights.

The feature was also found on the first type of rear-sight that was used on the "Rod-Bayonet" model 1903 Springfield Rifle.

This sight is described in Mallory's, Brophy's, and Joe Poyer's books on the Krag.

Per Franklin Mallory, ("The Krag Rifle Story", 2nd. edition, page 130):

".... There are two basic models of the 1902 sight, the second differing from the first by addition of a sliding peep aperture. This device was commonly called a "Sergeant Peep", which was a misnomer because it was used by privates as well as sergeants. It was designed by Springfield Armory's veteran marksman, F. R. Bull. Few Model 1902 sights were issued without the peep plate".

IMHO - Although the 'peep plate' is quite common on Model 1902 Krag sights and the early (and discarded) rear-sight for the Model 1903 Springfield, I have never seen one on a 'Trap-Door' Springfield.
(My hunch is that it is likely some craftsman's 'innovation' and not official Springfield Armory work).

Attached photos: 1. 1902 'peep plate', 2. Graphic from early 1903 Springfield Manual. 

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In my humble opinion, the Sgt. Peep is a wonderful addition to the 1902 sight, which is my favorite of the Krag rear sights.  The peep is approximately 0.04 in diameter, which is painfully small considering the relief from ones eye.  However, per CMP rules, you can enlarge this peep for competition use.  You can go about 0.07 before you're in danger of running out of metal to drill... but that makes a world of difference!!!  I've actually built my plate up slightly using JB Weld, and enlarged to 0.1 for match shooting.  This gives me an excellent sight picture!

Thanks people for the peep sight info.I have 4 Trapdoors and one is a rod bayonet rifle but 3 have Buffington sights which could not fix this sight, the 4th is a officer 1873 model with a tang sight. All 4 are 45-70 and the other rifle ( I have 2 rifles, a carbine these three are 1884, and as said the officer model is 1873 ). I 'm sorry about wandering away from my Krags and the issues with them, but the military in that time period were all in the same ball park. I have a pic my close friend now in Arizona sent me about his sported trapdoor, and the sight is the same as my Krag. I'm really glad I've found the way back to this group of people, for I've been involved with some other sites  but KRAGGERS are great, no doubt about it!!! I've been collector for 40 plus years and it never gets stale, for I collect many, many, different makes and models for they all need a good protective home!!!  Joe L.

If a model 1873 'trap-door' Springfield has a model 1902 Krag rear-sight on it, I am sure someone has been tinkering!

However, the first type of 1903 Springfield, ('rod-bayonet' model in .30-03 cal.), did have a rear-sight modeled after the 1902 rear-sight (for the Krag).

In fact, many of the surplus parts from the discontinued (early 1903 Springfield) rear-sight were used at armories to repair damaged Krag sights.

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Found a pretty good Rice peep, trouble is, had to get the gun it was mounted on, too!

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Now you're learning!  :D

I liked the Rice sights, when I could still see the front sight!  I have to scope my Krags to see their true accuracy potential.