Hi Guys, I just joined this forum and hope to gain some knowledge from the people on here. I just bought what
I think is a Springfield 1898 Krag carbine. I've taken some
pics of it and will try to post them as soon as I figure out
how to enter the pics to this site. Good to be aboard.
Denny

It's always so much fun to have new people join the Krag Collectors Forum and tell of new Krag acquisitions. Pictures are always great to go through and see what someone has found.

I would love to see a real 1898 Krag carbine someone has run across. They certainly are rare and often faked but there are some real ones out there.

So, we anxiously await your pictures of your new find so the experts can help figure out what you've got. Please get some nice close ups of the stock, serial number, front and rear sites and any other distinguishing characteristics!

OK, I'll try to upload some pics... I know the front sight blade
has been changed.
Denny

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I can only upload one pic at a time for some reason.
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I can only upload one pic at a time for some reason.
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more

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Too bad about the sporting blade and the unsightly white defect that has defaced part of the serial! Nothing that can't be fixed, we hope.

The blade can be replaced... I put the white paper over the last two numbers of the serial number. I picked this up at a small
gun show Sat for what I believe to be not much money, so
whatever it is, I kind of happy with it. Took it to the range Mon
and shot some cast bullets thru it and it did very well at 100 yds.
Denny

Looks like you really have something there. The front sight blade isn't a big issue, all in all, and can be easily replaced with the proper blade. Does the barrel measure 22" from the bolt face to the end of the barrel?

Yes, it measures 22" from bolt face to end of barrel
I can't find any date on stock, just a very faint circle P
behind the trigger guard.
Denny

If the barrel is 22 inches and the front site is original, the Krag you have appears to be an authentic 1898 carbine! The serial number is definitely in the range of true carbines. It's not a guarantee but you can't have an authentic 1898 carbine if the serial number is out of the 120,000 area.

The 1898 carbine can have a variety of rear sites, so your "c" marked rear site can be appropriate also.

So, see what other experts say but things look good so far...

Good job at finding what might be a rare Krag!

Would you be willing to share where you found this and about what you paid? We are always curious if you feel comfortable sharing.

How is the condition of the bore?

You don't have to hide the serial here... you're among friends!  I'd like to see a close up of that front sight post where it meets the barrel.  It might just be the lighting, but something looks a little funny about the mounting. 

I picked it up at a small gun show Sat... I gave $600 for it.I'll try and get a better pic of the front sight, but it looks like it was
silver soldered into a dove tail on the barrel.
Denny

Does the faint "P" behind the trigger guard look like this?

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Is there a cartouche on the left side in the location like this one? (Might be faint also.)

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No, the P in a circle is not fancy like that one.... There is no
cartouche on the side of the stock..must have been sanded.
Denny

Can you put up a picture of the circled P?

Not really...it's so faint, you can hardly see it.
Denny

'leadhead' - Welcome to the KCA Forum. It appears you did very well getting your model 1898 carbine for $600!

When first manufactured at Springfield Armory, your carbine would have had a 'short forearm' stock and hand-guard, a model 1896 carbine rear-sight, a 'sight-protecting' barrel-band and a sling-bar & ring.

During 'refurbishing' your carbine received a model 1899 carbine stock, sight-protecting hand-guard, 1899 carbine barrel-band, and a 1901 carbine sight. This made it identical to a model 1899 carbine.

It is believed that 1898 carbines updated to 1899 configuration at the armory will have the 'Circled Script P', indicating they were proofed and tested for function. They will normally lack an 'acceptance cartouche', because they had already been accepted into the service with their original stock.

(Your carbine originally had a stock like this one):

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Front site base, when the picture is tweaked, actually looks fine. The muzzle would be nice to see. The replaceable front site blade is an easy fix.

Price is great!  Any way this was a great find! Sure has been great to see. Nice start to a nice Krag collection.

Keep reading these posts and you'll get the fever. We'll help you spend your money building your Krag collection.

Pictures of the Proof Mark and Cartouche area would be nice.

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Most real 98SRC Krags were upgraded to the M99 SRC as I believe yours was. M98 carbines had the M96 carbine rear sight , M96 carbine band, and M96 carbine hand guard when originally issued. Still a great find as yours is one of only 5,000.

There was no "saddle-ring" on a U.S. model 1899 carbine. No need for "src" term. (Never was official nomenclature, just a 'collector phrase').

Whig wrote on Nov 8^th, 2018 at 1:08am:

…….you can't have an authentic 1898 carbine if the serial number is out of the 120,000 area.

Actually, according to Brophy, 1898 Carbines were found with numbers between 118894 and 135256.  Mallory was even more liberal in saying numbers can be found with numbers between "113669 and 200,000+".  I found with a quick look, 17 carbines with numbers above 130000. Most were in the 130058 to 138944 area with a few higher (highest found was 154770 and several between 140190 and 149054).  I didn't look for anything earlier than 130000, but I imagine that there will be numbers to fall in line with both Col Brophy and Mr. Mallory.  There could be other sources I can't see that can offer even more specific information.  With so few being made, it has always seemed odd that we cannot find more specific information.

Thanks for the details above. I didn't have my references with me when I wrote that but I knew it had to be around the 120,000 area, plus or minus 8-10,000! Lots of Krag Rifles mixed in with these numbers, of course, which really complicates the whole authentication process!

Quick question.....Are the Krag rifle and carbine front sights
the same height? From the top of the base to the top of the
sight.  Thanks,
Denny

Bases are the same but blades are different heights for diffrent rear sights

I'm talking about the 1901 rear sight of the carbine.
Denny

The model 1898 U.S. Krag Rifle blade height, when removed from the base, is .413".

The carbine blade, (for use with model 1901 or 1902 rear-sight), when removed measures .355"

Contour of the top of both front-sight blades is the same.

IIRC: The model 1901 rear-sight bases are the same height for rifle and carbine versions.

The 'ramp' and 'slide' graduations are different on the rifle and carbine versions.

Also, the carbine sight does not correct for 'drift' as the elevation slide is moved for increased range.
The rifle version has built in correction for 'drift' and angles the 'eyepiece' to the left, as range increases.
Krag carbines proved to shoot differently than the rifles and did not require this 'drift' correction.

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Thank you sir: That was what I was looking for.
Denny

OK guys, I'm back with another question. I located another
front sight blade, but it has a slight side to side movement
after I installed it. Is there any way I can tighten the slot
or whatever to make it tight? Thanks for any replies.
Denny

I would recommend a little bit of 'gasket seal' or 'J-B Weld' on the lower sides of the new blade, as you insert it into the slot.

If neatly done, this will be invisible and will harden to remove the 'slop'.

The blade can later be removed, if necessary, by tapping it out with a plastic mallet.

OK Sir....Thanks for the info  I was thinking of trying to squeeze
the slot together to try to tighten it up,but was afraid of maybe
breaking the base. Thanks,
Denny

The J-B Weld should work but another simple way to fix this is to use a small piece of paper to put on the base before pushing the sight blade down into the paper and then drift the pin through the base to secure the sight. This wedge usually gives a tight fit to take the wobble out.

Enjoy the nice Krag!