The lowest model 1898 serial number, shown in Frank Mallory's 'Appendix 20' tables, from "The Krag Rifle Story", 2nd edition, is #109128.

"109128  98R  051729  NEW CUMBERLAND GRD (DESTROYED)"

(I do wonder how close a scrutiny men, who were destroying Krags, gave to getting model 1896 or 1898 markings correct.
We all know how difficult it is to correctly read the markings on some Krags).

If the New Cumberland Depot staff got this entry correct, "ColoradoJohn's" altered model 1896 rifle, #109027, is only 101 digits lower than this "lowest documented" model 1898 rifle.

Interesting Indeed!

BTW - The next (documented in Appendix 20) model 1898 rifle is in a group starting with: #109459 - 98R - 1898 Co. K 4th Tenn. Vol. Inf.

Mallory, in Appendix 19, listed information not necessarily contained in the Appendix 20 serial numbers.
Significantly missing are:

Krag, #109020, as the "Highest Reported Model 1896 Serial Number".
(This is seven digits lower than ColoradoJohn's rifle. No source is given. Now we have a higher known number, 109027, Woo-Hoo)!

Krag, #109342, as the "Lowest Observed Model 1898 Serial Number (Reported by Wayne Gagner)".
(This would be 214 digits higher than the model 1898 rifle destroyed at New Cumberland Depot, that Mallory reported, in Appendix 20).

FWIW - The gap is 101 rifles between ColoradoJohn's model 1896 rifle (#109027) and the lowest model 1898 rifle number (#109128) in Frank Mallory's KRS, 2nd edition, APPENDIX 20.

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