Hello from a new forum member. I have been an active US military collector for over forty years but mostly what I have collected has been '03 Springfields and 1911's. Needless to say my knowledge about Krags is just enough to be dangerous to my wallet.

Recently I found this Krag carbine at a local yard sale and managed to get it for very, very cheap. So far my research leads me to believe that it is a genuine 1898 carbine.

The good: The serial number is 123905 which is in the known serial number range for '98 carbines. The cartouche is nearly impossible for me to photograph clearly enough, but under the proper light it is a boxed "JSA" (hard to make out) over 1898. Barrel is 22" from the breach face to the end of the muzzle and has the correct taper.

The bad: Somewhere in the past the original carbine rear sight had disappeared. A 1901 carbine rear sight was included with it, but wasn't attached, due no doubt, to the fact that it wouldn't fit with the front band. In addition, the handguard was missing.

I located the correct handguard and I found a 1896 rifle sight in my box of junk (sometimes it pays to be a packrat) and I am using it as a place holder until I can locate the correct sight. I bought the carbine for $400 and sold the 1901 carbine rear sight for $250. I also sold a rather beat up 1899 carbine stock I have been sitting on for a number of years (that packrat thing again) for another $250 and paid a $100 for the handguard, so as it sits I have a net $0 in it.

Pics in the next post.