I was unhappy with an improvised barrel-band on a 'cut-down' model 1896 Krag, that I fitted into an ruined model 1898 stock.

Yesterday, I replaced the model 1902 rear sight with a model 1896 rifle sight and fitted a rough 1896 carbine barrel-band.

Dang, now it needs some further forearm shaping, a band-spring, and salvaged hand-guard!

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At least the socks match!

The toe lines are crooked though.

The bastard child Krag carbine. Looks like it's going to need lots of lovin!

Good luck in fitting the rough hewn parts. Lots of epoxy, wood filler, stain and some duct tape might be needed.

Whig - You cut me to the quick.

I thought, I was showing imagination and good progress.

p.s. - No Krags will be harmed in this enterprise.

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Not at all! Lots of imagination and motivation You're saving a Krag! Lots of good in that. Did you miss the humor??

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Oh, I thought you were calling me a child of unwed parents.

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His bark is worse than his bite.

A bit more progress on the project:

The 'cut-down' rifle stock has been tapered to blend with the carbine barrel-band. The rifle 'finger grooves' have been reworked to mimic the model 1896 carbine stock grooves.

A wrecked model 1896 rifle hand-guard has been turned in to a semblance of a model 1896 carbine hand-guard. (Someone had lengthened the sight opening of this model 1896 hand-guard to use it with a model 1901 sight).

Next steps will be to sculpt the forearm 'tip', install a barrel-band spring, and fill rifle butt-swivel mortise.

Ultimately, the Italian walnut stock will be refinished to better match the black walnut hand-guard.

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I find wood working to be intimidating, it looks like the fore end is parallel to the end, but I guess you could have tapered it a bit and just made the area where the barrel band ends up fit tight.

Anyway nicely done!

Creeping along:  Next steps are to final shape stock tip, match wood color, and to 'patina' barrel-band and spring.

This 'cut-down' stock is an inch shorter than a true model 1896 Krag carbine stock.
A regular Krag 'band-spring' would have compromised the stock tip.

I improvised a shorter replacement spring from an Argentine Mauser spring, that I had in my junk box.

Besides, everything works better with a Mauser part on it!

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Nice job, a good wood match. I shortened a band spring for my 1873/76 carbine build.

Looking good. This may be something you already know. But I've done some stock finishing (flintlocks I've built) and refinishing of old guns. Used True Oil a lot, because that is what I knew in the early years. Now I realize that the old tried and true boiled linseed oil is the way to go. I ran across this video and it has a few nuances that I'll need to try next time, especially the sanding and going right to the oil application without wiping the "sawdust" off. Thought this may be useful, unless you already have this down. The video even uses a Krag (sporterized) for an example.

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Pretty much finished except for more coats of Linseed Oil.

Not Springfield Armory quality, but, better than Bubba.

I can use this "Faux '96 carbine" without guilt of putting wear and tear on a Safe Queen.

No "saddle-ring", but IMHO, they just get in the way, make noise, and weaken the stock.
I leaving the 1903 front-sight, so future collectors know it's a 'parts project' gun.

Knute, thanks for the stock finish video, some useful ideas there.

This was a fun project and (FWIW) shows there is enough wood in a 'duffle-cut' model 1898 stock to make an imitation model 1896 carbine stock.
(The stock I started with was only 29 inches long, so it is a bit off at the forearm tip).

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Are you wearing two different slippers?  Very practical but I thought this was a socks only forum.

But I like what you did for the Krag.  I have a carbine that the tip was cut off under the band but the guy must have had a change of heart and tried to glue it back on.  The spring is couple of hairs short of being right and will not keep the band secured.

I am thinking 2021 is when I can get to it.


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Looks great Chuck!