recently got a springfield 1898 krag. the cartouche on the stock is stamped with 1899. the serial is 179520 and i am not sure that this is correct for a carbine. hoping to get some help or verification. thanks for any help!

Welcome to the forum!  Chances are it is a cut down rifle.  Photos will tell a thousand words.

Chuck,

Welcome also to the KCA. We are Krag lovers and have no shame about it!

You give us little info to go on. As Culpeper said, we need pictures to be able to give more info.

What we can say is that your Krag most likely started life at the Springfield Armory as a rifle. Serial number 179520 was made in February !899 as a M1898 Krag rifle. Anything could have been done to it after it left the armory such as cutting down or swapping barrels, changing the sights, changing the stock, etc.

Anything done to your Krag that is permanent, such as cutting the barrel or drilling or tapping the receiver for a scope mount, permanently damages it and makes it a "sporter". These can be good shooters and hunting rifles. But they have no collector's value if these things have been done.

If some parts have been swapped and it isn't damaged from arsenal configuration, it can be returned to military condition and still maintain some collector's value. The condition of the rifle and stock and bore become important at this point.

Your Krag is not listed in the Springfield Research Records as having had any documented military history.

So, if you can post some pictures, we'll be glad to help some more.

Thanks!