I have a 30-40 Krag that I got from my dad.  I'd like to identify where and possibly when it was made.  There are no markings visible except by removing the stock and no serial number that I can identify. 
P.S. It is a carbine.
The only markings are on the forward end of the receiver.  Starting on the left side of the front of the receiver I have a 6.  In the centre cut out area there is a 0 and an 8 that are separated. On the right hand there is an N above a star, a J, another 0 and an 8 also separated and other marks that are too faint or double stamped so they are hard to read.  Any ideas would be appreciated.

Hello Caribou. You are giving information which doesn't make any sense whatsoever. We will need to see pictures of every part of your "carbine" in order to help you out. I'm not even sure you are describing a Krag. It sounds like there has been significant damage done to or alterations made on your firearm. No Krags were ever made at Springfield Armory without a serial number. Sometimes they are sanded off or partly removed with drilling and tapping the receiver for a scope mount.

I'm really curious what you have but please post pictures.

Thanks!

Thanks, it doesn't make sense to me either.  There is no evidence of drilling or milling and no scope or other addition.

I forget the date but at one time serial numbers were not required.  This may not be an American made Krag.  I have another Springfield Krag so, yes, it is a 30-40 Krag and has been in the family for over 50 years.  As you know these were manufactured in Europe before they were here.  Pictures are a problem for me but I'll se if I can get some help there.

“Caribou” from the Mosin forum on the Gun Board forum?

I don't remember posting over there though I could have if it was years ago and only a few times, probably not.  I do have a Mosin.

It says my photos take too much space.  Sorry.

Pictures need to be 768KB or less to post on KCA site.

Thanks, my photos are 1.2MB and larger.

You can reduce and save a smaller copy.

Use 'Save Image As' and give the copy a new 'name'.

When you close your edited original, choose 'Don't Save Changes' and original will be preserved without alteration.

A 'close-up' 100KB picture can show lots of detail and is a convenient size for viewing on the KCA Forum.

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These are the only markings on the rifle.  By enlarging the picture the markings I thought to be J,0,8 now appear to be J,P,S and are probably from an inspector. 

I am working with a JPG file and I have never changed to other formats.  "Save As" is not available in this area of my program.

I should have said: 'save image as'.

Most of the images I post are JPEG.

I can edit size of images stored on my hard-drive, with my Windows 7 or Paint programs.

IMHO - Best Krag diagnostic images are close, clear, natural lighting, that show details, such as, markings, sights, muzzle area, forearm tip, and metal & wood finish.

Full- length views of  Krags, with owner's feet in frame, are not very helpful, but, are amusing.

Thanks, I'll play around with it. I'm on a Mac.

I use a Mac exclusively. Open the jpg picture file, go to Tools on the top of the screen and drag down to Adjust Size. Go to Custom and select the 1280x1280 and click OK and most of your pictures should resize to an acceptable size for posting.

Sometimes you have to play with them a little.

Caribou wrote on Feb 17^th, 2020 at 6:37pm:

Thanks, I'll play around with it. I'm on a Mac.

Me too! The "Preview" application is your friend! I published my second book using that and "Pages", with no high-end publishing software whatsoever.

I wrote my senior chemistry thesis paper in college on an Apple computer completely with the first word processing program I had ever heard of on a 4 inch floppy disk. Did my paper and research on Lasers and Holography and made my own holograms for the project. That was 1983 and I have used Apples ever since.

They cost more than pcs but they are easier to use and last a lot longer. Never have had a virus or hard drive crash either!

This is the only place that there are any markings. The J,0,8 that I thought I saw appear to be J,P,S which I assume is an inspector.  The marking half in the shadow is a 0.

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You're getting there!

That looks like the front of every Krag magazine cover and receiver with typical stampings that have no specific relevance to identifying the rifle or valuing it. They are just considered stamps from different stages of production. Just a jumble of letters and numbers that we don't understand. The "P" that you see on the rear of the barrel and the front ring of the receiver signifies proof testing of each.

Need more pictures. You're teasing us!

Here are similar pictures of three different Krag receivers I took real quick for comparison:

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Give me a break Whig, I've got a slow hand.:)

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Okay, I messed this up a bit but it still shows the rear sight well enough.

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This is where I would expect to see some markings but nada.  Value would be cool but I'm never selling Dad's guns.  I'd really like to figure out about when this was made.  I' hoping that someone recognises the rear sight or some other minor difference that might narrow down a time frame.

I can see a few details that can shed a small amount of light on your Krag. I can't see much yet but a couple observations:

The stock is cut down from a rifle stock to carbine length. It has been sanded heavily as seen with the worn down grasping grooves. The stock has a later M1898 bolt handle cut out which says the receiver is probably a Model 1898 receiver. The rear sight looks like an un modified Model 1898 rifle sight with the three notches.

The receiver does appear to have been scrubbed of any identifying marks. The left side of the receiver should show Model 1898, US Springfield Armory and serial number. This could be considered problematic as any firearm manufactured on or after January 1, 1899 requires licensing and registration by the BATFE.

Other important features are the receiver action, bolt and front sight. The barrel length is important also.

I can't see if the front sight is original or not.

Are there a couple of small holes drilled in the top of the receiver?

That looks like a great old sling with your Krag. Are there any cleaning rods or an oiler in the butt stock compartment?

Thanks for the pictures. Seems like you got it figured out.

It's great to have a family heirloom like this passed down from generation to generation. Congrats on having something like this in your family, even if it has been altered from original condition!

'Caribou' -  I agree with 'Whig' that you have a U.S. Model 1898 'cut-down' Krag rifle stock.

It is possible that the barrel could be a carbine barrel.

A very clear photo of the barrel's muzzle area, showing the barrel "crown" and the front sight attachment, would help with identification.

A carbine barrel measures exactly 22 inches from muzzle to closed 'Bolt-face'. (A cleaning rod is used to take this measurement).

It appears you have at least four extra holes in your Krag's  Springfield Armory Receiver.

The rear-sight Leaf, Eye-Piece, and base appear to be a model 1898 sight.

I have copied and reduced a couple of your photos.

I have put 'arrows' to indicate extra holes that are not Official. If these holes are threaded, they were likely for some unknown 'scope-mount'.

The Armory markings appear to have been removed. I have put a long blue box where you might find a vestige of "Model 1898    Springfield Armory".
The rear blue box is where the serial number was located. I think I see a faint vestige of a number.
The upper blue box is where "U.S." was stamped.

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I have a '98 rifle.  Both front and rear sights are taller on the rifle but are very similar otherwise.

The barrels are both tapered and the muzzles are identical in diameter as far as I can tell without trying to find my micrometer.  Both muzzles are crowned identically.

I don't see any evidence of sanding.  Either you are seeing the effect of the light I was shining while the picture was being taken or I just can't see it.

The barrel is very close to 22".

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Caribou- Look at your pictures at the grasping grooves and see how smooth and worn the edges are? (Posting reply #18 above) That's evidence of significant wear from sanding, most likely. Stocks were often sanded as part of refinishing. This detracts from appearance and value when looking at the condition of the stock overall.

I have included a picture for comparison of a Krag rifle stock that shows the edges of the grasping grooves almost new. They are clean and sharp.

The barrel has to be exactly 22 inches from the muzzle to the front of the closed bolt. Anything less than or more than 22 inches is an altered barrel. Check that carefully.

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There are four holes forward of the ejection port and two hole aft of the ejection port.  Decades of dry oil make it difficult to tell whether they are threaded.  45 years ago my cousin needed cash and sold the gun to Dad.  I have never seen a scope or mount on the gun but I have no idea if my cousin put a scope on it or whether previous owner did.  The holes are consistent with a scope mount.

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Your 'family heirloom Krag' appears to have an original carbine barrel on it.

The carbine barrel is larger in diameter at the muzzle than the rifle barrel. (That's because the 30 inch rifle barrel continues to taper for 8 more inches).

The front base was dovetailed into the barrel and bronze brazed to the barrel at Springfield Armory. The contour was nicely 'blended in' to make an almost seamless attachment.

Your receiver marking may have been model 1898 or model 1899, before it was polished into oblivion.  :'(

BTW - Your present rear-sight is a model 1898 rifle sight. It should have the peculiar three 'sighting notches'.

I see what you mean about the grasping grooves.

The barrel is 22".  You had to make me go find that  didn't you :).  I think the last time I used that was to measure a shotgun barrel.  I prefer the flexible cleaning kit.  Thanks guys I have learned a bunch.  I think I answered all your questions but if you have more or if I missed something let me know.

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I have another project I could use a hand with.  I need a stock for a '98 rifle.  Where would be a good place to pick one up and what would be a fair price?  I recently picked up this rifle but it came without furniture.

While I had the cleaning rod out I fished out the paper towel from inside the butt stock. Dad hasn't used that gun in decades and I haven't opened the butt stock, probably ever. 

I went back over the gun with a light and I enlarged the photo of that area and I see no vestige of any markings but you guys have already seen way more than I have. 

Stocks and hand-guards show up on eBay and GunBroker. Unfortunately, Krag wood is getting very pricey.

It is good to be patient, observe and hunt the internet, so you know a fair deal, when it presents itself. (Shipping costs are terrible).

It is real easy to put more money into a 'parts gun' than you can sell it for!

Thanks for the info butlersrangers.  Many people think that they can add all sorts of goodies to a gun ad it becomes more valuable.  I am not one of those people.  I have sold a very few guns and was lucky to make a profit on one of them.  When I make changes to a firearm it is for me or for the gun.  I'll look at a gun that has performed honourably for decades and pay it back with necessary part.  I'm not in the gun business.  If I can find an original stock, that is consistent with this rifle then I'd do that.  I'm not knowledgable enough to put the perfect stock so I'll put an old sporterised stock on or buy a new stock for it.  I'm also not spending twice as much for the perfect stock when I don't know what that is.  Getting the gun shooting again does it the honour it is due.

A good cut-down Krag stock is a lot cheaper and easier to come by than a good full-length stock.

This remedy has the benefit that it allows you to get a Krag into action, while exploring other options.

Many a Krag owner has accumulated parts and attached a new forearm, on a cut-down stock, by splicing under the barrel-band. 

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For $250 I can get a new, unfinished, stock that appears to be about the length of  the one pictured above.  Since it's not an original stock I'm guessing that is fine.  I have the barrel band  but I'll still need a butt plate.  I'll probably go with a recoil pad as the stock will never be original.

That's a neat trick about splicing it under the barrel band.