I bought a side cover to replace the one that had been cut off on my 1896 Krag carbine.  The new cover does not drop in.  I could have returned it and tried another but I decided to hand fit it.  So, any advice on where to remove metal?  I've been staring at it for days, top and bottom.  I know the "lip" has to be reduced in size, but where do you start?

Send it back .... get the correct side-plate.

You'd need a correct one side by side to measure slight differences to alter the one you have.

They're rather inexpensive.

I'd go with buying a correct one also.

That does make sense, but what if I end up with the same problem with a new one?  The covers are the exact same size - the only difference is the thickness of the lip on the left side that slides into the receiver.

The 1896 side plate will fit the 1898 Krags but not the reverse.

Go to Granpa's Gun Parts, link below, and order the correct side plate. He's honest and knows what he sells.

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That's where I bought it.
Not that site but his ebay site.  "Seller does not accept returns."

FWIW - I measured the 'front-lip' (tendon) thickness on three Krag side-plates, (one model 1896 and two model 1898's), with a vernier-caliper.

The Model 1896 measured approximately .131" to .132".

The Model 1898 plates measured .153" to .155".

The difference is about the thickness of two 'Business Cards'. I don't know for sure, but, more than just the tendon thickness could be involved.

Fitting an incorrect side-plate, by thinning the front tendon (lip), may disrupt the fit of other surfaces and angles.

Measuring is the best way, I know of, to "ID" these different side-plates. They are hard to differentiate by eye alone.

You can measure your 'new' plate and the one that came on your carbine to see if they are different models - (just burrs or .020 thousandths of an inch).

If you were sent the wrong plate, I am sure an email to David Stewart at "Granpa's Gun Parts" will correct the situation.

In the attached picture, the Model 1896 side-plate is on the Left. I have marked the center plate to show where I measured the thickness.

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Thanks for the pics and info. I've measured the old plate that fit and the new one a dozen different ways and, as you said, the difference is slight.  I think I can get it to fit.
I couldn't return the plate in good conscience since I dragged a file across the metal to see how hard it was. 
It'll be a nice little, inexpensive project.

Let us know how it turns out and feeds cartridges.

If I was trying this, I would take the metal off the inside edge of the tendon and try to maintain the contours of that surface.

I insert the front end of the side plate into the receiver opening at an angle and close the back end carefully until the cover touches the back of the receiver opening. Then I use a soft rubber mallet to snap the back end home to get a nice tight fit. Make sure there are no burrs on the receiver opening that might be hampering the fit.

Hopefully you'll get it done without much more trouble.

After studying the way the old side plate fit, I went to work slowly with a Dremel.  It took me maybe 15 minutes but the next one I could do in 5.  Now I have to clean up the filed metal, cold blue it and I'm done (with that part, at least).

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Well 'Battis', if it feeds cartridges "OK", this will make you "The KCA Side-Plate Specialist"

Great job. Just took a little foolin with the toolin!

The fact that you can see both sides of the plate, inside and out, makes it a lot easier.  And a job like this makes me appreciate the talent and skills they had 100+ years ago.

Bumping an old thread that shows main difference between 1896 and 1898 side-plates.

(Note - Correct term is "tenon", (not tendon). Thanks - Parashooter!).

I see the OP has "the old one that fit"

Why are you replacing it?

thanks

Mark - This is an old thread. The OP's original 1896 side-plate had a section cut from it to clear a Lyman sight base.

(Everyone was recommending that he stay with a correct model 1896 replacement, rather than altering a model 1898 part).

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