I have a carbine with receiver Model 1898. The serial number on the receiver is 409554.  Doing research on the serial number it was supposedly made in 1903 or 1904.  Is it possible carbines were rebuilt in that date range? The stock does not have a cartouche or test fire marks.  The barrel is a carbine and the front sight is marked "c". So just wondering what I have here?   Pictures attached.  Thank you!

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You have a parts gun. No 1898 carbines were made in that high serial number range. Your front sight post has been ground on, so who knows if it original to the barrel. You do have what appears to be a correct 1899 style carbine stock. what is the rear sight graduated to? are there any "c"s on the rear sight?

'jzitch' - Welcome to the KCA Forum.

Your Krag, #409344, was likely assembled in August or September, 1902, as a model 1898 rifle.

Model 1899 carbine production had started three years earlier, in September, 1899, around serial #226,701.

(I do not know where you found the information that your Krag was made in 1903-04).

The 'hammer' marks, on your front-sight, likely indicate the sight base was removed from a rifle barrel and reused on a shortened barrel.
IMHO - Your sight base appears crudely installed.

Years ago, lots of individuals and small companies made such alterations to Krag rifles to make them more useful for civilian Hunters.

You do have a real model 1899 carbine stock.

The absence of an 'Acceptance Cartouche' and a 'circled P stamp' could indicate it was a spare stock held for Replacement/Repair.
It maybe was never even used officially.

Welcome to KCA. You should be able to learn a lot about your Krag and thanks for coming and posting some good pictures.

Krags are exciting and lots of fun to collect and shoot. But, oh, man, they are confusing.

Your Krag, serial number 409554,  was probably built in August 1902. It definitely started life as a rifle. You have asked a question referring to a Model 1896 carbine and have a Model 1898 Krag receiver, as shown in your picture.

Model 1898 carbines are not very common and are found with receivers in the 120000 range.

I can't see the base of your front sight. The sight looks beat up and an over sized pin holding the blade in but the base may have been added after Springfield Armory made the barrel. The barrel could be cut down from the rifle 30 inch barrel or a true carbine barrel, exactly 22 inches from the closed bolt face to the muzzle, could have been switched onto this receiver.

Many Krag rifles were cut down or had different barrels attached after leaving Springfield Armory.  Carbine length Krags were popular for hunting.

Could you post some more pictures of the base of the front sight and the rear sight, please? The rear sight looks like a Model 1901 sight.

The front blade of carbine Krags usually do have a "c" stamped on them. This may have been changed unless it is a true carbine barrel on your rifle receiver.

The stock does appear to be a carbine stock with the spring holding the barrel band in place. Cut down rifle stocks had a pin through the stock instead of a spring to retain the barrel band.

So, there are a few pieces of info about your Krag. Even cut down Krags can be fun and great shooting firearms, though. Don't be discouraged. How is the bore of this Krag? Was anything stored in the butt of the stock? Is this a family heirloom?

Thanks again!

The rear sight maybe a 1901. See pic attached. The bore is mint. The action and bolt are very smooth with no "play"  Purchased it from a friend.

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'jzitch' - You do have a U.S. Krag model 1901 rear sight.

Your leaf that goes to '23', (for 2,300 yards), is a carbine leaf. The rifle leaf is only marked to '20'.

Unfortunately, your eye-piece has been altered by someone's filing a 'sighting groove'. (orange oval)

A 1901 carbine sight, that is complete, will have the letter "P" stamped where I have marked green arrows.

(note - Local Boy caught my error. A "C" should be stamped where indicated by green arrows).

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Your suspect front sight base contrasted with an original model 1899 front-sight.

Last picture is by 'Parashooter' and clearly shows dovetail and brazing of Krag front-sight by Springfield Armory.

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Butlersrangers is one of the most helpful and knowledgeable contributors to this KCA forum.

But sometimes typos occur...I believe BR meant to type that there should be a letter "C" instead of a "P" stamped on the 1901 carbine sight as indicated by the green arrows. 

Yes, there is the letter “C” on the side of the rear sight as indicated in the picture with green arrow. Thank you all for your help.