Nick,

Welcome to KCA! We love Krags and love helping others learn about them.

Your Krag serial number 85723 was made around November 1897. The Krags are known to have deep stamped "6"s look like "8"s and "3"s often look like "8"s.

Sounds like you may have gotten a great deal!! If the Krag is indeed in full military condition with the cleaning kit, you may have a treasure that is worth more than you paid.

I love the Model 1896 Krags. There were many more later production Model 1898 Krags built and fewer of the Model 1896s have survived in original condition. Many have been altered in different ways.

Please post pictures of the Krag and tell us more about it so we can drool and help figure out more details on what you've bought.

Welcome!