Hi , I have a nice Krag carbine that is all original but has a high serial number, when I check the serial number it comes up as being made in 1903. Serial number is 4759xx. Barrel length is correct as is the stock. It all looks like it is supposed too. Any ideas here?
Thanks
Mike

Two things jump out in the photo -
- Front sight base is not original
- Handguard is the rifle model, not carbine with hump.

It appears you have a cut-down rifle. More and better pictures might help identify the stock.

The stock appears - given location of rear sight relative to barrel band - to be the longer style of carbine stock (32" as opposed to 30").

ONLY the short ones had the swivel bar/ring. If that item, or the base thereof, is found on a long carbine stock, Springfield Armory is not the party who put it there.

Definitely need more data, or additional pics, on this one.

Disregarding the serial and model year, the bogus front sight base is a dead giveaway that the barrel has been shortened. Original Krag front bases are dovetailed and brazed directly to the barrel. The base on yours, probably the 1905 model for the Model 1903 rifle, appears to feature a band around the barrel. This was a common expedient for sighting a cut-down rifle without the careful fitting and finishing required to install an original-style base.

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Original Krag sight base attachment.

Hi Dick, OK I can see what your saying about long term ownership not meaning anything and the old collectors, they did not have access to the info we do now.
At least the stock on this one should be worth something to a Krag collector, it is in really nice shape.
Wish it were a real carbine though.
Mike

Here is some more information that I have had a chance to look up, this is out off Brophy's book.
M1898 carbine 5,000 made using model 1898 actions.
M1898 converted carbine 3,000 made using the model 1898 action.

M1899 carbine first model made using model 1896 actions, 9,000 made.

M1899 Carbine second model made using model 1898 actions, 16,000 made.
M1899 Carbine third model made using Model 1899 actions, 2000 made.
If I'm reading the prodution correctly they used what ever they had and built them in lots, with 3 or 4 distinct seperate models of carbines produced using these model 1898 actions. They were even used up until 1905 for some rifles.
Mike

I do not have Brophy's book, this was taken off the web, I searched for Krag serial numbers and it came up with a whole listing taken right out of his book. Wish I did have a copy as it would make the research allot easier. I have no idea what all the differences are between the different 1898 series carbines, seems odd that there are so many series.  Knowing how or how not our government's procurement system works  leads me to believe that there was a greater need for the carbines than originally thought. And they kept adjusting production to take care of the added requests. Mounted troops in our other possessions needed carbines too, areas such as Guam, not just the Philippines. The P. I . carbines I think were for the P.I. army irregulars who were being trained and not for the regular army folks. And all of this makes sounds correct to me as the troops knew the Krag was on the way out and the 1903 Springfield was coming in as a replacement but no carbines wee to be made. So, I would think that every depot supply officer was ordering more just knowing that no more would be made. These were still in service in the Philippines until just after WW2. Some of the guerrillas fighter used the krag carbines when they could get nothing else. I have a picture of one of my uncles holding a krag carbine during the war, he was with the Fertigs raiders group after they broke him out of a prison camp.
Mike

mwhite49 wrote on Oct 12^th, 2011 at 11:08pm:


I'm really sorry to advise you that the above is just plain not true at all - you have somehow misunderstood what was said, and so gotten way off on the wrong foot.

(1) 5003 carbines were made using 1898 actions, in the 112xxx -135xxx range, only. They were originally issued with short (30") stocks having a sling ring, and identical to the stock of the preceding M1896 carbine, except for bolt handle notch. Soon after issue, they were all restocked with long (32") M1899-type carbine stocks.

(2) ALL subsequent new carbines used "Model 1899" receivers. There is no such thing as different "types" of 1899 Carbine. None were built "using 1896 receivers"! They did have difffering versions of rear sight/handguard, depending on date made.

(3) All short Krags with 1898 receivers above - let's be generous - 140xxx, are cut-down rifles, no matter whether they are in a carbine stock, or a bubba stock.

(4) Some of the earlier M1896 carbines were later restocked using the 32" long wood as well. The 1896 style of short stock was last produced in 1897, and supplies were exhausted. These stocks have the M1896 bolt notch, and may be found with a variety of sights/handguards. They are NOT M1899 carbines. They do not have the sling ring - in fact, no 32" carbine stock had a sling ring.

Hope that helps.