Hey guys, I just received this Krag on a trade. It is marked 1896 but has a serial number for 1895 carbine. 34605 is what it says.
I can tell its been re blued, and the butt end replaced with a rubber one, and the sights changed to a more modern hunting style sight. I do see a stamp on the wood stock but cant read it. The barrel wasnt cut as there is letters on the end of the barrel, Im guessing its the date and manufacture of the barrel.

Any info on this rifle would be appreciated. I know more about the mordern firearms then the older ones. also if it has a model prefix? Im not sure if it does or what to look for there. but I read that if it has no model prefix, there were around 7,000 made. between the 1895-1896.

Thanks for any info on this, like Value, Rarity, etc.  Thanks Guys!    Derek

A lot of misconceptions here, unfortunately.

You have an 1898-type rifle stock which has been cut down in length, and Bubba-cut at the bolt root to resemble an 1896 stock, and, the barrel has been replaced with one from a 1903 Springfield (a not uncommon practice in the 30s-40s-50s) since Krag barrels have a different taper, and are never marked at the muzzle.

There is no "Model 1895" anything - though there is a so-called "1895 variant" of the Model 1896 Carbine, which was not formally named until after a number had been produced.

Yes, the plain "1896" is the scarcest variety of Krag model stamping, but an arm needs to be in un-altered condition to give that any meaning.

If it has a good bore and shoots well, it should give pleasure as a hunting rifle. Value - somewhere in the $250-$350 range, perhaps. If it was represented to you in the trade as being an original carbine (before the mods) you might wish to seek redress in some manner.