Hello all, thanks for your time!
I just inherited a Krag rifle and I was wondering if you all could help shed some light onto it's history and maybe identify it. First and foremost, I am not knowledgeable at all with guns other than firing a few rifles and shotguns in my 20's (15 or so years ago) so please explain most things like I'm 10 (terminology, etc...). I have posted a bunch of pictures but if you need more just let me know and I'll do my best.
So as far as the known history of this piece, it was my wife's grandfathers that he purchased forever ago for hunting. I know it's not much info but that's all I got.
The markings on the gun itself show 'U.S. Model 1898. Springfield Armory 403339'. The gun looks to be all original with no replaced parts but I could be wrong. It just looks evenly old all over. I'm pretty sure it hasn't been fired in over 60 years and it looks like it may have some rust spots. It's been in Florida for all of those 60 years.
On the wood there is a stamp that looks like some cursive letters and then under that the date 1902. There is a letter 'U' stamped onto a metal ring where the stock meets the barrel and underneath the stock just behind the trigger there is another stamp with some kind of squiggled symbol and a number '33'. The gun from end to end measures 44" almost exactly.
So what do I have here? I've read a little and there seems to be a difference in a rifle and carbine and it also looks like a lot of these may have been modified for hunting and parts replaced or altered.
I really appreciate all your help and comments! Thanks in advance for all your help.