Hello. I am a new board member and I'm posting here to see if the knowledgeable folks here can shed some light on this rifle.

A bit of history, because I think things like that are interesting.  My uncle handed this rifle over to me 3 weeks ago.  He is getting up there in age (80) and wanted to be sure the rifle stayed in the family with someone who cares about firearms.  I'm not a military arms collector, but i see how someone could get bit by the bug.

Anyway, he never shot the rifle more than a couple of times.  He was more into old-west competitions and black powder up until about 15 years ago. This was his father's rifle.  He told me that grandpa bought it before he could remember (so before '44), and that he paid "5 dollars" for it. That's the story anyway.  My mother said that she knew nothing of it, except it sat behind the door of their farmhouse in Oregon where she grew up, and she didn't touch it.

The side-cover was drilled for some kind of sight. The sight is gone.  I'll prefer to just replace the cover and get a correct rear-sight (if it won't break the bank). There is also no top wood, but I don't know if it should have it.  Also, my uncle put the Higgens pad on the buttstock before grandpa died.  He did a good job in that he filled the stock so it would fit instead of just cutting away, but it is not period correct.  I've done some careful cleaning, staying away from the abrasives.

In the basic (1 to 2  hours) of "research" I've done on this board, I have no idea if this was born as a carbine or born as a rifle and then cut down.  I guess I can figure it was born in '98 based on the 75754 serial number.

I've taken lots of pictures (link below), including stock and receiver and barrel markings for those of you that are knowledgeable.

Any information would be appreciated. I'd also like to hear people's experienced thoughts on what they would do to this rifle.

Cheers - Thomas

"TomNW" - Welcome to the KCA Forum. You inherited a nice family heirloom!

All of your main parts are for a U.S. model 1896 carbine.
Krag #75754 was built around September to October, 1897, as a Cavalry Carbine.

Your stock has been heavily sanded, the 'saddle-ring'/sling-bar recess has been filled, and the rubber butt-plate added. It appears your stock could be carefully rehabilitated, (restore original butt-plate and cavalry 'sling-bar'- for about $100 in parts).

You have the correct barrel-band for the 1896 carbine. The 1896 carbine rear-sight is in great demand and hard to find. A loose one will sell for $500 to $600. However, the 1896 rifle rear-sight is the same size and looks similar and only cost around $55 to $65, with screws.

The 1896 carbine has a distinctive hand-guard (top wood) that connects with the barrel-band. Replicas are available for around $70 

Your removable front sight blade looks high to me and may be a rifle blade. The removable blade measures .413" for the rifle and .266" for the carbine).

You can replace your side-plate for about $20-30. You need a model 1896 side-plate. The 1898 plate will not fit.

Tom, you got some good 'bones' there and can use your Krag as is, while slowly hunting parts to restore. Don't refinish the metal or wood of this carbine. Just rub some Linseed Oil on the wood.

This carbine has character and is valuable in its present state. A nice even restoration is the way to go. Don't try to make things look new!

Butlersrangers, thank you for this information.  It is extremely helpful.  I admit I was quite confused on the model types and the parts that should fit.  Your call outs and advice will help me get started.  I'll look into getting the Poyer book.

I measured the front sight this morning.  It is about .413 on the button total height, and rises about .280 or so above the base at its tallest point.  If that does make it a "rifle" blade, is it safe for me to assume that a "rifle" rear sight will still be functional without replacing the blade?  For example, I may just need to increase the elevation on the rear to find my zero at, say, 100 yards?  I'm just not sure how easy it would be to get that pin out.

I will begin the parts-search journey.  I'll start with a side plate and the hand-guard, and most probably a "rifle" sight depending on how my searching goes.

The Higgins pad is hard as a rock.  My uncle says he has the steel butt plate somewhere, but I'm not going to rush into the stock restoration as that is the sort of thing that could go bad in the wrong hands, and I lack wood experience/skills (I'm trying to "do no harm").

I'll report back later when there has been some progress.

Cheers - Thomas

Thomas - S&S Firearms, Glendale, N.Y. has some Krag parts, original and reproduction. They have a catalog that is viewable online. (Ignore their 'reproduction' 1896 carbine rear-sight. It is just a rifle sight that has been altered, ruined & over-priced).

You have the right mind set - it's a family heirloom and do no harm.

The 'high' front blade is not a problem. For 'shooting', correct, as you have stated, by raising the rear-sight elevation.
(I only mentioned it because the blade did not appear to be the carbine version. Possibly, someone put the higher blade on to function properly with the peep sight that was mounted high on the side-plate).

BTW - The front-sight pin is slightly tapered and is driven out 'Left to Right'. It is very hard to find Krag carbine front-sight blades, so I wouldn't mess with it.

I would start out by getting a Krag rifle rear-sight and screws (S&S has repros with the correct thread, .156"X 30TPI. You won't find those at ACO or most gun-shops). Rifle sights and screws show up on ebay, often. (Search: "Krag rifle").

If you have a sight on it, you can enjoy shooting the old family Krag!

Fred G. - You have to love Thomas' ancestor. He fitted wood patches and used 'filler' to accommodate the butt-pad, rather than 'bubba-cut' the stock.

Someday, if the pad, patches and filler are carefully removed, I think an original butt-plate will fit right back on there.

I like that 'long armed' man that used this Krag!

That Butt-Pad may have been done before Epoxy was invented!

Adding my .02 cents. This is a beautiful carbine that many Krag aficionados would be proud to own. The family history adds to it in my opinion. Best of luck on restoring it back to its original configuration. Just stay patient and you will find the appropriate parts. I agree that the stock appears to be salvageable. Funny that all of these old warhorses that were once modified into practical hunting rifles are now valued candidates for restoration. Fortunately, your grandfather did not make drastic modifications that would disqualify it or make it impractical the restore. Please continue to post as you progress along on the project.

No offense meant here, but the carbine is missing the rear sight  . So if TomNW plans on shooting it .........