hi this is my first post as I have just purchased at auction a 1894 saddle ring carbine with a serial no date of 1896. As of yet i am awaiting delivery in about 2 weeks. the only thing I have found out about it is the manufacture date. I am not shure how many photos i can upload but the one showing the receiver with the rifle details has two later addition screws and wondered if they were for a scope mount? or something similar

Hi GHS and welcome to the official Krag Collector's site where we love to see Krags in any shape, condition and design. We'll help you answer questions about what you have bought and, preferably, help you figure out what to buy in the future.

I'll give a few observations about your new purchase from the pictures you have kindly posted.

You have coming to you a very late Model 1894 Krag rifle that has been cut down with a shortened barrel possibly to 22 inches to resemble a carbine. You measure the barrel length by sliding a cleaning rod down the EMPTY barrel with the bolt closed and measure the barrel length at the end where the cleaning rod and the muzzle meet. Many Krag rifles were considered to be too long with a 30 inch barrel for hunting, so, they were frequently cut down to carbine length to handle better in the field. They still shoot great as cut down rifles but they are not considered collectible when cut down like this because they have been altered from original military configuration. The screw holes are where a scope mount was used before.

Your cut down rifle also has been neatly fit into a real saddle carbine stock, it appears from the pictures. That stock has a good bit of value if it is not damaged or cut itself. The original Krag rifle front sight has been removed when the barrel was cut and a Springfield Model 1903 (from 1905 rifles) was affixed to the end of the barrel. This was commonly done on these "sporterized" Krags.

I can't see the rear sight well but it looks like an older Model 1894 sight but I'm not sure. Krag carbines always had different sights than rifles because of the shorter barrels and different ballistics. They were always marked somewhere with a "C" to designate a carbine adjusted sight.

The sporterized rifle you have looks quite nice overall. Look at the "Sporterized" Krag section of this website to read more about your type rifle.

And, please post more pictures for us. Include more of the stock and rear sight.

Thank You gentlemen when the cut down rifle arrives I will try to post more photos

Just one thing - No "i" in "Krag"

Yes, that is a stepped M1894 Krag rifle sight. It works well but does not have windage adjustment or fine adjustability like some of the later sights used on the Krags.

The cracked hand guard is very common and unfortunate but can be carefully glued and repaired.

If you are interested in trying to repair it yourself, let us know and we'll give you some important pointers in disassembling and repairing the hand guard and cleaning things. it will be nice to know the condition of the bore when you get it delivered.

I think it is an original carbine stock. The nose looks long which would mean the saddle ring and sling bar was added but it's hard to tell. My first impression was that it was an original saddle ring carbine stock with a cut down Model 1894 rifle dropped into it. It certainly has been played with a lot so we need more close up pictures to be sure.

It's always fun being "detectives" with these Krags. And we always are learning from each other in trying to figure it all out.

Thanks for sharing!

When the Krag arrives I will add more photos especially if there is a barrel band spring  GHS

With a higher serial number like this one, that will interesting to determine.