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 10 Help with rear sight please (Read 5574 times)
Whig
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Re: Help with rear sight please
Reply #15 - Jul 18th, 2019 at 10:22am
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The unaltered 1898 rifle and carbine sights are of interest to collectors who want to have representative sights that cover all of what had been produced in the Krag line. They won't be used for shooting purposes, usually, but they are great for collectors. I have one of each in my collection which is nice. I think they look really neat!

I wouldn't pay $250 for one even if I needed one for my collection. Like butlers said, there isn't a big demand. I like the 1901 sight for shooting purposes. Some people prefer the 1902 sights. Both have nice windage adjustments.

I'd probably offer $100 for the sight to keep in my collection as a loose sight.

You could post it for sale on ebay or Gun Broker and start at $100 and see what interest it might bring. Maybe you'd sell it for $200 plus. Don't know.

But, we do seem to have a consensus that it is authentic. Congrats! Thanks for sharing and getting good pictures.
  
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butlersrangers
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Re: Help with rear sight please
Reply #16 - Jul 18th, 2019 at 11:55am
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Given the condition, (finish wear, 'stake' mark on ramp, maybe bent windage screw), I'd estimate value of your sight at about $150 to $175. As Whig said, buyers are limited.
  
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King carp
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Re: Help with rear sight please
Reply #17 - Jul 18th, 2019 at 1:12pm
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Thanks again for the help with the sight. That is good  news on its value!  The sight will pretty much pay for the rest of the parts that came as a group. It seems like more of a collectable example than a user. I  have not had  a chance to shoot my carbine yet so i will hold onto the sight for  now. I wonder how much of a difference the point of impact would be between the two sights.
       Thanks again, kc
  
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butlersrangers
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Re: Help with rear sight please
Reply #18 - Jul 18th, 2019 at 2:38pm
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It's kind of comparing Apples and Oranges.

The 1898 rear-sights sat lower and used a 'flatter' shooting (2,200 fps) cartridge, (with a 220 grain projectile).

The 1901 and 1902 sights, that replaced it, sat taller and were 'ramped' and calibrated for the trajectory of the slower 2,000 fps loading, (also using a 220 grain projectile).
  
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Mark_Daiute
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Re: Help with rear sight please
Reply #19 - Jul 23rd, 2019 at 10:28am
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Once the 2200 FPS ammo was withdrawn his sight was withdrawn from service never to be used again except as altered to 1902 configuration so it would not be appropriate on any representative service rifle. I bet this has already been discussed.
  
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Whig
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Re: Help with rear sight please
Reply #20 - Jul 23rd, 2019 at 1:13pm
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Repetition is a key to real learning!
  
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King carp
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Re: Help with rear sight please
Reply #21 - Jul 23rd, 2019 at 2:40pm
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I wonder if the sight would be useful if you were using heavier bullets like the 230 gr. .30 cal.Lee blackout? 
  
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butlersrangers
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Re: Help with rear sight please
Reply #22 - Jul 23rd, 2019 at 6:01pm
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FWIW:
Occasionally, you see a Krag, that has worn a model 1898 sight for a long long time. Maybe some rifles and carbines escaped being updated.

(Another possibility, is that intact obsolete model 1898 sights may have been re-used to replace broken sights, during National Guard use or WW1 preparations, when the Krag was a reserve weapon)?

The top part of many model 1898 sights was visibly altered, (corners ground off, and serrations added to leaf), and coupled with new bases and slides to make more model 1902 sights.

I don't believe the model 1898 bases were officially intended to be reused. The curve of the base(s) was wrong for the trajectory of 220 grain, 2,000 fps ammo. The spring for the leaf was totally different from that of the model 1902 base.

(The obsolete bases were a surplus item that were long reused by surplus arms dealers and hobbyists to make unofficial sights).

In the Pre-WW1 era, ammunition became available loaded with 180 grain pointed projectiles moving at a velocity faster than 2,000 fps. This ammunition saw some use in period 'Shooting Matches'.
I don't imagine any Krag sight model was specifically calibrated for this ballistically superior ammo.
Shooters very likely noted the sight-setting necessary for shooting at standard distances and recorded it in their 'score books', for future matches.

IMHO - The 'three-notch' model 1898 sight could serve as a useful sight for a shooter. The correct settings for various distances would have to be learned by trial and error.
  
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King carp
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Re: Help with rear sight please
Reply #23 - Jul 23rd, 2019 at 10:42pm
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Thanks, I think I will hold onto the sight for awhile. It is certainly well made (no plastic here). I have a krag which has been sporterized and don't have to worry about historic correctness. I might try it on there and see what happens. If not I can pack it away or sell it.
     Thanks again for helping out a novice krag owner. Kc
  
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