i've had this for awhile and not familar with the rear sight . it has 3 notches at the rear of the sight. there is a  cartouche mkg on the stock  opposite the bolt handle dated 1898 . any info would be appreciated...   thx  Bob

Whig ,      thanks for the info/photos of the rear sights. mine looks like the one in the middle.  i'll try to get a couple photos up. the cartouche is 1898 . the rifle isn't in new cond but looks to be 75-80 %. ............  Bob

'rap1610' - Welcome to the KCA Forum.

Your Krag, #152416, was first assembled around December, 1898.

Most Krags, during their service, were probably rebuilt at least one time. This process led to rifles being taken apart, parts were inspected and refinished at Springfield Armory or arsenals, and re-assembled in a likely new combination of parts.

The stock 'acceptance cartouche': "J.S.A. - 1898", stands for Joseph Sumner Adams, (assistant foreman - S.A. assembly room), and rifle acceptance into service in 1898.

The '1898 dated' stock may be original to your Krag or a lucky coincidence.

The sight and hand-guard first issued with your model 1898 rifle was likely the model 1896 type. This would have normally been updated with a later type of sight.

I'm not sure which '3-notch' sight you have. (Whig posted two pictures and both show different 3-notch sights 'in the middle').

If you have the model 1898, sight with square corners on the eye-piece and a 'low base', this is not correct. (This sight was installed on rifles made from August, 1899 to March, 1900). This sight was discontinued and in most cases removed from rifles because it was obsolete.

The top part of most 1898 sights were altered by rounding the corners of the eye-piece (by grinding) and machining serrations on the left side of the leaf. These altered tops were put on new bases to become a variation of the model 1902 sight.
These 'remanufactured' 1902 sights were used to 'update' Krags during rebuilding.

Like 'Whig' said, pictures will get more accurate information. An inexpensive book, like Joe Poyer's, "The American Krag Rifle and Carbine", (at around $25), will increase your knowledge and enjoyment.

Very good possibility...Bob  Notice also the difference in the heights of the ramps, 1898 vs 1902.  Occasionally, you'll run into a rifle that has a 1902 ramp with the 1898 leaf, but not often.

  You mean a 98 issued with a 96 sight, upgraded to 98 and never put back?  Seems plausible.  Or do you mean a 98 leaf in an 02 base?  I got lots of mixmasters, but mostly 98 ramps with 02 leafs.

FWIW: During WW-1, Krag rifles were widely used as training rifles. Some Krags were 'called back' from settings, like military schools.

Some of these rifles had broken or damaged parts. Rear-sights and sight-knobs were especially vulnerable.

IMHO - To make these rifles, (and Krags that were stored in reserve), useful, they were probably inspected and repaired By Someone - Somewhere.

I am not aware of anyone or of a reference that totally addresses this subject.

I am not talking, strictly, about the well structured and organized process of 'refurbishing' (IRAN - inspect and repair as needed), that was done at Springfield Armory, arsenals, and depots, pre-1914.

It is my suspicion that during WW-1 some expedient repairs may have been done at training camps using even obsolete parts.

.... and I could be totally wrong.

(Seemingly - The model 1898 rifle and carbine sights and the model 1898 sight-bases should have been totally obsolete. The 'ramp-curvature' of these bases was wrong for the trajectory of issue ammo.

On the other hand - When Krag ammo started being available as "Palma Match Ammo" and with 180 grain Spitzer bullets, all sight models were probably obsolete in their calibrations).

Here are the photos you asked for!...Bob

Nice pictures, Bob.

A couple of observations:

Your stock was likely inspected and refurbished at Springfield Armory. The clear Script "P" proof is your stock's 'second one'. There is also the faint presence of an earlier Script "P".
The same is true of the inspection or stocker's initials behind the trigger-guard. (Showing clear initials and earlier faint ones).

I can't tell for sure (I would have to see the spring type), but, I think your rear-sight is on a model 1902 base.

Your model 1898 'three-notch' eye-piece is on a leaf that has side serrations.

A model 1898 leaf should be smooth, without serrations.
Springfield Armory would not have put this sight combination together.