Hey guys I'm new here and recently picked up a 1896 krag carbine with an unknown stock and a side scope mount. I'm looking for advice on finishing the stock and cleaning up the rust. It's missing a few things and I have ordered a few parts to finish it off. Thoughts comments and ideas to complete this rifle would be great.

She's not pretty and I took it apart last night

Just curious if you plan on scoping it. Not that it matters much since it already had been scoped with the modifications already done. Looks like a personal choice in my opinion. But your choice may give you different advice on going down the path you have chosen. Also curious about the dovetail for a sight with straddling tapped holes for a different configured sight. Doe the barrel have any markings on it, especially near the muzzle? What is the length of the barrel? 24"?

Also, if you have some surface rust, I have found that if you take a copper penny (made before 1982) and scrape the rust with the edge of the penny, it will scrape off rust well without even damaging bluing. Put oil on the rust before scraping. It's a neat little trick that I have used for years. Scrape carefully with oil and see what happens. Helps a lot for surface rust but cannot fill in holes if pitted, of course.

Pictures help but the "P" is usually there as a proof mark put on at Springfield Armory to show that the barrel passed pressure testing . If the barrel is 22 1/2 inches, it probably is, then, a cut down Krag rifle barrel. That's real common. Long 30 inch rifle barrels were frequently cut down to be used and carried easier for hunting. The .30-40 Krag round is a great hunting caliber in this part of the world.

I don't have my lists with me but the Krag serial number 81502 was made around October 1897.

By memory, I believe that this was made slightly after the second grouping of M1896 carbines and would, therefore, have been originally made as a rifle. That would confirm that this was a M1896 Krag rifle cut down to carbine length.

'Aaron' - Welcome to the KCA Forum.

Your metal does not look that bad to me. There appears to be lots of finish still on your barrel.

Using small #0000 steel wool pads soaked with penetrating oil or Hoppe's #9 will remove light surface rust and not harm metal finish and patina. Use just a light pressure and keep things moist with penetrating oil.

Heavier scale can be broken down with a worn bronze bore-brush, copper penny, edge of a discarded brass cartridge case and penetrating oil.

I have had luck with a mixture of linseed oil & pumice or rotten-stone, used with the edge of a Popsicle Stick, to create a 'slurry' and burnish a rusty barrel surface into a pleasant patina. Go slow and occasionally wipe off mess with paper towel to check progress. (Repeat process until happy with results).

Aaron, I don't know if you are familiar with original Krag finishes. The various metal parts received specific and different metal finishes.

The metal was not a uniform "Bluing".

Krag barrels were rust blued (officially called 'browning').

The Reciever, side-plate & magazine-door were case-hardened. This was mottled colors that often turn silvery with age.

The Bolt body was polished bright. The extractor-spring was flame blue. The striker-knob and bolt-sleeve were case-colored. Screws were blackened.

BTW - Original Krag American walnut stocks were stained at Springfield Armory with Logwood, which gave a reddish-brown color, prior to getting their linseed oil finish.

An original Krag rear sight will hide the unofficial 'dovetail' that was added to your barrel. The Krag sight screws are a peculiar 30 tpi. Reproduction screws are available from S&S Firearms, Glendale, N.Y.

(FWIW - I have Krag #81028. It is a cut-down model 1896 rifle. I recently fitted it to a poorly cut-down model 1898 stock, to make what I call, a 'Faux' or false 1896 Carbine. The front-sight is a 1903 Springfield sight, so no one should be deceived in the future).

'Aaron', from your photos it appears your Krag was drilled for a Weaver #2 side-mount plate.

The scope mount that attaches to this plate is still made or available. This is not a bad rig if you ever wish to try a scope on your Krag.

I have a model 1898 carbine that was unfortunately 'drilled & tapped'. It is a good Range gun.

(p.s. Any of the various U.S. Krag 'magazine cut-offs' will work with the model 1896 action. The Weaver side-mount interferes with rotating the issue safety-lever, but, not the cut-off lever).

The Weaver mount is off-set to the left, so the 'iron sights' can still be used with the scope in place.

Attached photos of Weaver #2 plate and mount:

Besides being helpful, these guys are a lot of fun. We have this thread going but it has not been updated lately (see below). There are a lot more feet photos not added, but you will get the idea and contribute one of your own one of these days.

(You need to Login to view media files and links)