Howdy all, long time member, first time poster. I'm not new to Krags, as I've owned and shot/reloaded for a few for years now. But I thought I'd finally post about my newest addition. I won this baby off an online auction a few weeks ago. Had a few questions. It is serial 23624 it was reported in the auction to be serial numbered to the 8th US Infantry in the Spanish American War. I was hoping to see if anyone could validate that claim. It is obviously a M92 that has been upgraded to M96. The stock is original with the cleaning rod channel filled in. No date cartouche remaining, but a Circle P is present. Profile of the stock is sanded down, and the finger channels are shallow. Good news is the metal is fantastic. Bolt is early featured with screwed extractor. The barrel I'm thinking is a replacement. It is absolutely gorgeous. Near mint, with no visible wear on the rifling. On the outside I see no proof marks, only a small "J" stamp. I have tried to take pictures of it. The downside of this barrel is that it is NOT indexed correctly! So the sights sit canted at this point. With this translating also to the handguard won't sit aligned on the rifle. Question, how can I get the barrel indexed properly? I've read on here that receiver wrenches are hard to find as is gunsmiths who are willing/able to properly work on these antique fragile Krags. I want my rifle to be indexed, but don't want to risk damage. Please see the link to a photo album I made of the rifle. (You need to Login to view media files and links)
Even with canted sights it hits a steel plate at 200 yards no problem. It pairs nicely with my M1888 Trapdoor.
I have recently purchased a few other Krags, and I will share when I get them on here.
Thanks for reading and any input is much appreciated!

Thanks for the reply. Here is a quote from the auction, which I'm seeing is more of a sales tactic than historical evidence. But for the price I paid, it really doesn't make or break the deal for me. I don't know how the serial number research evidence shows for each rifle or its a "range".

"This a Krag M1892/96 manufactured December 1895, serial 23624. Overall excellent – 85%+ finish. Bore is very sharp and bright. Stock is excellent with clear “P” firing proof at wrist. According to Mallory and Olson, THE KRAG RIFLE STORY, P-258, and the Springfield Research Service rifles in the serial number range 23599 – 23667 were issued to the U.S. 8th Infantry Regiment in Cuba, 1898."

Bummer the pictures won't open. I will try to upload a few on here. But its a pain to individually upload. I have 15 pictures in the album to show all aspects of the rifle.

By chance, could anyone see if Serial 7336 has any date in the Mallory book? This is another rifle I just purchased at auction. I don't have it in hand yet, but it looks like a promising early Krag as well. Bluing isn't nearly as nice, but the stock looks good. Here's a link
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If this one has a date cartouche on the other side, I'll be a happy camper, the seller didn't say when I asked. So I'm thinking not. BUT when it gets here I'll find out. I think for the price with random Austrian Werndl bayonet, its a good deal. I love Krags, do you think 3 Krags in a month is too much???!!! 

butlersrangers wrote on May 8^th, 2020 at 12:10am:


Thanks very much for the insight!  Any advise on trying to index/align a barrel on a Krag?

Nice job on 7336.  If you don’t mind indulging my curiosity, is the seller going to ship it to you directly?  I was tempted to throw in a bid but what with the viral craziness and general uncertainty of the day, the verbiage on the add made me decide a potential struggle over the shipment wasn’t worth the hassle (yes, I’ve had to wrangle with sellers in the past insisting they *had* to send firearms to an FFL).

'148th' - More on your 1st rifle, #23624.

I am guessing your sights are canted to the right?

I don't know where your barrel came from or if it is an original Krag barrel?

I was finally able to squirrel around and look at your pictures.

Two observations:
1. The front-sight is a reproduction (and it doesn't look very securely attached).

2. The barrel was not fully screwed in to the index mark.

I wonder what the barrel notch for the extractor looks like?

FWIW - Numrich use to sell a reproduction barrel with a front-sight installed. Criterion makes a 30" barrel for the Krag, which requires installation of a front-sight.

'148' - A couple of pictures to assist you in evaluating your model 1892/96 Krag:

1. Armory attachment of a Krag front-sight.

2. Breech of barrel should be tight against 'flange or shoulder' of receiver. Extractor 'notches' should line-up.

If the front part of the stock forearm is an add-on, there should be a 'splice' visible under the barrel-band. The splice would be especially visible in the barrel-channel.

Could you post a couple pictures of the bolt removed from the action? I would like to see some further details to see if it is an older M1892 bolt or a later M1892.

Here's a link showing the differences between Krag bolts:

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Thanks. These old Krags sure went through a lot of restorations!