Ok, I've become a bit addicted to military surplus guns. I'm making my way through US rifles working backward from WWII. I may have an opportunity to acquire a Krag 30-40 M1898 Carbine, but I don't know much about it. I know the Krag was replaced by the 1903, but is it as fun to shoot as the 1903/Garand? Is it safe to shoot today or does it have problems like some of the early 1903s? Is the ammo readily available? Value range? Gunbroker has a few closed auctions, but I don't see much of a pattern. Is the Carbine more expensive than the rifle in any given year? Is there a value difference between M1892, M1896, M1898 and M1899? Thanks in advance for any help.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Krag 30-40 Carbine - What can you tell me?
- Thread starter Shrevy
- Start date
- Status
-
Not open for further replies.
Krags, especially the carbines, are easily faked. Carbines typically bring a premium over the full length rifles. Many, many rifles were cut down for sporter purposes and today are passed off as carbines. Be especially wary of anything purported to be an 1898 carbine as only 5,000 Model 1898 carbines were made.
Bottom line - your questions would take way too long to answer via a forum response. I highly recommend you purchase Joe Poyer's Krag book. It would be $20 well spent before you plunk down cash for a Krag. The Krag forum on Gunboards is good. Hang around there for a while before you buy that Krag.
Bottom line - your questions would take way too long to answer via a forum response. I highly recommend you purchase Joe Poyer's Krag book. It would be $20 well spent before you plunk down cash for a Krag. The Krag forum on Gunboards is good. Hang around there for a while before you buy that Krag.
Slim Pickens
Member
I second the advice on Poyer's Krag book. Another good book was written by Franklin Mallory, and it is still available through the Springfield Research Service.
Sporterized surplus Krags from Bannerman were very popular mail-order items during the 1920s and 1930s, and there are still a lot of Bannerman sporters floating around that are being sold as 1898 "carbines". They might be worth a bit more than the average chop-job, but they are not original.
In terms of numbers, the Model 1898 rifle was the most common, followed by the Model 1896, and then the 1892. Original 1892 rifles are pretty much unheard of. Original carbines from any year are somewhat rare and bring a premium.
Real Krag carbines have a saddle ring, and have the front sight post brazed to the barrel. They are hard to find. If the gun you are looking at has an M1903 front sight band, that is a dead giveaway that it's a Bannerman sporter. Also a blued receiver is a giveaway; the original Krag receivers were gray case-hardened.
Also look for a JSA stock cartouche with date equal to or later than the model year on the receiver. Original rear sights were changed several times, they can be just about anything. Carbine rear sights look the same, but they were calibrated to longer ranges than rifle sights due to the shorter sight radius.
Good Krags are hard to find, but worth looking for. Factory ammo is still loaded by Winchester and Remington, but it is a seasonal item. The safety issues with early M1903s don't really apply to Krags. The receiver alloy is the same, but Krags have a fully supported chamber and operate at much lower pressures. Shoot and enjoy.
ETA: The #1 giveaway on Bannerman sporters is the square wooden plug under the barrel in the forend of the stock. A square plug was used to fill the channel in the full-length rifle stock after it was cut down to carbine length. You may have to look close to see this plug.
Sporterized surplus Krags from Bannerman were very popular mail-order items during the 1920s and 1930s, and there are still a lot of Bannerman sporters floating around that are being sold as 1898 "carbines". They might be worth a bit more than the average chop-job, but they are not original.
In terms of numbers, the Model 1898 rifle was the most common, followed by the Model 1896, and then the 1892. Original 1892 rifles are pretty much unheard of. Original carbines from any year are somewhat rare and bring a premium.
Real Krag carbines have a saddle ring, and have the front sight post brazed to the barrel. They are hard to find. If the gun you are looking at has an M1903 front sight band, that is a dead giveaway that it's a Bannerman sporter. Also a blued receiver is a giveaway; the original Krag receivers were gray case-hardened.
Also look for a JSA stock cartouche with date equal to or later than the model year on the receiver. Original rear sights were changed several times, they can be just about anything. Carbine rear sights look the same, but they were calibrated to longer ranges than rifle sights due to the shorter sight radius.
Good Krags are hard to find, but worth looking for. Factory ammo is still loaded by Winchester and Remington, but it is a seasonal item. The safety issues with early M1903s don't really apply to Krags. The receiver alloy is the same, but Krags have a fully supported chamber and operate at much lower pressures. Shoot and enjoy.
ETA: The #1 giveaway on Bannerman sporters is the square wooden plug under the barrel in the forend of the stock. A square plug was used to fill the channel in the full-length rifle stock after it was cut down to carbine length. You may have to look close to see this plug.
All good advice. I recommended the Poyer book only because its less expensive. If you get serious about collecting Krags, you will want both the Mallory and the Brophy books as well (pricey though). Sometimes you can find good deals on abebooks.com.
The jury is still out with regard to blued receivers. While they were case hardened when originally manufactured, there is strong evidence that the barrels and receivers were re-blued during arsenal refinish. I wouldn't completely discount a blued receiver as non-reg.
Two other quick items to check to make sure the carbine is real - (1) the barrel should measure 22" EXACTLY when measured from the bolt face with the bolt closed; (2) Carbine rear sights will have a small "C" stamped on them. Watch out here as well though as fake rear sights occasionally show up. Model 1899 carbines can't be easily faked as there was no Model 1899 rifle - if its stamped 1899, its a carbine. The 1899s did not have the saddle ring whereas all the other carbines did. WARNING - study of the Krag rifle is very addictive.
The jury is still out with regard to blued receivers. While they were case hardened when originally manufactured, there is strong evidence that the barrels and receivers were re-blued during arsenal refinish. I wouldn't completely discount a blued receiver as non-reg.
Two other quick items to check to make sure the carbine is real - (1) the barrel should measure 22" EXACTLY when measured from the bolt face with the bolt closed; (2) Carbine rear sights will have a small "C" stamped on them. Watch out here as well though as fake rear sights occasionally show up. Model 1899 carbines can't be easily faked as there was no Model 1899 rifle - if its stamped 1899, its a carbine. The 1899s did not have the saddle ring whereas all the other carbines did. WARNING - study of the Krag rifle is very addictive.
- Status
-
Not open for further replies.
Similar threads
- Replies
- 21
- Views
- 2K
