Krag Rear Site

[dh1633pm]

My neighbor, retired doctor, invited my wife and I over a Saturday a week ago. While discussing pesky varmints that bother us. Rabbits, chucks, red squirrels. Asked him if he had a rifle. He brought out a Krag. It was kind of dark out, but I could feel that it has some rust issues. So I told him I would clean it and if ever wanted to shoot it again, I could load ammo. I have two Krags myself.

looked up the serial. It was made in 1899. It has a short barrel, and cut off stock, but original front sight. What I hadn’t seen before (I haven’t seen everything) was the rear sight. It pivots the opposite way and it’s adjustment is small compared to my two Krags. Any info?

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Thats the correct rear sight for an early 1892 Krag.

 

[dh1633pm]

But on an 1899? Think the barrel was swapped? Was the sight for a long rifle?

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Nope, the sight's been swapped. Barrel probably cut.

 

[dh1633pm]

Would you say from a Carbine? I do appreciate your responses. I did clean it well. Purchased replacement sling swivels for him. He is a good neighbor. Also used my big saw to cut up a log for him that was too big for his saw.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Would you say from a Carbine? I do appreciate your responses. I did clean it well. Purchased replacement sling swivels for him. He is a good neighbor. Also used my big saw to cut up a log for him that was too big for his saw.

Naw, the carbines didn't come along until 1896 and had their own special curved ramp and ladder that kinda blended smoothly into the upper band.

 

[dh1633pm]

His is a 1899 by serial. Any guesses on how the sight got onto it’s current config? And how do you know so much? Same with your other posts. You a beta test or for Elon’s brain chips? You always add value to threads.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Aw shucks, my Google Fu is strong, thats all.
But in this case, Ive owned and restored several Krags, including having to hunt down rear sights bit by bit, so I recognized that as an early version. Indeed, the main difference between the various Krag models was the rear sight design.
If only that gun could tell stories.....
Thanks for the props, though.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

If it has the original style (brazed on) front sight post, it was probably shortened by the Army for conversion into a "school gun." These were originally an attempt to turn surplus long rifles into handier "carbines" but still capable of accepting a standard sling and bayonet. You can tell a school gun because it will usually have a faint rust shadow just aft of the front post where the upper band would sit- also, the very tip of the barrel will be turned down for the bayonet to slip over. AFAIK, all official conversions were done by Benincia Arsenal in California.

The result was similar to the very rare Phillipine Constabulary rifles- indeed most folks who claim to have a PCC actually have a school gun. In the end, these were never issued and given to veterans organizations and military academies- hence "school gun."

Real Krag carbines didn't have upper bands/ bayonet lugs and it was very difficult for a home smith to machine and braze on a new factory front sight, so bubba-conversions often use a '03 Springfield band-mounted sight or aftermarket ramped sight.

One of my Krags was a "school gun" later aquired by RKO Pictures and probably used in the film "Gunga Din" as a stand in for a Lee-Metford. Its possible Carey Grant used it on screen-but of course, I couldn't prove it, lol.

 

[dh1633pm]

Again, thanks. I do like the Krag. I have two of them myself. Thanks.

 

[dh1633pm]

My cut down rifle has the 1903 front sight. I can see on his (neighbor’s) rifle the cut outs in the stock for the barrel band. My avatar is my great uncles painted picture. He died in 1969. A local artist painted his picture. He lived on a homestead that was a revolutionary war land grant. My dad lives there now. It will be mine next. Hopefully a long time from now. He owned a Krag Rifle. When he passed nobody knew where it went. He lived a hermits life. Hence my life long interest, but somehow lacking in the sight on this one.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Jump to the 1 hour 12-minute mark of this video for a rundown of US Krag rear sight saga. Brace yourself, it's insanely complicated.



Or just watch the whole video.

 

[pmiya]

http://kragcollectorsassociation.org/
There is a lot of information on this site. They have a photo section that shows the different sights for rifles and carbines.

 

[dh1633pm]

Thanks Dave. You alway good at adding value. PMiya, good info. I did look there. What was of interest, was the sight a carbine type? It just looked different.

 

[Jeff olson]

This is my 1898 saddle ring carbine. This gun is a big question mark. The front blade sight is correct and the barrel has not been cut. The serial number falls in range and most everything else passes. However, I cannot explain the rear sight. I think 1896 with a fake "c" stamped as it is the wrong font and the 1898 carbines were graduated to 2000 yds. So definitely not original. Still a nice example of what once was.