30-40 Krag - is it a rifle or carbine?

[sucker76]

I got a 30-40 Krag that I need some help with. I think I have a cut down rifle in a carbine stock that someone sporterized years ago.

I looked at a few serial # tracking sites and it should fall into rifles made in 1898. The stock looks real and not a rifle stock cut down. The upper handguard is missing and rear sight is gone and replaced with a Marbles leaf semi buckhorn

Its a good shooter for being 120 years old

Can anyone enlighten me on this rifle? I'd like to get at least reproduction sight and handguard to make it look the part. I'm not sure if its worth it though.

If the rear sight is a no go, can someone point me in the direction of a scope mount that the receiver was drilled for.

I full well understand that this is not a collectors item.

 

[sucker76]

I forgot the up closed of the rear sight

I think the dovetail has been cut where the front screw hole is/was.

 

[Moonpie]

Carbine stock would’ve had a bar and ring and not sling swivels no?

 

[V-Tach]

I don't think the stock is a carbine length but a cut down sporterized full length stock......I see it's been drilled and tapped for a scope mount at some point in addition to the rear sight being replaced....probably has taken it's fair share of deer of the years.....

I like the 30-40 cartridge and do shoot mine on occasion....fun gun to shoot....

 

[sucker76]

Well I got some info from Krag collectors forum. It looks to be a model 1896 made in 1898.

 

[sucker76]

Carbine stock would’ve had a bar and ring and not sling swivels no?

I have seen 96's with both saddle rings and not with saddle rings.

 

[sucker76]

I don't think the stock is a carbine length but a cut down sporterized full length stock......I see it's been drilled and tapped for a scope mount at some point in addition to the rear sight being replaced....probably has taken it's fair share of deer of the years.....

I like the 30-40 cartridge and do shoot mine on occasion....fun gun to shoot....

I am leaning towards yes it was a rifle stock cut down to mimic a carbine.

 

[sucker76]

Well I got some feedback from a Krag forum. One member said I have an 1896 put in a modified 1899 carbine stock. He also suggested the barrel was an authentic carbine and that the sight screws holes were filled in.

 

[Berthier]

It IS a carbine stock. Rifle stocks had a pin to retain the rear barrel band, while carbine stocks had a spring to retain it instead. Look at the front sight. It should have a C on it if it was originally a carbine. The fact it has the correct Krag style front sight makes me think it originally was a carbine.

As for the sling swivel, it looks to be an aftermarket one. Although, not all carbines had saddle rings. They did originally but with the 1899 model most of those came with sling swivels instead and a lot of the earlier carbines were retrofitted with swivels or stocks with them.

 

[sucker76]

More information for my quest. This is why I love these old guns. They all have a story and I'll make more on my path to restore it