Krag M-1899 carbine question.........

[Retired Army Noncom]

The cartouche is marked 1901, it has the 'C' stamp on the rear site but it's serial # is four numbers past the cutoff for carbine ser#s for 1901. I've done research and some were returned and made into carbines but I assume there were no records kept of those returned for modification.

 

The ser# is 357500, the cutoff for 1901 was 357496. Am I correct, could this carbine still fall into the carbine range for 1901?

 

Thanks

[thorin6]

I'm not sure where you are getting your serial numbers, but according to Poyer's book on the Krag rifle and carbine, the serial number you have falls in the range 341602 to 362433 which he lists as one of the 1899 carbine ranges.

As for the cartouche being 1901. I wouldn't worry about it; it's close enough to be correct.

[Retired Army Noncom]

I'm not sure where you are getting your serial numbers, but according to Poyer's book on the Krag rifle and carbine, the serial number you have falls in the range 341602 to 362433 which he lists as one of the 1899 carbine ranges.

As for the cartouche being 1901. I wouldn't worry about it; it's close enough to be correct.

Sorry...the number I was searching for was 367500 which was wrong the wrong #.

 

Thanks

[Retired Army Noncom]

This is where I got the info from:

 

Mallory & Olson's book.

M1896 Carbines-Very early ones marked 1895 on receiver:
25,135-37,582
67,010-79,499

M1898 Carbines:
123,161-130,965

Model 1899 Carbines:
226,127-228055
250,450-252,965
268,055
279,888-287,650
308,901-309,075
344,014-357,494<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
420,710-420,810

[thorin6]

First, a lot of Mallory's serial numbers are off. Later research has given better serial number ranges.

Second, the second serial number you mentioned was made January 1902 according to Poyer. If the date is correct, then a 1901 cartouche is most likely correct.

Third, to figure this out, we'd need to see photos of the receiver showing the serial number and the model. Matching serial numbers to dates is not an exact science as it is mostly based on observation, not records. In another book I have on Krags the author states he examined a carbine marked "Model of 1899" that was in the 368xxx range. He calls this a non-linear production as rifles are often intermixed in supposed carbine ranges. You also have to deal with the overstrikes of the 9 over the last 8 in 1898 when a rifle receiver was diverted to make a carbine.

[Retired Army Noncom]

First, a lot of Mallory's serial numbers are off. Later research has given better serial number ranges.

Second, the second serial number you mentioned was made January 1902 according to Poyer. If the date is correct, then a 1901 cartouche is most likely correct.

Third, to figure this out, we'd need to see photos of the receiver showing the serial number and the model. Matching serial numbers to dates is not an exact science as it is mostly based on observation, not records. In another book I have on Krags the author states he examined a carbine marked "Model of 1899" that was in the 368xxx range. He calls this a non-linear production as rifles are often intermixed in supposed carbine ranges. You also have to deal with the overstrikes of the 9 over the last 8 in 1898 when a rifle receiver was diverted to make a carbine.

Thanks...I feel better now knowing that the one I want is within the carbine ser # range. When I receive the carbine, I'll photograph and post those other areas you mentioned.

 

Thanks again.

[thorin6]

As long as it says "Model of 1899" you should be good to go.

[Retired Army Noncom]

As long as it says "Model of 1899" you should be good to go.

Thanks....it is clearly stamped on the receiver '1899'.

 

Here is another ser# that Mallory says does not fall into the carbine range...279302, Model 1899. It also has the 'C' mark.

 

Ed