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MODEL 1895 KRAG CARBINE IN EXCELLENT UNISSUED
CONDITION – DATE STAMPED AND CARTOUCHED 1895 – A SCARCE
INVESTMENT GRADE SPECIMEN: Undoubtedly never
issued to an individual soldier, and somehow escaping
the urgency to equip all of the regular Cavalry troops
with the newly adopted Krag Carbines, this “Model” 1895
Krag Carbine has survived the passage of time in
excellent condition. The date, 1895, stamped on the
left side of the receiver and included in the cartouche
indicate this carbine was manufactured in Fiscal Year
1895 - prior to June 30, 1896 and prior to the adoption
of the official designation of the “Model 1896 Carbine”
(The Krag Rifle Story by Mallory and Olsen, pages
72-74).
The barrel, receiver, trigger group, barrel band, sling
bar and ring, and butt plate all retain the original
blue finish, showing only the most minor wear along the
sharp edges and on the bottom flat of the trigger
guard. The extractor on the top of the bolt group
retains its almost iridescent blue jewel like finish and
both rear corners of the extractor are square. The case colors on the magazine loading gate and
magazine side plate are now faded, leaving a mottled
finish. The underside of the bolt handle has the
short flat surface, proper for the M1896 bolt. The proper rear sight is stamped with the “C”
on the face of the sight leaf and on the right side of
the sight base. The cartouche is bright and legible
and there is a stock inspector’s stamp between the
cartouche and the carbine sling bar plate. The “P” in
the ball is equally strong and legible, again with a
pair of secondary inspector marks between the “P” and
the trigger guard. The tool trap in the butt stock
will accommodate the Krag oiler and has the three holes
for the three sections of the cleaning rod. The stock and upper hand guard show
no use, wear or signs of careless handling or storage,
retaining a smooth even finish and a beautiful red
color. There is a very thin splinter missing from the
edge of the stock mortise for the magazine side plate on
the left side of the stock. This is a minor cosmetic
loss and is included here only for the purpose of full
disclosure. The coloring of the wood on the edge of the
mortise matches the balance of the stock and causes me
to believe the loss may well have occurred during the
original manufacture of the carbine and would hardly
have been a reason to reject an otherwise serviceable
stock.
The serial number, 30042, again indicating an early
production, falls within a very tight group of serial
numbers including 30004, 30043, 30045, and 30049 that
were issued to the 1st Cavalry regiment, as
listed in the Springfield Research Service lists. It is
interesting to note in light of the excellent, condition
of this carbine, showing no sign of use in the field,
that serial number 30023 in this same group of numbers
was listed as being in the Springfield Armory’s Museum.
It is entirely possible that this carbine was selected
out of the production line for any number of plausible
reasons and was never transferred to a unit.
Locating one the few Krag Carbines that were
manufactured early enough to bear only the date stamp of
1895 without the “MODEL” designation is a difficult goal
that many collectors will never attain, and find such a
carbine in the overall excellent condition of this
specimen is a scarce opportunity. Fresh from a
carefully assembled and well maintained long time Texas
collection, this carbine is certainly an investment
grade specimen that will be a pleasure to own.
SOLD
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