Bannerman Carbine

[Bill D]

I know very little about Krags but have a carbine that I acquired a number of years ago. I will assume that it is a "Bannerman" or NRA carbine made by cutting a rifle barrel down to 22-inches and installing a 1903 front sight. The rifle is in good mechanical condition but the stock has been sanded down to almost nothing and the handguard is missing.
I would like to make it into a carbine for display purposes by installing a more or less correct front sight, rear sight and putting it into a new stock. The receiver is marked "Model 1898".

I have a couple of questions regarding this project. First, what would be the correct rear sight and where can I find one along with a front sight. I would also need to find a carbine front band and a sling swivel bar. Second, where can a carbine stock be found? I purchased one from Boyds several years ago but the one they sent me was inlet for a rear sling swivel as a rifle stock would be. I called Boyds and explained that I wanted one that had not been inlet for swivel but they informed me that they could not supply one that way so I returned the one that they had sent. Do they now make their carbine stocks without this inlet?

I am not trying to make a "fake" carbine to fool anyone. I simply want it to help complete a display of cavalry carbines from the Civil War forward without it costing me an arm and a leg.

Any assistance would be appreciated.

[Dick Hosmer]

My thoughts:

(1) Since the arm will not be right anyhow, I'd leave the front sight alone - a proper '03 installation (which was done as part of the arm's history) is better than a phony (I'm sorry) Krag-like re-do, which will cost WAY more than it would be worth, since the serial number (unless it happens to be between about 111000 and 134000) will ALWAYS betray it as a cut-down anyhow!

(2) Know nothing of Boyd's (aside from recognizing the name) but that is a pretty LAME excuse they gave! I'd look for an original M1899 stock, which is what most real 1898 Carbines ended up in anyhow. Bonus - they didn't have the sling bar & ring - four less parts (counting screws) to pay for!

(3) A 1901C sight will be the least expensive, easiest to find, and most carbines wound up with that sight, so it will make the most sense.

(4) Last, but not least - really, stop and think - who are you kidding? YOU will always know YOU made it - knowledgeable collectors will, too. So, if you want to have something that only LOOKS like something else, to me it just seems wise to spend as little money, and do as little harm to existing artifacts, as possible. Maybe some day you will find a real carbine (at that point you will want to part with the mock-up. Don't be so financially buried in it as to make it hard to sell)

Just MY thoughts, if it were mine - NO PERSONAL OFFENSE INTENDED!!

[sdkrag]

To the best of my knowledge Boyd's is not making any Krag stocks anymore. I live about 8 moles from their plant and about 5 years ago they were set up at a local trade show. They had a stock display with a krag inncluded. You couldn't handle them, and when I asked whether they had 96 and 98 style I recieved strange looks. They referred me to the head inletter and he didn't have a clue either. I agree with Dick. You would be money ahead to look for an average carbine at gun shows rather than spend the dollars that it would take to "restore" what you have.

[Bill D]

My thoughts:

(4) Last, but not least - really, stop and think - who are you kidding? YOU will always know YOU made it - knowledgeable collectors will, too. So, if you want to have something that only LOOKS like something else, to me it just seems wise to spend as little money, and do as little harm to existing artifacts, as possible. Maybe some day you will find a real carbine (at that point you will want to part with the mock-up. Don't be so financially buried in it as to make it hard to sell)

Just MY thoughts, if it were mine - NO PERSONAL OFFENSE INTENDED!!

I'm sure you are correct now that I give it some thought. I guess I will look for an inexpensive Krag carbine (Is this possible?) and save this one for a parts gun or something. Thanks!

Bill

[sdkrag]

When you compare the cost of correct and original parts to the cost of a complete weapon I think you can find a 99 carbine for a reasonable price. Plus it's fun to search.