Springfield Model 1896 - The Firearms Forum

hstout1143 · 12-05-2012, 09:19 PM

I recently came across this Springfield model 1896 and was looking for info on it. ie. Caliber is it 30-40 Krag, is it a carbine? It doesn't seem very long for a rifle of that period.

jim brady · 12-05-2012, 09:45 PM

Looks like you have a really nice old 1896 Krag Carbine. From the pictures yours does not appear to be a cut-down rifle. They are really slick old guns. Common piece of advice is to have it checked by a really good gunsmith before you attempt to fire it. Seems that those old receivers were 'single heat treated', (as were the pre mid-1917 Springfield 1903s) and many have come un-glued during firing. Have the action and the bolt lugs/recesses checked for stress cracks.

I have an 1896 rifle and still shoot it every couple of years. I load mine with 150 or 173 grain .308 diameter FMJ bullets with a mid-range charge of IMR 4895. Very pleasant and accurate to shoot. The action is butter smooth.

Cavalry and artillery troops generally used the shorter Carbines because the longer Infantry rifle was not practical for their use. The Infantry liked the longer rifle because of greater long range accuracy and the longer barrel made a bayonet more practical. Thats about the best definition I can come up with for you. Enjoy!

hstout1143 · 12-05-2012, 09:58 PM

Thanks Jim, I'll have it checked out before I shoot it.

CHW2021 · 12-06-2012, 08:05 AM

Looks like it could be a (very nice) original carbine length gun; you may want to do some research on this one and verify it's history a bit more. The Krag is a very smooth action and is wonderful to shoot. They were sold by the DCM (CMP now) and many rifles were altered to carbine length either by armories or individuals; quite a few were sportered by the owners; as a result there are less original carbines and untouched rifles than ever.
An original carbine would command a premium from a collector point of view; do a little digging.

deadin · 12-06-2012, 09:46 AM

Try posting your questions here....... http://www.jouster.com/forums/forumd...?12-Krag-Rifle
There are some very knowledgeable folks there....

Jim K · 12-06-2012, 05:52 PM

It looks like a real carbine, but better pictures would be needed to be sure. All Krag carbines had 22" barrels, so any other length was an alteration.

There were serial number ranges where more carbines appear, but there is no way to tell from the number if the gun was made as a carbine. The receivers were made and finished, then put on the shelf until needed for assembly. If the next orders were for carbines, carbines were made; if for rifles, rifles were made, without regard for which receivers were picked.

Jim

12-05-2012, 09:19 PM	#1
hstout1143 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: California Contributor Posts: 1,815	Springfield Model 1896 I recently came across this Springfield model 1896 and was looking for info on it. ie. Caliber is it 30-40 Krag, is it a carbine? It doesn't seem very long for a rifle of that period. __________________ NRA Life Member Kids that hunt and fish don't mug old ladies. "Government's first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives." - Ronald Reagan "Deo Duce, Ferro Comitante", With God as my leader and my sword as my companion --> Last edited by hstout1143; 04-22-2013 at 10:38 PM..

12-05-2012, 09:45 PM	#2
jim brady Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,099	Re: Springfield Model 1896 Looks like you have a really nice old 1896 Krag Carbine. From the pictures yours does not appear to be a cut-down rifle. They are really slick old guns. Common piece of advice is to have it checked by a really good gunsmith before you attempt to fire it. Seems that those old receivers were 'single heat treated', (as were the pre mid-1917 Springfield 1903s) and many have come un-glued during firing. Have the action and the bolt lugs/recesses checked for stress cracks. I have an 1896 rifle and still shoot it every couple of years. I load mine with 150 or 173 grain .308 diameter FMJ bullets with a mid-range charge of IMR 4895. Very pleasant and accurate to shoot. The action is butter smooth. Cavalry and artillery troops generally used the shorter Carbines because the longer Infantry rifle was not practical for their use. The Infantry liked the longer rifle because of greater long range accuracy and the longer barrel made a bayonet more practical. Thats about the best definition I can come up with for you. Enjoy! Last edited by jim brady; 12-05-2012 at 09:47 PM..

12-05-2012, 09:58 PM	#3
hstout1143 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: California Contributor Posts: 1,815	Re: Springfield Model 1896 Thanks Jim, I'll have it checked out before I shoot it. __________________ NRA Life Member Kids that hunt and fish don't mug old ladies. "Government's first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives." - Ronald Reagan "Deo Duce, Ferro Comitante", With God as my leader and my sword as my companion

12-06-2012, 08:05 AM	#4
CHW2021 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Louisiana Posts: 468	Re: Springfield Model 1896 Looks like it could be a (very nice) original carbine length gun; you may want to do some research on this one and verify it's history a bit more. The Krag is a very smooth action and is wonderful to shoot. They were sold by the DCM (CMP now) and many rifles were altered to carbine length either by armories or individuals; quite a few were sportered by the owners; as a result there are less original carbines and untouched rifles than ever. An original carbine would command a premium from a collector point of view; do a little digging.

12-06-2012, 09:46 AM	#5
deadin Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 867	Re: Springfield Model 1896 Try posting your questions here....... http://www.jouster.com/forums/forumd...?12-Krag-Rifle There are some very knowledgeable folks there....

12-06-2012, 05:52 PM	#6
Jim K Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 6,408	Re: Springfield Model 1896 It looks like a real carbine, but better pictures would be needed to be sure. All Krag carbines had 22" barrels, so any other length was an alteration. There were serial number ranges where more carbines appear, but there is no way to tell from the number if the gun was made as a carbine. The receivers were made and finished, then put on the shelf until needed for assembly. If the next orders were for carbines, carbines were made; if for rifles, rifles were made, without regard for which receivers were picked. Jim