Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original U.S. Springfield transitional Model 1895 .30-40 Krag-Jørgensen saddle ring carbine, serial number 26958, retaining its original 22" carbine barrel, saddle ring and bar, sight protecting barrel band, Model 1896 pattern rear sight, and correct carbine configuration. The receiver is unusually marked with the 1895 date rather than MODEL 1896, placing it within the short transitional production period before Springfield updated the receiver marking.

This is an antique black powder firearm manufactured before 1899. Under federal law, it may generally be owned within the United States without a special license or permit and does not require transfer through a Federal Firearms Licensee. However, state and local laws may vary. This firearm is sold solely as a historical collector’s item and has not been test fired or inspected for firing safety by a professional gunsmith. Any mechanical or bore observations provided below describe only its present condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the firearm is safe to load or fire. The purchaser is solely responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

The carbine measures approximately 41 inches (1,042 mm) in overall length with a 22-inch (560 mm) barrel. The The Springfield Model 1892–99 Krag–Jørgensen rifle is a Norwegian-designed bolt-action rifle that was adopted in 1892 as the standard United States Army military longarm, chambered in U.S. caliber .30-40 Krag. All versions and variants were manufactured under license by the Springfield Armory between 1892 and 1903 and famously served as the longarm during the Spanish–American War. Although Krags were popular, unique and efficient, the side loading gate mechanism was slow and cumbersome to reload in combat compared to the clip loaded Spanish Mausers the Krag was up against.

The Model 1896 was an improvement over the original 1892 model. It had a magazine cut-off operated in the down position had a cleaning rod that was stored in the butt trap, which mean that even the carbine model would have a cleaning rod. The production tolerances were also improved, resulting in an overall better firearm. The carbine in particular also received an improvement to the handguard, with the rear sight surrounded by a shortened handguard, which now had a large barrel band with metal protective "ears" to keep the riders tack from catching on the sight.

Springfield Transitional Model 1895 Krag–Jørgensen rifles and carbines are quite scarce, as only an estimated 1,400 rifles and carbines were made with the 1895 date. These represented a transitional or pre-production Model 1896 Krag–Jørgensen, produced before the stamping dies were updated with the "MODEL 1896" marking. The previous Model 1892 had been marked with just the date 1894, with no "Model" before it, throughout 1894-1895 production.

1895 Marked Krag–Jørgensen arms were all made around the middle of Fiscal year 1896, which ran from July 1895 to June 1896, so the estimated time of production is December 1895-January 1896. As the carbine was made in fewer numbers than the rifle, only an estimated few dozen to a couple of hundred 1895 marked carbines were made, though there is no way to prove this conclusively.

Our example is stamped on the receiver:

As mentioned previously, 1895 marked Krag–Jørgensen arms were produced around December 1895-January 1896, and were identical in configuration to the "MODEL 1896" stamped examples. All 1895 marked rifles and carbines were produced 1898 and prior, and are federally considered Pre-1899 Antique Firearms by the BATF.

This Model 1896 Carbine features features the later bolt with the extractor with pin and the receiver is machined to work with the pin. It still features the original 22 inch barrel, and shows no evidence of being a converted rifle. The handguard is correct for the affixed Model 1896 rear sight, which is fully functional and in very good condition, correctly marked "C" on the leaf and on the right side of the sight base for a carbine. It retains the correct barrel band with protective ears.

The stock is still marked the remnants of a circled stylized P proof behind the trigger guard, indicating the barrel has passed the overpressure testing. It also has a faint "boxed" stock inspection cartouche that reads JSA / 18??, for inspector J. S. Adams, though the last two numbers of the date are unclear. These are very desirable as a U.S. military service rifle as most of these rifles saw heavy use in the Spanish-American War and early 1900s until the development of the M1903 rifle.

The metalwork is in very good service used condition, with the original finish worn into an attractive mottled patina and no indication of major modern refinishing. The barrel retains a substantial amount of original blue, especially beneath the handguard, while the exposed metal surfaces show expected thinning and wear from long service.

Mechanically, the bolt cycles smoothly and the action presently operates correctly. The magazine cutoff is present and appears functional, although the feeding system has not been tested with cartridges. The safety functions when the bolt is both cocked and uncocked and locks the bolt closed as intended. These observations describe only the present mechanical condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the carbine is safe to load or fire.

The bore is in very good condition with clear lands and grooves and a partly bright surface. There is moderate wear to the lands, together with darker areas where old oxidation and fouling have been cleaned from the bore.

The walnut stocks are in very good service used condition and have developed the deep red brown color associated with aged, oiled military walnut. It is fitted with the Model 1896 solid smooth butt plate with curved toe and butt trap. The butt compartment is currently empty. 

The stock shows honest service wear, including chips, gouges, dents, staining, and localized damage from oxidation of the surrounding metalwork. There is noticeable wear around the saddle ring bar from use, where the ring and attached equipment rubbed against the wood. A significant section of wood is missing between the bolt handle area and the magazine housing.

The handguard has a repaired crack at the upper right rear that runs forward, and the small section of wood immediately ahead of the rear sight and beneath the barrel band is broken away. These defects are readily visible but do not obscure the overall original carbine configuration.

With its unusual 1895 dated receiver, serial number 26958, original 22" carbine barrel, saddle ring and bar, C marked carbine rear sight, protective sight ears, surviving JSA inspection cartouche, and untouched service worn appearance, this is a particularly interesting transitional Springfield Krag carbine. The significant stock loss beside the action, repaired handguard crack, missing handguard section, empty butt trap, bore wear, and general service wear are all fully disclosed. It would fit especially well in a Krag-Jørgensen, early U.S. bolt action, Spanish-American War era, cavalry carbine, or advanced Springfield Armory collection.

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: 1895-1896
Maker: United States Armory and Arsenal at Springfield
Model: 1895
Serial No.: 26958
Caliber: .30-40 Krag
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 22 Inches
Overall Length: 41 Inches
Action type: Bolt-Action
Feed System: 5 round side loaded magazine
Federal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique

IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to most US States and most U.S. territories.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for the the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to most addresses within the United States.