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Listed by serial number as an identified Rough Rider issued U.S. Springfield 1896 Krag Carbine
LOT 128
Historic and Highly Desirable Documented Spanish-American
War U.S. Springfield Model 1896 Krag-Jorgensen Bolt Action Saddle Ring Carbine, Identified to Malcolm D. Lincoln of Future President Theodore Roosevelt’s 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Rough Riders Regiment Who Famously Charged Kettle Hill in the Battle of San Juan Hill - Serial no. 68140, 30 Army (30-40 Krag) cal., 22 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. This is an immensely desirable example of a Spanish-American War issued U.S. Springfield Krag-Jorgensen saddle ring carbine identified by serial number
as issued to Malcolm D. Lincoln of the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry, better known as the “Rough Riders”, who famously charged up Kettle Hill during the Battle of San Juan Hill in Cuba on July 1st, 1898, led by future President Theodore Roosevelt. Surviving examples of these Krag-Jorgensen carbines with a documented serial number positively linking them (not just nearby or within the range) to one of the regiments that was physically present at the Battle of San Juan Hill very rarely turn up today! This is a tangible piece of history, the likes of which many collectors have searched high and low to be able to be presented with the opportunity to acquire. This exact Krag-Jorgensen carbine is listed by serial number as issued to Malcolm D. Lincoln of the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry, Company G, in the table found in the article “Guns of the Rough Riders-Part II-Krag Carbines” in the July/August 1989 issue of Man at Arms magazine (a scanned copy of the magazine article is included with the lot), in which the listed serial numbers are based on documentation directly from the National Archives. Company G of the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry was one of the first to rush up the hill and played a prominent role in the battle.
Malcolm Docker Lincoln (September 9th, 1865-October 31st, 1932) originally enlisted in Santa Fe, New Mexico Territory, as a private with the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry on June 25th, 1898, at 32 years of age. As referenced directly from an included copy of his enlistment paper, he was born in Lucknow, East India, on September 9th, 1865, a single man at the time of enlistment, occupation “bowman”, with “fair” complexion, blue eyes, brown hair, standing at 5 foot 9 inches tall, weighing in at 147 pounds, and the document has the handwritten remark by the enlisting captain, “Has declared his intention of becoming a citizen of the United States.” Among the many included documents accompanying this lot, a 1930 Census document indicates that both of Malcolm’s parents were originally born in England. Less than one week after his original enlistment, Malcolm D. Lincoln was involved in the Battle of San Juan Hill on July 1st, 1898, carrying this very carbine listed as issued to him, serial number 68140. On July 1, 1898, Theodore Roosevelt famously led the Rough Riders in their charge up Kettle Hill during the Battle of San Juan Hill. The event became one of the most famous events in history, gaining Roosevelt strong popularity, ultimately helping to propel his later election as president. Another included scanned document indicates Malcolm was mustered out on September 15th, 1898, out of Camp Mikoff. The Las Vegas Daily Optic newspaper, dated Tuesday, October 18th, 1898, states, “Malcolm D. Lincoln, who went through the Cuban Campaign as one of Captain Llewellyn’s troop of Rough Riders, arrived this afternoon. His friends are giving him a hearty welcome.” Captain William H.H. Llewellyn, a good friend of Roosevelt, was directly in charge of Company G of the Rough Riders, of which Malcolm D. Lincoln was a part of.
These Krag-Jorgensen carbines were used throughout the Spanish-American War and late into the Philippine Insurrection. After the fighting in Cuba, the Rough Riders were returned to the U.S., with many disbanded at Montauk Point, New Jersey, and were not presented the opportunity to purchase their service arms although many of them made unsuccessful attempts to do so. All of the carbines were well used in Cuba and were poorly packed for return to the U.S., with many of them returned to the arsenal for refurbishment and reissue to troops fighting in the Philippines. Fixed beaded blade Marble brand replacement front sight, 2,000 yard ladder rear sight correctly marked with a “C”. The receiver is marked “MODEL 1896.” ahead of “U.S./SPRINGFIELD ARMORY. 68140” on the left side (appropriate for an early “Model 1896” Carbine). The period field replacement stock is of the proper short carbine style, with an extended barrel band to protect the rear sight from bumping into the saddle boot, a short saddle ring on the left side, a boxed script “JSA/1897” (J. Sumnar Adams) cartouche stamped on the left of the wrist, “J” above a circled script “P” proof stamp behind the trigger guard, and a flat buttplate with a trapdoor compartment containing a three-piece cleaning rod. In the many accompanying documents is also correspondence between Malcom Lincoln and a U.S. senator regarding Lincoln’s pension.
CONDITION: Very good as Spanish-American War issued, retains 50% faded original blue finish on the barrel, sling bar and sling ring, with areas turning to a smooth brown patina on the balance, and a gray appearance with scattered mild brown freckling on the combination blue/oil-quenched casehardened receiver, indicative of the humid Cuban climate. The stock is fine with defined edges, some scattered light scratches and dents, with defined grasping grooves and a mostly crisp cartouche. The correct style replacement handguard is revarnished. Mechanically excellent. This is a rare opportunity to own an American treasure: a U.S. Springfield Model 1896 Krag-Jorgensen Carbine identified to Malcolm D. Lincoln of Teddy Roosevelt’s 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry regiment, and carried during the Spanish-American War! These highly desirable Rough Rider carbines rarely ever surface for public sale. Estimate: 9,500 - 16,000
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