I don't think that C and 73 are factory and probably not Army markings, as stamping unit markings into U.S. weapons was prohibited. One possible meaning is "Company C, Rifle Number 73", but Company C of what, I don't know. One possibility is a private military academy; at one time Krags were sold off by the Army for as little as $2.00 and many thousands were bought by military academies and by high schools and colleges for honor guards and drill teams.
Jim
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