Two days ago a UPS truck blessed me with my latest camera, a Pentax K-3. Google it if you want to know why I lusted over it. At any rate, I've been wringing it out and decided to do some photographs of the Krag-Jorgensen rifles and carbines in my collection. I thought I'd share them with you, and along the way point out some historical information on the Krags.
The Krag rifle replaced the .45/70 trapdoor rifles as our standard service rifle. It was our first general issue repeater, and our first smokeless powder rifle. It was the invention of a couple of Norwegians, Mssrs. Krag and Jorgensen.
This is a pic of a Model 1896 Krag rifle:
Here is a picture of the action of this rifle on the other side. Please note the date (1894) on the side of the receiver. How can this be? A Model 1896 serialed in 1894? Read on.
It's one of many Model 1892 rifles that were later converted to Model 1896s. The original Model 1892 had a ramrod under the barrel and a straight buttplate without a trapdoor in it. Also, the muzzle was flat rather than deeply crowned. During the conversion of these rifles, the ramrod channel was filled in, the barrel crowned, and a new buttplate with a trapdoor fitted. Underneath the trapdoor was a jointed cleaning rod, an oiler and a special tool. All of these are present on this rifle. 1894 was the first year of production - this receiver was serial numbered in that year, but left the armory in July, 1895. The main tipoff that it's a '92 conversion is the filled-in ramrod channel.
The Model 1896 carbine was the first Krag carbine. These were used by Teddy Roosevelt's 1st Volunteer Cavalry (the Rough Riders) in their assault on Kettle Hill in the San Juan Heights in Cuba. This one was manufactured in 1897.
Note the cavalry bar and ring on it. This was attached to a shoulder sling by a hook on the sling. This "rack and ring" arrangement was a holdover from the previous black powder trapdoor carbines.
The Model 1898 Krag rifle was a modest improvement on the Model 1896. Note the different sights. Sights very similar to this were used on the first Model 1903 Springfield rifles. This rifle was made in January of 1901.
The Model 1899 Cavalry carbine was the last general issue carbine until the M1 carbine of WWII. Here are a couple of views of it. Note that the bar and ring are gone from the left side. This model was supposed to be carried in a rifle boot on the horse. This particular carbine was made in November of 1901.
Here's a closer view of the left side of the '99 carbine. It bears the very clear acceptance stamp (JSA over date) of J. Sumner Adams, the Springfield Armory inspector for the government.
The Krags were officially made obsolete by the adoption of the Model 1903 Springfield rifle. No longer were there "infantry" and "cavalry" versions, because the 24" barrel of the '03 was a compromise length intended for both infantry and cavalry. The Model 1903 lasted well into the Korean war, when the Model 1903A4 sniper rifle was still in inventory.
After the '03 was adopted, the Krags were relegated to training duty. My dad recalls that his high school in Arizona had Krags as the issue rifle for his Jr. ROTC outfit. Most were then sold to individuals and various firearms distributors. Many were later sporterized. The Krag action is renowned for its smoothness and the .30/40 cartridge was more than adequate for deer and other medium game.
Krags in original military condition are not plentiful today, and are becoming more and more valuable. I got my first one (the Model 92/96 above) in the 1960s. I found it in a pawn shop for $60 and had to convince the owner that I didn't have to fill out the federal paperwork because it was an antique!
Hope you enjoyed this trip back to the turn of the last century!
John
The Krag rifle replaced the .45/70 trapdoor rifles as our standard service rifle. It was our first general issue repeater, and our first smokeless powder rifle. It was the invention of a couple of Norwegians, Mssrs. Krag and Jorgensen.
This is a pic of a Model 1896 Krag rifle:
Here is a picture of the action of this rifle on the other side. Please note the date (1894) on the side of the receiver. How can this be? A Model 1896 serialed in 1894? Read on.
It's one of many Model 1892 rifles that were later converted to Model 1896s. The original Model 1892 had a ramrod under the barrel and a straight buttplate without a trapdoor in it. Also, the muzzle was flat rather than deeply crowned. During the conversion of these rifles, the ramrod channel was filled in, the barrel crowned, and a new buttplate with a trapdoor fitted. Underneath the trapdoor was a jointed cleaning rod, an oiler and a special tool. All of these are present on this rifle. 1894 was the first year of production - this receiver was serial numbered in that year, but left the armory in July, 1895. The main tipoff that it's a '92 conversion is the filled-in ramrod channel.
The Model 1896 carbine was the first Krag carbine. These were used by Teddy Roosevelt's 1st Volunteer Cavalry (the Rough Riders) in their assault on Kettle Hill in the San Juan Heights in Cuba. This one was manufactured in 1897.
Note the cavalry bar and ring on it. This was attached to a shoulder sling by a hook on the sling. This "rack and ring" arrangement was a holdover from the previous black powder trapdoor carbines.
The Model 1898 Krag rifle was a modest improvement on the Model 1896. Note the different sights. Sights very similar to this were used on the first Model 1903 Springfield rifles. This rifle was made in January of 1901.
The Model 1899 Cavalry carbine was the last general issue carbine until the M1 carbine of WWII. Here are a couple of views of it. Note that the bar and ring are gone from the left side. This model was supposed to be carried in a rifle boot on the horse. This particular carbine was made in November of 1901.
Here's a closer view of the left side of the '99 carbine. It bears the very clear acceptance stamp (JSA over date) of J. Sumner Adams, the Springfield Armory inspector for the government.
The Krags were officially made obsolete by the adoption of the Model 1903 Springfield rifle. No longer were there "infantry" and "cavalry" versions, because the 24" barrel of the '03 was a compromise length intended for both infantry and cavalry. The Model 1903 lasted well into the Korean war, when the Model 1903A4 sniper rifle was still in inventory.
After the '03 was adopted, the Krags were relegated to training duty. My dad recalls that his high school in Arizona had Krags as the issue rifle for his Jr. ROTC outfit. Most were then sold to individuals and various firearms distributors. Many were later sporterized. The Krag action is renowned for its smoothness and the .30/40 cartridge was more than adequate for deer and other medium game.
Krags in original military condition are not plentiful today, and are becoming more and more valuable. I got my first one (the Model 92/96 above) in the 1960s. I found it in a pawn shop for $60 and had to convince the owner that I didn't have to fill out the federal paperwork because it was an antique!
Hope you enjoyed this trip back to the turn of the last century!
John
