In this later war the rifle was referred to in a song popular with U.S. 30-03 cartridge), and found use in the Spanish–American War and the Philippine–American War. Army's primary rifle from 1894 to 1903 (when it was replaced by the M1903 Springfield rifle with its ballistically similar. government over the choice-the Krag–Jørgensen design was chosen by the board of officers.Īpproximately 500,000 "Krags" were produced at the Springfield Armory in Massachusetts from 1894 to 1904. Despite protests from domestic inventors and arms manufacturers-two designers, Russell and Livermore, even sued the U.S. The trials were held at Governors Island, New York. A competition was held in 1892, comparing rifle designs from Lee, Krag–Jørgensen, Mannlicher, Mauser, Schmidt–Rubin, and about 40 other military and civilian designs.
Army searched for a new rifle in the early 1890s to replace their old Springfield Model 1873 "trapdoor" single-shot rifles. Krag was replaced beginning in 1903 with the introduction of the M1903 Springfield rifle, which was essentially a copy of a Mauser, although some design elements of the Krag design remained, such as the cocking piece and famously smooth Krag bolt action.Īmerican Krags are the most plentiful and affordable of all three Krag variants, although many are sporterized, and they remain popular with collectors today.Īmerican soldiers practice a bayonet stab with their Krag rifles. 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.
All versions and variants were manufactured under license by the Springfield Armory between 18 and famously served as the longarm during the Spanish-American War. 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.
Receiver, loading door and bolt assembly of a US M1898 Krag–Jørgensen Rifle with a. Main article: Krag–Jørgensen Springfield Model 1892–99