As with any firearm, condition holds the key to cash. 300 Savage - around the deer/elk woods of the states.ĭespite its military shortcomings, the Krag Jorgensen is a highly valuable rifle oft sought on the collector market. 30-40 round actually gained decent popularity when retired Krag rifles hit the surplus market at dirt-cheap prices (initially) and hunters everywhere launched this cartridge - not terribly ballistically unlike the. 30 Army was the first smokeless powder round used by our military, and troops no doubt were pleased to replace the plumes of smoke produced by the trapdoor’s blackpowder loads. 30-40 was at the time considered a small-ish caliber. 30-40, the rimmed cartridge was never tied to blackpowder use. 30 Government, and the name we civilians all know it by today. Krags were chambered for what the military designated “Caliber 30, U.S. Others were sold through the Civilian Marksmanship Program, and in fact, there are still some available there for auction.Īside from the Danish Krag-Jorgensens, which were chambered for 8x58R and Norwegian Krags in 6.5×55, the U.S. Many were issued to veterans organizations like the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars for ceremonial use. However brief the actual service life though, many Krags lingered around, being used as training arms at stateside military bases and with rear-echelon forces during WWI. That gives the Krag the shortest service life of any standard issue U.S. Given many reworks over its short service life, Krag Jorgensen rifles were nearly obsolete before they hit the front lines of war. In spite of the Parkhurst Device, the Krag-Jorgensen was replaced in 1903 by the mauser-driven Springfield M1903, which was not only a quick reload, but also ballistically superiour given the military’s needs for higher pressure, higher velocity ammunition.
Springfield fitted somewhere around 200 1898 rifles and 1899 carbines with the device, though it was never accepted into regular use and is extremely rare to find today. To compensate for speed in loading, Springfield Armory created the Parkhurst Device attachment, which enabled the Krag to be loaded via 5-round charging strips. Ironically, while the loading gate design was a major selling point during Army rifle trials, the Krag was quickly outclassed by the enemy’s Spanish M93 Mauser during the Spanish-American War. (Photo credit: Rock Island Auction Company) When all was said and done, variants of the Krag rifle, which were many, saw service in the Boxer Rebellion, Spanish-American War and Philippine-American War. The testers decided that Krags could be charged faster than most comparable box-type magazines of the time.
In the end, the side-loading magazine and butter-smooth action were the rifle’s beloved features. To appease the doubters, a second military review was mandated and the Krag Jorgensen rifle once again emerged victorious, albeit now with a year of delayed production.
American developers were so dismayed, a formal complaint was filed against the act of adopting a foreign arm for U.S. military seeking a new long gun to replace the old Springfield M1873 trapdoor single shots, they held a competition in 1892, which drew over 50 submissions including the three (all foreign) finalists - Lee, Mauser, and of course, Krag, who won the contract.
However, its unusual magazine could be topped off without opening the bolt - a plus for the ever-ready soldier in the field. Not unlike its competition, the Krag had a magazine cut-off, allowing it to function as a single-shot rifle. Though the majority of that era’s rifles were loaded by chargers or stripper clips, the Krag could be charged quickly by feeding single rounds through the right-hand side loading gate, from whence ammo would cycle around and into the action by a spring follower. Krag-Jorgensens are easily recognizable by their side-loading, horizontal box magazine.