FYI: Krag rifles
Bjoern Andersen
about Norwegian and Danish military Krag Jorgensen rifles.
There were also buildt several civilian versions but I know
zilch about them.
Denmark was the first country to adopt the rifle developed by
Krag and Jorgensen. This weapon was later adopted in a modified
form by Norway and USA. The main difference between the Danish
Krag and the Norwegian and US models are the loading gate, the
Danish version swings horisontally forward and the Norwegian
and US loading swings downward. The Danish 1889 rifle and several
of the carbines have a metal barrel jacket while the Norwegian and
US models have wooden handguards. All Danish Krags were chambered
for the 8x58R cartridge. The Norwegian models were chambered for
the 6.5x55 cartridge, known both as Swedish Mauser and Norwegian
Krag cartridge. The original loading data for 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser
and Norwegian Krag cartridge was identical but keep in mind that
the Krag is inherently weaker than the Swedish Mauser and the
cartridge was designed with a max pressure of 45000psi. Some
Norwegian Krags were chambered for the 7.92x57 after the war but
this was a special reduced load, NO KRAG CHAMBERED FOR 7.92x57
MUST BE FIRED WITH STANDARD 7.92X57 MAUSER AMMUNITION.
Now, some data about different Krag versions, Danish first.
Rifle M1889, This weapon is typical of the period in having a long
barrel and stock without pistol grip. A metal handguard encircles the
barrel. As originally issued this rifle had no safety catch, a half-
cock notch on the cocking piece/firing pin assembly served this
purpouse. In 1910, this weapon was modified by the addition of a
manual safety, wich was placed on the left side of the receiver just
behind the closed bolt handle. Overall length was 52.28 inches with
a barrel of 32.78 inches, it weighed in at 9.5lb.
Infantry carbine M1889, Introduced in 1924, this weapon also has a
metal barrel jacket and a stud for a bayonet. This carbine has the
letter F before the serial number. It has a straigt bolt handle.
Overall length is 43.3 inches with a barrel of 24 inches and a it
weighs 8.8lb.
Artillery carbine M1889, This carbine was also introduced in 1924.
It is generally similar to the Infantry carbine, but it has a turned-
down bolt handle, a triangular upper sling swivel and a stud on the
left side of the stock. This stud was used to hang the carbine from
a leather hanger worn on the gunner's back.
Engineer carbine M1889, The Engineer carbine was also introduced
in 1924. It has a wooden handguard, and the barrel was shortened to
23.6 inches to accommodate the muzzle cap of the Cavalry rifle M1889.
The letter I is found before the serial number.
Cavalry rifle M1889, This weapon was introduced in 1914. The rear
sling swivel is mounted on the left side jusat ahead of the trigger
guard. It has a straight bolt handle and a mounting stud similar to
that of the M1889 cavalry carbine on the left side of the stock.
The letter R is found before the serial number. This rifle is not
fitted for a bayonet.
Sniper rifle M1928, This is an alteration of the rifle M1889 and has
a heavier barrel with wooden handguard, a sporting type stock with
pistol grip, a turned-down bolt handle, micrometer rear sight and hooded
front sight. This rifle weighs 11.7lb and is 46 inches long with a 26.3
inch barrel.
Now for the Norwegian versions.
Rifle M1894, Full length stock with pistol grip, half length
cleaning rod under barrel, half length handguard and fitted with
bayonet lug. Length 49.9 inches, barrel 29.9 inches, weight 9.38lb.
Some M1894 rifles made by Steyr of Austria.
Carbine M1895, Sporter type stock, no bayonet lug. Length 40 inches,
barrel 20.5 inches, weight 7.5lb.
Carbine M1897, Similar to M1895 but butt swivel is placed futher to
the rear of stock.
Carbine M1904, Similar to M1895 except full length stock with pistol
grip and full length handguard. Weight 8.4lb.
Carbine M1907, Similar to M1904 except sling swivels placed on rear
band and on the butt.
Carbine M1912, Stocked to the muzzle with full length hand guard,
similar to the Sniper rifle M1923, has bayonet lug mounted on
compination upper band nose cap. Length 43.6 inches, barrel 24
inches, weight 8.8lb.
Sniper rifle M1923, Full length stock with full checked pistol grip,
full length hand guard, wide upper band/nose cap with bayonet lug,
micrometer rear sight. The rifle is marked M/1894. Length 44 inches,
barrel 24 inches, weight 9lb.
Sniper rifle M1925, Basically the same as rifle M1894, but has checked
full pistol grip, micrometer rear sight. Marked M/25. Weight 9.9lb.
Sniper rifle M1930, Sporter type stock with checked full pistol grip,
heavy barrel, no bayonet lug, micrometer rear sight. Marked M/1894/30.
Length 48 inches, barrel 29.5 inches, weight 11.46lb.
There are probably both typos and factual error, if you see somthing
wrong please mail me.
\\Bjoern//
email: +----------------------+
bjoe...@oslonett.no | Domine, libera nos a |
polarnet: | furore normannorum. |
bjoern andersen@GRE +----------------------+
Harald Haarstad
But I didnt see any thing about firing the 6.5 x 55 swedish mauser ammo
in the Krag. Certainly most 6.5 x 55 hunting ammo and some target (RANO
Super) is too powerful for the Krag to handle safely.
I would at least say :DO NOT FIRE 6.5 x 55 HUNTING AMMO IN THE KRAG.
It probably wont blow, but it will strain the single locking lug
excessively, possibly bending it.
Krister
Chuck Cunningham
#Very informative Bjoern.
#But I didnt see any thing about firing the 6.5 x 55 swedish mauser ammo
#in the Krag. Certainly most 6.5 x 55 hunting ammo and some target (RANO
#Super) is too powerful for the Krag to handle safely.
#I would at least say :DO NOT FIRE 6.5 x 55 HUNTING AMMO IN THE KRAG.
#It probably wont blow, but it will strain the single locking lug
#excessively, possibly bending it.
I am not so sure that this would be the case. In Small Arms of the
World (11th Ed.) it is stated in the Norwegian section, p.429...
"Norway adopted the Krag Jorgensen rifle, chambered for the 6.5x55mm
rimless Mauser cartridge, in 1894, and this rifle and its carbine
versions were used by the Norwegian Army until the majority of the
weapons were lost to the Germans in World War II."
It further states that after WWII for a limited time Norway produced
Krags in 7.92x57mm.
They also state that the metallurgy in post WWII Norway was better
than those of US during the 1892-1902 time.
I would say that if you have a NORWEGIAN KRAG that was made for the
6.5x55mm round, it is fine. If it is a modified rifle, I'd be VERY
leary.
Bjoern Andersen
Harald Haarstad <haar...@kjemi.unit.no> wrote:
# But I didnt see any thing about firing the 6.5 x 55 swedish mauser ammo
# in the Krag. Certainly most 6.5 x 55 hunting ammo and some target (RANO
# Super) is too powerful for the Krag to handle safely.
# I would at least say :DO NOT FIRE 6.5 x 55 HUNTING AMMO IN THE KRAG.
#
# It probably wont blow, but it will strain the single locking lug
# excessively, possibly bending it.
You are correct. I should have included that.
Odd H}vard Skevik
|> I am not so sure that this would be the case. In Small Arms of the
|> World (11th Ed.) it is stated in the Norwegian section, p.429...
|> "Norway adopted the Krag Jorgensen rifle, chambered for the 6.5x55mm
|> rimless Mauser cartridge, in 1894, and this rifle and its carbine
|> versions were used by the Norwegian Army until the majority of the
|> weapons were lost to the Germans in World War II."
|> It further states that after WWII for a limited time Norway produced
|> Krags in 7.92x57mm.
|> They also state that the metallurgy in post WWII Norway was better
|> than those of US during the 1892-1902 time.
|> I would say that if you have a NORWEGIAN KRAG that was made for the
|> 6.5x55mm round, it is fine. If it is a modified rifle, I'd be VERY
|> leary.
|>
|> Chuck
|> Chuck.Cu...@HDCAFE.Riverside.Ca.US -or- Ch...@pe.net
First : NEVER, NEVER fire full-pressure 6.5x55 rounds in a Krag-Jørgensen!!!
Some historical background :
The cartridge 6.5x55 was designed by a Swedish-Norwegian comittee in the
years preceding 1894. Originally, muzzle velocity was set to be around
2400fps with a 10g bullet, but this was later changed. A classical Krag-load
is a 140grs bullet at 2525fps.
Soon it was found out that the Swedish mausers could safely be loaded to
higher pressures than Krag-Jørgensen rifles. Also, chamber dimensions
began to differ, as the swedes used the mimimum measurements while Norwegian
rifled were chambered to near max dimensions. Ammunition measurements varied
accordingly. (Recently, common cartridge dimensions have been set, this
cartridge is known as 6.5x55 SKAN)
The cartridge known outside scandinavia is the 6.5x55 meant for the mauser,
therefore chamber pressures are higher than a Krag rifle will safely handle.
Die-sets can usually be used interchangeably, as can bullets.
And yes, Kongsberg made a few krags chambered for 8x57IS. These were named
"Elgrifle" (=elk rifle / moose rifle). Normal 8x57IS was loaded to too high
pressures, so Norma loaded ammunition for the 8x57IS Krags. This ammunition
is known as "8x57IS Moderat".
For some reason, these Krags were marked "8x57IS". This might have led some
to fire full-pressure ammunition in them, so be careful if you've got one
of those.
So, to repeat myself : NEVER fire full pressure 6.5x55mm Swedish ammo
in your Krag-Jørgensen. NEVER fire full pressure 8x57IS ammo in your Krag-
Jørgensen.
(I've got a Krag myself, and I'm VERY careful with handloads ment for this
gun. It's far too nice a rifle to risk any damage to.)
O.H. Skevik.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
"In Theory there is no difference between theory and practice,
but in practice, there is....."
Bjoern Andersen
Ch...@pe.net (Chuck Cunningham) wrote:
# #I would at least say :DO NOT FIRE 6.5 x 55 HUNTING AMMO IN THE KRAG.
# #It probably wont blow, but it will strain the single locking lug
# #excessively, possibly bending it.
# I am not so sure that this would be the case. In Small Arms of the
# World (11th Ed.) it is stated in the Norwegian section, p.429...
# "Norway adopted the Krag Jorgensen rifle, chambered for the 6.5x55mm
# rimless Mauser cartridge, in 1894, and this rifle and its carbine
# versions were used by the Norwegian Army until the majority of the
# weapons were lost to the Germans in World War II."
# It further states that after WWII for a limited time Norway produced
# Krags in 7.92x57mm.
# They also state that the metallurgy in post WWII Norway was better
# than those of US during the 1892-1902 time.
# I would say that if you have a NORWEGIAN KRAG that was made for the
# 6.5x55mm round, it is fine. If it is a modified rifle, I'd be VERY
# leary.
The interesting thing is that the 6.5x55 cartridge was designed by a
Swedish-Norwegian military commission and are not a true Mauser
cartridge. The 7.92x57 used in the Krag was a REDUCED load, no
standard 7.92x57 should be fired in the Krag. The metallurgy was
probably better but there are modern loads in the 6.5x55 that is not
healthy for the 50+ years old Krag rifles. The Krag mechanism is not
the strongest design especially since it only has a single locking lug.
C...@vm.urz.uni-heidelberg.de
odd...@stud.unit.no (Odd H}vard Skevik) writes:
#First : NEVER, NEVER fire full-pressure 6.5x55 rounds in a Krag-Jxrgensen!!!
#
#Soon it was found out that the Swedish mausers could safely be loaded to
#higher pressures than Krag-Jxrgensen rifles. Also, chamber dimensions
#began to differ, as the swedes used the mimimum measurements while Norwegian
#rifled were chambered to near max dimensions. Ammunition measurements varied
#accordingly. (Recently, common cartridge dimensions have been set, this
#cartridge is known as 6.5x55 SKAN)
It should be noted that either Norma or Lapua still load different ammo
for 6,5 x 55 KJ and 6,5 x 55 Swedish. At least that's what my catalog says.
#And yes, Kongsberg made a few krags chambered for 8x57IS. These were named
#"Elgrifle" (=elk rifle / moose rifle). Normal 8x57IS was loaded to too high
#pressures, so Norma loaded ammunition for the 8x57IS Krags. This ammunition
#is known as "8x57IS Moderat".
What about the (rimless) 8 x 54 Krag-Jorgensen ? I own a Swedish Husqvarna
Mod. 38 in this caliber, and cannot find either ammo or reloading data.
Do you know a Scandinavian gunshop who could sell me some ? Import to
Germany is no problem.
Thanks and regards, ALexander Eichener
c...@vm.urz.uni-heidelberg.de
Randy Rick, Steyr Collector
Norwegian Krags. I do, but couldn't find it until tonight when I was doing
a little search for a CD player driver, I found an article by an old friend
of mine from Maryland, USA, and a member of the Ohio Gun Collectors
Association, Frank Mallory titled: The Krag Rifle Story.
In the article Frank quotes from: "Haerens Handvapen, Gevaerer og
Karabiner, 1814-1940" by O. Nielson and F. C. Skaar, published by the
Army Museum, Akershus, Oslo.
The book states that the first 20,000 rifles with short bayonets were
produced in Steyr. Rifles with serial numbers 20001-30000 in
Kongsberg with short bayonet. Then rifles in the group 30001-39000,
with short bayonet were produced by Steyr. Rifles with short bayonet
from serial number 390001-121000 and rifles with long bayonet
serial numbers 121001-152000 were made at Kongsberg. Also mentioned are
rifles made at Kongsberg for the Norwegian National Rifle Association
starting at serial number 1, total number made is unknown.
So, this article seems to document that 29,000 model 1894 Krag rifles
were manufactured at Steyr. Thats a lot of rifles. There are 2
pictures of receivers, they both have the word STEYR over the chamber
with the year under the STEYR. The 2 years were 1896 and 1897, so
obviously that is the year of manufacture.
Randy