4thGordons Posted 13 October , 2015 Share Posted 13 October , 2015 A rifle from an earlier conflict (The Spanish-American War) but which played some role in the Great War, despite being officially replaced a decade earlier by the 1903 Springfield.It is on that basis I have justified my hankering after one for a long time... The Springfield 1898 Krag-Jorgenson Calibre .30-40 Krag (a rimmed cartridge, and the US' first official smokeless cartridge). Like many obsolete rifles in other combatant countries the Krag saw use in reserve and training roles in the US - but some also made it to Britain as this well known photo of AEF Engineers parading in London on the 15th of August 1917 shows. There are reports of the rifles making it to France with these and other (railway?) units too. See also HERE for more pictures and an account. While these are relatively common in the US market, many were sold off as surplus and cut down and used as hunting rifles so complete examples, while they are common enough, like many American rifles also command something of a premium compared to comparable examples from elsewhere. I have looked a long time for a decent (but affordable) example. The Krag action is very smooth and in my view comes close (CLOSE.... ) to the Enfield action in that respect, although of a quite different design. So here are a few snaps: This is an 1898 rifle (the last version) and has had a 1901 rear sight fitted as part of an official upgrade. The rear sight shows some similarity to that fitted later on the 1903 Springfield and is fairly complex and a little fragile (it is adjustable for windage as can be seen) and is adjustable in fine increments but is thin and spindly and relatively easily damaged. The rifle has and interesting side-loading magazine This particular example has nothing to indicate WWI service BUT it does have a marking which makes it a little more interesting. The butt is stamped to Company C 8th Illinois National Guard. The 8th IL was an all African-American unit which served in WWI as the 370th Infantry (serving with great distinction with the French 34/36/59th Divisions) Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chasemuseum Posted 13 October , 2015 Share Posted 13 October , 2015 Hi Chris, Not my area of expertise but I thought that the 370th Inf when attached to the French Army was re-equipped with French rifles and field equipment, so the Krag would have only seen service in training and after the regiment was re-attached to the AEF after the armistice. Still an interesting rifle. Cheers Ross Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4thGordons Posted 13 October , 2015 Author Share Posted 13 October , 2015 Yes absolutely. That's why I said there was no indication this particular rifle had GW pedigree. The marking probably dates from quite a bit earlier. Ill check in the ILNG archives this week but i think the 8th had reequipped with Springfields well prior to WWI Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Upton Posted 13 October , 2015 Share Posted 13 October , 2015 If you want a little fun, this was also the basic type of rifle (and bayonet) used extensively in the 1939 film "Gunga Din" - despite being a few years too early for the 1880's date of the film and the fact it's British troops in India! Presumably used due to large numbers and appropriate calibre blank ammunition being readily available: http://thestalkingmoon.weebly.com/uploads/1/1/5/4/11544757/94920_orig.jpg http://www.owensvalleyhistory.com/at_the_movies02/gunga_din06.jpg http://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTg3MTI5MTcwMl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNDE4NzMyNw@@._V1_SX640_SY720_.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4thGordons Posted 13 October , 2015 Author Share Posted 13 October , 2015 Hmmm! Thanks Andrew. I didn't know that.... well at least it is a rimmed cartridge I suppose! Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Upton Posted 13 October , 2015 Share Posted 13 October , 2015 Hmmm! Thanks Andrew. I didn't know that.... well at least it is a rimmed cartridge I suppose! Chris As far as I can tell, if it's a small arm that goes bang in that film, it's American... like the pistols the main hero's using being Colt New Service revolvers (or possibly Official Police revolvers, the difference being minimal): http://weaponsman.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Cary-Grant-as-Cutter-in-Gunga-Din.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khaki Posted 13 October , 2015 Share Posted 13 October , 2015 Hello Chris, Outstanding Krag, very nice photos, here's a partner for your rifle, Colt US Army 1901, dated 1903, cal 38, I believe they also saw use in the Great War. khaki Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dman Posted 14 October , 2015 Share Posted 14 October , 2015 As far as I can tell, if it's a small arm that goes bang in that film, it's American... like the pistols the main hero's using being Colt New Service revolvers (or possibly Official Police revolvers, the difference being minimal): http://weaponsman.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Cary-Grant-as-Cutter-in-Gunga-Din.jpg Remember 1960's TV series :HOGAN'S HEROES" about fictional German POW camp One of the German guards SGT Schultz is seen carrying a Krag rifle As an aside all the German were played by Jews, most having fled from Germany or Austria because of the Nazi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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