Springfield Krag Jørgensen Rifle



  

• Manufacturer: Springfield Armory(under license by Krag Jørgensen)
• Design: Norwegian
• Weight: 8.6lb
• Length: 49"
• Barrel length: 30"
• Cartridge Caliber: 30-40 Krag Smokeless
• Capacity: 5 round internal box magazine
• Service in US Army: 1892-1903
• Service in US Volunteers: March 1899-1902
• Service in Philippine Constabulary: 1906-1917

The US Army adopted the Krag rifle in 1892. Springfield would produce several different variants of the Krag from 1892 to 1899 at their plant in Massachusetts. An estimated 500,000 rifles were produced at Springfield Armory. Production ceased in 1904. The Krag would be the rifle credited for winning the Spanish American War, as well as the Philippine American War. It still remains synonymous to the Span-Am War era.

The Krag how ever was very short lived. It only saw two short wars and was already proven to be outclassed, out matched, and obsolete during the first war. The Spanish Mauser proved to be a better all around performer, as well as being a more robust war rifle than the Krag. Loading the Krag was also tedious, as it required loading one round at a time in to the box magazine, where as the Spanish Mauser took 5 round stripper clips that allowed for extremely fast reload. The Mauser was the superior rifle of the two wars, but the American soldiers outnumbered and out-gunned the Spanish and Filipino soldiers armed with Mausers. By 1901 Springfield had developed a new and improved battle rifle that incorporated features and characteristics of both the Spanish Mauser as well as the Krag. The US Army soon adopted Springfields new rifle and named it the M1903. The M1903 were quickly mass produced and outfitted to US Regulars. The Krags however would still find a niche in service. By 1906 the Krags would be re-issued to the Philippine Constabulary and other provincial police departments around the Philippines.

  

US Regulars firing Krag rifles at the outbreak in Manila, Feb 1899.

Famous Krag marching song of the Philippine-American War.

Damn the Filipinos


In that land of dopey dreams, happy peaceful Philippines
Where the bolo man is hiking night and day.
Where Tagalos steal and lie, where Americanos die,
You can hear the soldiers sing this evening lay..


Ch.
Damn! Damn! Damn the Filipinos,
Cross eyed khaki-ak ladrones.
Underneath our starry flag, civilize 'em with a Krag,
And return us to our own beloved homes.


Underneath the nipa-thatch, where the scrawny chickens scratch,
Only place to rest when hiking all day long.
As I lay me down to sleep, slimy lizards o'er me creep,
In that land where soldiers sing this evening song..


Social graces there are few, all the ladies smoke and chew,
And the men do things the padres say are wrong.
But the padres cut no ice, as they dine on fish and rice,
In that land where soldiers sing this evening song.

1895/97 Gatling Gun

• Weight: 395 lbs
• Barrel length: 32" (6-10 barrels)
• Cartridge Caliber: .30-40 Krag and .45-70 Government
• Range: +1000 yards
• Rate fire: 600-1000 per minute
• Service: 1865-1906

Invented by American Dr. Richard Jordan Gatling(neighbor of the Colt family in Hartford Connecticut), the Gatling gun is considered by many to be the first machine gun. It was first introduced during the Civil War in 1865. Several different models existed through out its advent. 6 to 10 barrels are positioned in a cylinder. Each barrel having its own chamber and firing mechanism. Ammunition is placed in a magazine canister and attached on top of the cylinder breech. A crank would be operated by the gunner, which would rotate the cylinder and barrels. The rotation loaded, cocked, fired, and ejected spent cartridges. The Gatling gun initially suffered many issues, as nearly all were hand built at the time and many parts were not uniform. By the 1890s, the Gatling gun had significantly improved, and in 1895 the US Army adopted the weapon. Due to the massive weight, they were first issued to Artillery Units and the guns were transported by horses and mules.





Soliders pose with Gatling Gun at Cavite. Philippine American War.

 

 
The Gatling gun saw much action during the Spanish American War. It gained fame in Cuba giving support fire while Theodore Roosevelt and the Rough Riders assaulted San Juan Hill. Several examples were later shipped and used in the war in the Philippines.  
 
Gatling Gun Operation
 

Short 5 Barrel Compact Variant: Model 1877 Bulldog Gatling Gun

Model 1877 Bulldog Gatling Gun used in the Philippines 1899.

 "The last decisive use of the Gatling Gun by this country was in the Philippine Insurrection, shortly after the Spanish-American War, when a Gatling-armed gunboat was employed with considerable effect against the insurgents. The nature of the Philippinos made any extensive deployment and use of the heavy guns on land impractical." - Jim Bianchi, October, 1979, Man At Arms.




Caption Photo read: "Gatling guns trained on the Filipinos near Manila Feb 1899"





Gatling Gun at outpost protecting road between San Roque and Cavite. Feb 1899.



Gatling gun mounted on top deck of the armored patrol gunboat Napindan.

   

Gatling Unit at Baiquiri, Cuba. Spanish American War

 

M1899 Philippine Constabulary Krag-Jørgensen Carbine Rifle

M1899 Philippine Constabulary Krag-Jørgensen Carbine Rifle

• Action: Bolt Action
• Capacity: 5 round internal box magazine
• Barrel Length: 20.5"
• Cartridge Caliber: .30-40 Krag (US Krags) Smokeless
• Muzzle Velocity: 580 m/s (1900 ft/s) to 870 m/s (2854 ft/s) depending on ammunition
• Effective Range: 900m
• Service: 1906-1917

The Philippine Constabulary were the native police established in 1902 by Tafts Philippine Commission which oversaw civil affairs of the Philippine Islands. It should be noted the PC's were not soldiers as many confused them to be; they were law enforcement officers paid the Civil Philippine Commission. Similar to the US Marshals in America, Philippine Constabulary officers were not limited to a jurisdiction. They had the capabilities to cross county lines(in this case, provinces and regions). The Philippine Constabulary were originally issued old US military stock Springfield Trapdoor single-shot 45 rifles from the Indian Wars. During the pacification of the islands after the Phil-Am War, the Trapdoor rifle proved to be inferior when fighting in the dense terrains of the Visayas and Mindanao regions where combatants would rush out in hoards. After the first initial shot, reloading another round became near impossible. As many PC inspectors complained: the Trapdoor rifle became a one shot club.

The Springfield Trapdoors were later replaced by the Krag Carbines in early 1906. Unique to only the Philippines, the Krag full length rifles were modified and cut down to a shorter size at the POD(Philippine Ordnance Depot) in Intramurous. The original purchase price for each Krag, $6.00. The Krag Carbine would also be short lived, they would later be replaced by Springfield M1903 rifles by 1910(but Krags would still be in service until 1917). Less than a handful of these Philippine Constabulary Krag Carbines exist today. Making them the mostly highly sought after and prized rifle of all Krag models by gun collectors and enthusiasts.

Moro Philippine Constabulary officers guarding prisoners with Krag Carbines.

Balantang Sword

Sword captured by American soldier at Battle of Balantang Nov. 21 1899. Barrio Balantang, Iloilo, Panay, Philippines. Philippine-American War 1899-1902.