Springfield Model 1892–99
| Springfield Model 1892–99 | |
|---|---|
Receiver, loading door and bolt assembly of a US M1898 Krag–Jørgensen Rifle with a .30-40 round as compared to a .45-70 Springfield Model 1888 rifle, its predecessor.
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| Type | Bolt-action repeating rifle |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1892–1907 (Regular Army) |
| Wars | |
| Production history | |
| Designer | O H J Krag and E Jørgensen |
| Designed | 1886 |
| No. built | Approx. 500,000 |
| Variants | M1892 Rifle M1892 Carbine M1896 Rifle M1896 Cadet Rifle M1896 Carbine M1898 Rifle M1898 Carbine M1899 Carbine M1899 Constable Carbine |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 8 pounds 7 ounces (M1896 Rifle) |
| Length | 48.875 in (1,241 mm) (M1896 Rifle) |
| Barrel length | 30 in (762 mm) (M1896 Rifle) |
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| Cartridge | .30-40 Krag |
| Action | Bolt action |
| Rate of fire | 20–30 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 2,000 ft/s (610 m/s) (rifle) (220 grain bullet 1894–1898) |
| Effective firing range | 900 m (3,000 ft) |
| Feed system | 5-round rotary magazine |
| Sights | V-notch and front post |
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. caliber .30-40 Krag. All versions and variants were manufactured under license by the Springfield Armory between 1892 and 1903 and famously served as the longarm during the Spanish–American War. 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. Thus, the U.S. 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 remained, such as the cocking piece.
American Krags are the most plentiful and affordable of all three Krag variants, although many are sporterized, and they remain popular with collectors today.
Like many other armed forces, the U.S. Army searched for a new rifle in the early 1890s to replace their old Springfield Model 1873 "trapdoor" single-shot rifles. 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. The trials were held at Governors Island, New York. Despite protests from domestic inventors and arms manufacturers—two designers, Russell and Livermore, even sued the U.S. government over the choice—the Krag–Jørgensen design was chosen by the board of officers.
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Wikipedia