springfield 1898 carbine serial number range

During this decade smokeless powder came into general use, and the calibre of various service rifles diminished as new small-bore, high-velocity cartridges using smokeless propellant were developed. The 1880s were an interesting period in the development of modern firearms. The Krag–Jørgensen is a popular rifle among collectors, and is valued by shooters for its smooth action.Įarly development Technical drawing of an early Krag–Jørgensen Closeup of the Krag–Jørgensen receiver and magazine door on a Norwegian M1912 carbine The design was also easy to 'top off', and unlike most top-loading magazines, the Krag–Jørgensen's magazine could be topped up without opening the rifle's bolt.

In fact, several cartridges can be dumped into the opened magazine of a Krag at once with no need for careful placement, and when shutting the magazine-door the cartridges are forced to line up correctly inside the magazine.

Normal loading was one cartridge at a time, and this could be done more easily with a Krag than a rifle with a 'box' magazine. The design presents both advantages and disadvantages compared with a top-loading 'box' magazine. Later, similar to a charger, a claw type clip would be made for the Krag that allowed the magazine to be loaded all at once, also known as the Krag 'speedloader magazine'. Instead of a charger, single cartridges are inserted through the side opening, and are pushed up, around, and into the action by a spring follower. While many other rifles of its era use an integral box magazine loaded by a charger or stripper clip, the magazine of the Krag–Jørgensen is integral with the receiver (the part of the rifle that houses the operating parts), featuring an opening on the right hand side with a hinged cover. About 300 were delivered to Boer forces of the South African Republic.Ī distinctive feature of the Krag–Jørgensen action is its magazine. It was adopted as a standard arm by Norway, Denmark, and the United States. The Krag–Jørgensen is a repeating bolt-action rifle designed by the Norwegians Ole Herman Johannes Krag and Erik Jørgensen in the late 19th century.

Springfield 1898 carbine serial number range