Krag-Jorgensen M1897
Kongsberg Vaapenfabrikk · Carbine · Discontinued · 1897
Also known as: Karabin m/1897, M1897 Krag Carbine, Krag-Jorgensen Model 1897
Overview
The Krag-Jorgensen M1897 is a Norwegian bolt-action carbine chambered in 6.5x55mm, issued to mountain artillery and engineer troops as the Karabin m/1897. A compact half-stocked derivative of the Gevaer m/1894 service rifle, it shares the distinctive Krag-Jorgensen side-mounted, hinged-door integral box magazine that lets loose rounds be poured in without a stripper clip, plus a magazine cut-off for single-loading while keeping the five-round magazine in reserve. With a 520mm barrel and an overall length of just over one metre, it was essentially identical to the M1895 cavalry carbine, differing only in how the sling swivel was mounted, and the two were issued in a single production series.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3375 g (119.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1016 mm (40.00") |
| Barrel Length | 520 mm (20.47") |
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Effective Range | 400 m (437 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 2000 m (2187 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 200 mm (7.87") |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 6.5x55mm Swedish · primary — also known as 6.5x55, 6.5x55 SE, 6.5 Swede, 6.5x55mm M/94 Norwegian Krag
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Integral Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Side Loading Magazine, Magazine Cutoff, Integral Box Magazine, Half Stock Carbine, V Notch Iron Sights, Cock On Closing
Base model
Service history
Operators
- Norwegian Army · adopted 1897 · as Karabin m/1897
Production
Estimated total produced: 9,309 · Production years: 1898-1906
Approximately 9,309 M1895 and M1897 carbines were produced together in one series between 1898 and 1906; the two models differed only in sling-swivel arrangement.
Origin
Country of origin: Norway
Designer: Ole Herman Johannes Krag, Erik Jorgensen
Discontinued: 1906
Notes
The M1895 cavalry carbine and M1897 mountain artillery/engineer carbine differed only in sling-swivel placement and were produced together as one series, with roughly 9,300 examples made between 1898 and 1906. Later Krag carbines (M1904/M1907) were stocked to the muzzle, whereas the M1895/M1897 retained an exposed barrel forward of the forend.
Background
Norway fielded a whole family of short Krag carbines for troops who could not lug a full-length infantry rifle - cavalry, mountain artillery and engineers each got their own model. The M1895 and M1897 were mechanically identical, distinguished only by where the sling swivel was screwed to the stock.