Krag-Jorgensen Model 1898 Carbine
Springfield Armory (US Government) · Carbine · Out Of Production · 1898
Also known as: M1898 Krag Carbine, U.S. Magazine Carbine Model 1898, Krag Carbine 1898, Springfield Model 1898 Carbine
Overview
The Krag-Jorgensen Model 1898 Carbine is a bolt-action carbine produced at Springfield Armory as a cavalry version of the U.S. M1898 Krag service rifle, chambered in the rimmed .30-40 Krag cartridge. It mated the improved Model 1898 receiver to a 22-inch barrel and short saddle-carbine stock, and retained the Krag's hallmark side-loading horizontal box magazine that allowed the internal five-round magazine to be topped off with the bolt closed. Mechanically it was essentially a Model 1896 carbine fitted with the newer 1898-pattern receiver and bolt, sharing that carbine's barrel, handguard, sights and furniture. Only about 5,001 were built in 1898 before the pattern was superseded by the revised Model 1899 carbine, making it one of the scarcer U.S. Krag configurations.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3580 g (126.3 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1041 mm (40.98") |
| Barrel Length | 559 mm (22.01") |
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Muzzle Velocity | 580 m/s (1903 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 2400 J (1770 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 550 m (601 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 1600 m (1750 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 254 mm (10.00") |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .30-40 Krag · primary — also known as .30 U.S., .30 Army, .30 Government, 7.62x59mmR
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Side Loading Internal Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety, Magazine Cutoff
- Features: Side Loading Magazine, Smooth Bolt Throw, Magazine Cutoff Lever, Carbine Length Barrel, Saddle Ring Bar, No Stacking Swivel
Base model
Service history
Operators
- United States Army · adopted 1898 · as U.S. Magazine Carbine, Model 1898
- United States Cavalry · adopted 1898
Conflicts
- Philippine-American War (1899-1902)
- Spanish-American War (1898)
Production
Estimated total produced: 5,001 · Production years: 1898
Roughly 5,001 Model 1898 carbines were produced at Springfield Armory in 1898 before being superseded by the Model 1899 carbine; total U.S. Krag carbine production across the M1896, M1898 and M1899 patterns is estimated near 60,000.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Ole Herman Johannes Krag and Erik Jorgensen
Discontinued: 1899
Notes
The Model 1898 carbine is, for practical purposes, a Model 1896 carbine built on the improved Model 1898 receiver and bolt; its stock, barrel, handguard and sights are otherwise the same as the 1896 carbine except for the bolt recess. Production began on 15 August 1898.
Background
Because it was made only briefly in 1898 and closely resembles the earlier 1896 and later 1899 carbines, the genuine Model 1898 Krag carbine is one of the harder U.S. Krag variants for collectors to authenticate, and unaltered examples command a premium at auction.