Krag-Jorgensen Model 1899 Philippine Constabulary Carbine

Springfield Armory (US Government) · Carbine · Discontinued · 1906

Also known as: M1899 Philippine Constabulary Krag Carbine, Philippine Constabulary Carbine, PC Krag Carbine

Overview

The Krag-Jorgensen Model 1899 Philippine Constabulary Carbine is a bolt-action carbine derived from the U.S. Army's M1899 Krag cavalry carbine and chambered in the rimmed .30-40 Krag cartridge. Beginning in 1906, standard Model 1899 carbines were altered for service with the Philippine Constabulary by turning down the muzzle to accept a knife bayonet, fitting the Krag rifle's front barrel band with bayonet lug, lengthening the fore-end with a shortened M1898 rifle stock, and adding an upper handguard and sling swivels. This gave the compact carbine a rifle-like bayonet capability while retaining the Krag's distinctive side-loading horizontal box magazine that could be topped off with the bolt closed. Roughly 5,000 were altered at the Manila Ordnance Facility, with additional 'school gun' conversions produced at Springfield Armory and Rock Island Arsenal.

Specifications

Weight (empty)3650 g (128.8 oz)
Overall Length1048 mm (41.26")
Barrel Length560 mm (22.05")
Action TypeBolt Action
Firing MechanismHammer Fired
Trigger TypeSingle Stage
Magazine Capacity5 rounds
Magazine TypeInternal
Muzzle Velocity580 m/s (1903 fps)
Muzzle Energy2400 J (1770 ft·lbf)
Effective Range550 m (601 yd)
Maximum Range1600 m (1750 yd)
Barrel RiflingRight Hand
Rifling Twist254 mm (10.00")
Number of Grooves4
Frame MaterialSteel
Barrel MaterialSteel
Stock MaterialWalnut
FinishBlued

Calibers

Features

Base model

Krag-Jorgensen-Carbine-Model-1899

Service history

Operators

Conflicts

Production

Estimated total produced: 8,351 · Production years: 1906-1916

About 4,980-5,000 carbines altered at the Manila Ordnance Facility for the Philippine Constabulary, plus roughly 3,371 additional 'school gun' conversions produced at Springfield Armory and Rock Island Arsenal.

Origin

Country of origin: United States

Designer: Ole Herman Johannes Krag, Erik Jorgensen

Discontinued: 1916

Notes

The official designation was 'U.S. Magazine Carbine, Caliber .30, Model 1899, Altered for Knife Bayonet and Gun Sling.' Manila-made examples frequently differ in sights and handguards from those altered at Springfield Armory and Rock Island Arsenal, and are prized as scarce collector variants.

Background

The Philippine Constabulary needed a compact yet bayonet-capable arm for jungle and counter-insurgency service during the pacification of the islands. Rather than issue full-length rifles, ordnance officers adapted surplus M1899 cavalry carbines, marrying the handy carbine with the rifle's bayonet, sling and handguard to create a distinctly Philippine hybrid Krag.