What to look at in a Krag-Jørgensen
- Thread starter Fremen
- Start date
I have 2 one in 6.5-55 the other in 30-40 Krag, great rifles. The only odd thing is the magazine is side loading, throw the shells in close and shoot. Just look for overall condition, if in doubt have a gunsmith check it out. Should handle new factory ammo without a problem.
MauserMike
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
nice catch, I'd like one in 6.5. The bolt is sooooooooo smooth on these!
A lot of them got here by way of the Norwegian sealing fleet. By the time the rifles get borrowed and written off, they have been to the Ice, to the Front, they have shot hundreds of swiles, they have been carried while coppying from pan to pan, they have been dunked in the Pond, left out on deck, rusted solid, oiled liberally, knocked back into operation, soaked in salt-water, painted in blood....and then it was all done again. And again.
There has been no general release of Norwegian Krags for many, many years. The Germans disposed of a great number; these disappeared into the chaos of War Two. A few might be the survivors of these rifles, come over to this side of the pond in the early 1950s, but there were never many.
Up into the 1980s the Norwegian Government retained a supply of these rifles, some of which were sold annually for the fitting-out of the sealing-fleet operating in Newfoundland waters. These ships had Norwegian sailing-crews but commonly picked up their sealing-crews ("Gunners and dogs, over the side!") in Newfoundland and a lot of the rifles, along with 4-gallon buckets full of brown boxes of 50 rounds apiece of 6.5x55 ammo (the old 156-grain load in a SP version, made by Norma at their Oslo plant and prominently marked "Spesielt Fabrikert for Selfangst'), tended to disappear after the hunt was over. The ships would pick up fresh rifles the following year.
But most of the Norski Krags in this country are well-worn at the very least..... and there seem to be no spare barrels, much less woodwork.
There is a fellow in Poland making the wood for these, but it is exPENsive.
Small parts you might get from a Norwegian gun-collectors' site.
For trying to get decent accuracy from one of these, remember that most have shoddy barrels at best. Likely you will get your best results with oversized cast bullets with gas-checks or, if the bore is pitted, with an open-base copper-jacketed 156- or 160-grain bullet. Forget the boat-tails entirely.
Hope this helps.
.
There has been no general release of Norwegian Krags for many, many years. The Germans disposed of a great number; these disappeared into the chaos of War Two. A few might be the survivors of these rifles, come over to this side of the pond in the early 1950s, but there were never many.
Up into the 1980s the Norwegian Government retained a supply of these rifles, some of which were sold annually for the fitting-out of the sealing-fleet operating in Newfoundland waters. These ships had Norwegian sailing-crews but commonly picked up their sealing-crews ("Gunners and dogs, over the side!") in Newfoundland and a lot of the rifles, along with 4-gallon buckets full of brown boxes of 50 rounds apiece of 6.5x55 ammo (the old 156-grain load in a SP version, made by Norma at their Oslo plant and prominently marked "Spesielt Fabrikert for Selfangst'), tended to disappear after the hunt was over. The ships would pick up fresh rifles the following year.
But most of the Norski Krags in this country are well-worn at the very least..... and there seem to be no spare barrels, much less woodwork.
There is a fellow in Poland making the wood for these, but it is exPENsive.
Small parts you might get from a Norwegian gun-collectors' site.
For trying to get decent accuracy from one of these, remember that most have shoddy barrels at best. Likely you will get your best results with oversized cast bullets with gas-checks or, if the bore is pitted, with an open-base copper-jacketed 156- or 160-grain bullet. Forget the boat-tails entirely.
Hope this helps.
.
No doubt, they are cool.
x?
The few available for me to look at had very bad bores. Best I've seen belonged to an uncle, and it was not available... He's taken moose with it near Porcupine ON since before I was born.
I've only seen pictures of full wood 6.5x55, and saw a 30-40 in full wood at a show in Florida. Otherwise, no wood
They are silky bolts, and if yours' has a bore, there's no reason to believe it won't do the venerable 6.5x55 proud. Neat rifle in an awe inspiring chambering,
x?
The few available for me to look at had very bad bores. Best I've seen belonged to an uncle, and it was not available... He's taken moose with it near Porcupine ON since before I was born.
I've only seen pictures of full wood 6.5x55, and saw a 30-40 in full wood at a show in Florida. Otherwise, no wood
They are silky bolts, and if yours' has a bore, there's no reason to believe it won't do the venerable 6.5x55 proud. Neat rifle in an awe inspiring chambering,
I have a sporterized M1912 carbine with original, unaltered sights that has a slightly frosted but otherwise good condition bore. The bolt is incorrect (ball handle instead of flat) and is pitted, otherwise, she's all matching. Very accurate too, I use it for a truck gun during deer hunting season.
Near impossible to find original wood...most have been cut down. Numrich Gun Parts has some parts. I know Smellie disagrees with me, but there is a lot of discussion on forums about whether or not the Norske Krag can handle the 6.5x55 Swede cartridge. I personally think the N.Krag is stronger than the Springfield Krag because the bolt acts as a second lug, but not everyone agree. Krag Wiki article says:
"The American Krag-Jørgensen also has only a single locking lug, whereas the Norwegian and Danish versions effectively had two lugs.
Nonetheless, older rifles may benefit from milder loads. Modern European 6.5x55 rounds are sometimes loaded to a CIP maximum of 55000 PSI, but 6.5x55 rounds marked "safe for the Krag" are loaded to a milder 40600 PSI. SAAMI specifications call for maximum average pressure of 46000 PSI, sufficient for 2,380 ft/s (730 m/s) with a 160 grain bullet"
So give some thought to loading your own 'light loads' on these old soldiers.
I personally now have two, a M1895 Cavalry Carbine and a M1897 Engineers Carbine, both with sporterized wood.
"The American Krag-Jørgensen also has only a single locking lug, whereas the Norwegian and Danish versions effectively had two lugs.
Nonetheless, older rifles may benefit from milder loads. Modern European 6.5x55 rounds are sometimes loaded to a CIP maximum of 55000 PSI, but 6.5x55 rounds marked "safe for the Krag" are loaded to a milder 40600 PSI. SAAMI specifications call for maximum average pressure of 46000 PSI, sufficient for 2,380 ft/s (730 m/s) with a 160 grain bullet"
So give some thought to loading your own 'light loads' on these old soldiers.
I personally now have two, a M1895 Cavalry Carbine and a M1897 Engineers Carbine, both with sporterized wood.
NB.nagantsniper
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- northern nb
theres a gent in NORWAY who makes stocks and makes or has original bits and pieces for norwegian krags .
stocks are expensive but great. i bought 1 for my m-12 ( 1912 ) krag.
also made a bastard ( stomperud) krag from an altered m94 and a stock from same guy.
i repeat as others say---------most have well worn bores .
stocks are expensive but great. i bought 1 for my m-12 ( 1912 ) krag.
also made a bastard ( stomperud) krag from an altered m94 and a stock from same guy.
i repeat as others say---------most have well worn bores .
Machman, I don't disagree with you at all.
I think we both understand that AS ADOPTED, the MILITARY rounds were identical and interchangeable.
That said, the Military cannot be held responsible for what SOMEONE ELSE does to their cartridge, years and years after the Military discards it.
Similarly, the .30-'06 originally was loaded to 48,000. There are modern loads which run over 60,000, some to 65,000. Either way, you cannot hold the original makers responsible if a rifle fails, using ammo which is 30% over pressure.
Same tale the Krag.
Be careful, all. Know what you are shooting..... and what you are shooting it IN.
Hope this helps.
.
I think we both understand that AS ADOPTED, the MILITARY rounds were identical and interchangeable.
That said, the Military cannot be held responsible for what SOMEONE ELSE does to their cartridge, years and years after the Military discards it.
Similarly, the .30-'06 originally was loaded to 48,000. There are modern loads which run over 60,000, some to 65,000. Either way, you cannot hold the original makers responsible if a rifle fails, using ammo which is 30% over pressure.
Same tale the Krag.
Be careful, all. Know what you are shooting..... and what you are shooting it IN.
Hope this helps.
.
stickhunter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Victoria, B.C.
I remember seeing a film way back when about a Mountie, played by Lee Marvin, chasing Charles Bronson through the wilderness. Lee Marvin was carrying a Krag (I believe a 30-40), and ever since then, I've been wanting one... unfortunately, not even Mr. Marvin could get his hands on one with uncut wood:
Dark Alley Dan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Darkest Edmonton
I remember seeing a film way back when about a Mountie, played by Lee Marvin, chasing Charles Bronson through the wilderness. Lee Marvin was carrying a Krag (I believe a 30-40), and ever since then, I've been wanting one... unfortunately, not even Mr. Marvin could get his hands on one with uncut wood:
Death Hunt - truly awful, but cool guns throughout. Based VERY loosely on the Albert Johnson pursuit.
We had a Norski Krag once - the barrel was so shot out the old girl keyholed at 20 yards. I didn't think that was possible. Traded it on a Brazilain Mauser in 7x57 - full wood, magnificent machining - and haven't looked back.
Had my hands on a US Krag in Illinois this past summer. What a smooth, smooth thing that was.
krag rifle
Hello friend. Me thinks the main difference between these two Krag models is how the sling attaches. There may be other, but I don't know. My M1897 has been sported in the past., but still has original barrel. Like some other folks here, I would love to find new stock and bits and pieces to turn this rifle around. These are beautiful rifles. Sweet to shoot, and a joy to own. Cheers, Steve in Calgary.
Hello friend. Me thinks the main difference between these two Krag models is how the sling attaches. There may be other, but I don't know. My M1897 has been sported in the past., but still has original barrel. Like some other folks here, I would love to find new stock and bits and pieces to turn this rifle around. These are beautiful rifles. Sweet to shoot, and a joy to own. Cheers, Steve in Calgary.
@FREMEN:
Kindly post photos.
As far as I know, the Krag-Jorgenson rifle was not built in 6.5x54MS: 6.5x55, 8x58R and .30-40USG only.
You have either an anomaly, a one-off, a conversion, a problem or a different rifle.
Photos will help.
.
Kindly post photos.
As far as I know, the Krag-Jorgenson rifle was not built in 6.5x54MS: 6.5x55, 8x58R and .30-40USG only.
You have either an anomaly, a one-off, a conversion, a problem or a different rifle.
Photos will help.
.
