The Danes became the first operator of the Krag-Jorgensen after the adoption of the Model 1889 on July 3rd, 1889. The Americans followed the Norwegians as production of American Krags began in 1894 and spanned into 1904.
In widespread circulation by the time of World War 1 (1914-1918), Krag-Jorgensen types managed an appearance in the war. Despite the rifle being in the US inventory (and arriving with forces in Europe), the weapon was not utilized in a front-line capacity during the conflict. In fact, the Krag-Jorgensen saw a short-service life in the American Army as they were quickly superseded by the indigenous bolt-action development becoming the excellent Springfield M1903 rifle. The major reasoning behind the abrupt move was in recent US experience during the Spanish-American War (1898) which saw Spanish charger-loaded Mausers besting the slower reloading American Krag-Jorgensens. Interestingly, the Springfield Armory, engineers of the Mauser-based M1903, were also charged with the manufacture of the special Krag-Jorgensen rifle and the required .30-40 Krag cartridges. It is noteworthy that much financing was allotted to retool American facilities for local license production of Krag-Jorgensen rifles and subsequent manufacture of the rifle in the thousands - all this undone by the arrival of the M1903.
Despite its 1800s origin, the Krag-Jorgensen was available in large numbers and persevered throughout the interwar years leading up to World War 2 (specialized scoped sniper forms were en vogue by this time, perfected throughout the 1920s and 1930s). As such, they were able to see use in the conflict against the Axis powers for a time - Norway employed the aging rifle line against the Germans in heated battles, the compact carbines proving of particularly value. The Krag-Jorgensen was still the standard-issue rifle in Norwegian Army service and these were supplemented by Madsen Model 1909 and Colt-Browning Model 1909 machine guns at the platoon level. When Norway was overtaken by the invading Germans, few in-service Krag-Jorgensens survived the transition to Britain when the Norwegian government fled. The Germans, requiring a quick solution for its security and military personnel in Norway, ordered the rifle back into production. However, these rifles were of generally rough/poor quality and much care was taken by the enslaved Norwegians to produce a vastly inferior end-product for their German overseers. The German military eventually requested over 13,000 rifles to which Norwegian industry delivered on less than 4,000 before war's end (1945).
During the German invasion of Denmark, Danish Krags were put to equally good use against the Germans though the battle of Denmark was lost to the invaders in April of 1940.
American Krags went on to see combat service beyond their previous mention in the Spanish-American War - being utilized in the Philippine-American War (1899), the Boxer Rebellion (1901) and against the Native American tribes in the "taming" of the West. Several hundred were also known to be shipped to Boer elements of southern Africa. The "Boer Wars" spanned 1880 to 1881 and again from 1899 to 1902 pitting British forces against Dutch settlers.
American rifles ran the gamut of useful types, the base M1892 infantry rifle, the M1892 carbine form, the M1896 rifle, the M1896 cadet model, the M1896 carbine, the M1898 rifle, the M1898 carbine, the M1899 carbine, and the M1899 constabulary carbine. Some were experimentally fitted with basic scopes and tested in the long range sniper role. Others had their feeds addressed by way of experimental stripper clip attachments.
After World War 2, Krag-Jorgensen rifles fell to disuse, making them extremely rare collectibles today (2012) - and thus highly prized. The Krag-Jorgensen remains a classic rifle of its period.
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