The Krag in the Great War?

[Trailrider]

In "Hatcher's Book of the Garand" he presents the story of the Marine on Guadalcanal, after the Army got there, who positioned himself hot on the heels of a doggie point man on a patrol, the latter armed with an M-1.  Asked why, the Marine supposedly said, 'You'll probably get it with the first burst. When you do, I'll drop this Springfield and grab your M-1 rifle."  Probably appocraphal. In point of fact, many Old Breed Marines preferred the '03, especially for close-order drill, and accuracy, until it was proven to them that the M-1 could put out a lot of firepower, and, properly tuned, could equal or exceed the Springfield in accuracy.

As to using the Krag in WWI, I would think the logistical problem posed by the .30-40 vs. .30-06 used in both the '03 and the M1917 Enfield would have mitigated against the Krag except in emergencies.

[pony express]

Interesting equipment mix in the photo Grenadier posted. Krags, and Span Am era round canteens, but no double row Mills Belts. I guess they just filled up the pockets on those belts with loose rounds.

[Coal Creek Griff]

I have a photo of a Krag being used during WW2.  (I'm going to be banned from posting one of these days...)

CC Griff

[Silver Creek Slim]

I have a photo of a Krag being used during WW2.  (I'm going to be banned from posting one of these days...)

CC Griff

German prison guards were issued Krags. 

Slim

[Grenadier]

German prison guards were issued Krags. 

Slim

It's certainly not out of the realm of reality. My cousin sporterized (spits) a nice Nutzee proofed Norwegian Krag, Plus, the Germans also captured thousands from the Danes and even converted some to 7.92. So, Schultz is largely historically correct with his weaponry as this is where those 3rd line guns were issued.

[Jake C]

It's certainly not out of the realm of reality. My cousin sporterized (spits) a nice Nutzee proofed Norwegian Krag, Plus, the Germans also captured thousands from the Danes and even converted some to 7.92. So, Schultz is largely historically correct with his weaponry as this is where those 3rd line guns were issued.

I recall reading somewhere that the Germans ordered around 10,000 or so Krags from a factory in Norway during the occupation, but never received more than 4,000 of them. Can't recall where I read that from though.

[Bat 2919]

German prison guards were issued Krags.  Roll Eyes

Slim



 

Well, Germany may have issued some captured Krag's, but I'll bet they never issued Krag's with American style bayonet lugs, just saying.

[Silver Creek Slim]

German prison guards were issued Krags.  Roll Eyes

Slim



 

Well, Germany may have issued some captured Krag's, but I'll bet they never issued Krag's with American style bayonet lugs, just saying.

You could win a lot of marks on that bet.   

Slim

[Charles Isaac]

    Germans with Krags in WWII? Impossible!



       

[Charles Isaac]

     I held a Norweigen K98ified German pattern occupation Krag in my hands back in the early 70's after it had been freshly sporterized-or butchered as most Military types would say. It was machined almost as roughly as a very late war Mauser or last ditch Arisaka but seemed quite serviceable. I used to beg the father/son bubba team not to chop those cool old guns and they seemed to love to torture me with thier shenanigans. Guess they thought I was pretty wierd liking all that extra wood and metal out front there on the barrel!



   

[Charles Isaac]

   

     And here's what the Nazi spec'd Krag looked like. This one only pulled $800.

[Grenadier]

You could win a lot of marks on that bet.   

Slim

I wouldn't hedge all my bets on that statement. I have a good friend who owns a WW1 German bayonet for his Gew 88 that has a 1855 US pattern bayonet blade. Its easy to see the US stamp right on the ricasso of the blade. I have seen and handled many oddities used by both the Imperial German Army and the Third Reich. I learned along time ago to never say never when it comes to German militaria.

[pony express]

I wouldn't hedge all my bets on that statement. I have a good friend who owns a WW1 German bayonet for his Gew 88 that has a 1855 US pattern bayonet blade. Its easy to see the US stamp right on the ricasso of the blade. I have seen and handled many oddities used by both the Imperial German Army and the Third Reich. I learned along time ago to never say never when it comes to German militaria.

My guess would be it was supplied to the French during the Franco-Prussian war, captured, and then modified during WW1. Maybe it was first modified to fit one of the assortment of rifles we sold the French.

[Grenadier]

My guess would be it was supplied to the French during the Franco-Prussian war, captured, and then modified during WW1. Maybe it was first modified to fit one of the assortment of rifles we sold the French.

It's most certainly where it came from in my best guess. There was also a couple bayonets in the same stash made from British pattern 53 bayonets and other former socket bayonets.

[Coffinmaker]

It would seem, since none of were there ..... And none of those the were there are here ..... And nobody considered it important enough to write down,  and there is no concrete evidence of ....... anything ...... we are left with ...... WAG (Military acronym for Wild Ass Guess).  That would mean, anybody's WAG would be just a valid as anyone else's WAG as we have no incontrovertible ...... facts.  We don't even have "Alternative Facts" (quote the current admin).

Coffinmaker

[38OVI]

Bay State Militaria has a picture for sale of WW I Soldiers with Krags and Krag Cartridge boxes. but no info as to where the picture was taken.  Also, somewhere around here I have a picture of soldiers doing bayonet drill at Camp Sherman, Ohio with Krags.
www.baystatemilitaria,com   WWI  Photographs  PG2236

[Coal Creek Griff]

Is this it?

http://baystatemilitaria.com/WWI/DSCN8886r.JPG  

[Drydock]

Is this it?

http://baystatemilitaria.com/WWI/DSCN8886r.JPG  

Those are Mosin Nagants!   (The Army bought up the remainder of the Russian Contract with Remington and New England Westinghouse after the Bolsehvicks defaulted.  They were given the designation US Rifle Model of 1916, and used for training, as well as issued for use in Archangelesk and Vladivostok.)

[Coal Creek Griff]

I wondered about that, which is why I phrased it as a question.   Scroll down on this page and you'll see them identified as Krags:

http://baystatemilitaria.com/WWI/WWIphotos.htm 

CC Griff

[38OVI]

Sorry, I should have looked closer. I have a 1916 Westinghouse Moisin.