Columbian Exposition - 1892 instructions

U.S. Military Krags
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butlersrangers
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Columbian Exposition - 1892 instructions

Post by butlersrangers »

The other day I was online, reading through the "Chief of Ordnance Annual Report, for fiscal year ending in June 1893".
I noticed these 1892 instructions for the Ordnance Department display at Chicago's Columbian Exposition, opening in the spring of 1893.
(I have posted some of this material on the KCA in past years).

Although Springfield Armory was in the process of 'tooling-up' to manufacture the model 1892 Krag-Jorgensen, the display at Chicago would reflect mainly on the fabrication of parts for the 'Trapdoor' Springfield rifle.
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Last edited by butlersrangers on Fri Sep 09, 2022 5:37 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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butlersrangers
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Re: Columbian Exposition - 1892 instructions

Post by butlersrangers »

More period descriptions and photos of the Ordnance Department's 1893 display.

A model 1889 Danish Krag, a prototype Norwegian Krag, and at least one .30 caliber Springfield 'trapdoor' rifle were part of the Ordnance Department's display of arms.
(The Norwegian Krag served as a 'stand-in' for how the new U.S. service arm would basically appear, since a Springfield Armory made Krag was not available).

In the NW-corner of the U.S. Government Building, the 'U.S. Patent Office' had an unusual Krag "patent model", likely in 7mm and featuring dual bolt-lugs, on display.

(This epic event just missed clearly showcasing the newly adopted U.S. Model 1892 Krag-Jorgensen Magazine Rifle, to over 20 million fair-goers)!
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butlersrangers
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Re: Columbian Exposition - 1892 instructions

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In 1901, two huge volumes were printed by the U.S. Government Printing Office, "Report of the Committee on Awards of the World's Columbian Commission" - Special Reports.

Captain Andrew H. Russell, U.S. Army, reported on the Ordnance Department display, that he had been instrumental in putting together for the 1893 World's Fair.

Attached are the pages describing the two Krag-Jorgensen rifles that were included in the Ordnance Department exhibits.
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butlersrangers
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Re: Columbian Exposition - 1892 instructions

Post by butlersrangers »

(My posts on this thread repeat some material and suspicions that I posted on the KCA before. I think the material gives a significant picture of U.S. Krag development and status in 1892 and early 1893).

In 1893, a third Krag- Jorgensen rifle, was on display in the Government Building at the Columbian Exposition.
It was not in the War Department/Ordnance Department displays.
It was a 'Patent Model' utilized by the U.S. Patent Office, in a display showing 'the evolution of firearms'.

This is likely Krag-Jorgensen rifle, serial number 94, that now resides in the Smithsonian Institution's archive collection, away from public view.
The Smithsonian Krag rifle was built at Kongsburg Arms Factory (Norway) for a 7mm cartridge and has dual forward bolt-lugs and many other novel features.
This unusual Krag rifle appears to match the drawings submitted by the inventors with their 1893 U.S. Patent Application.
(The U.S. Patent Office paperwork verifies a rifle was submitted with the Patent Application).
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