Krag Collectors Association Forum

Here are reports, there are probably more, couldn't find 1892 reports. Maybe later. This is a test for 1891. If it works I'll post more.
1891
https://books.google.com/books?id=knwsAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=editions:2euekVBgZCgC&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiFiM6Qo-_aAhXpx4MKHYXPA304ChDoAQg4MAM#v=onepage&q&f=false

Looks like it will work. Here is more:
1893
https://books.google.com/books?id=74gdAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA731&dq=annual+report+of+the+chief+of+ordnance+1893&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiNie2voe_aAhXk34MKHc19DsIQ6AEIPTAE#v=onepage&q=annual%20report%20of%20the%20chief%20of%20ordnance%201893&f=false
1894
https://books.google.com/books?id=mMavHP5u8KoC&pg=PA57&dq=1894+springfield+armory+documents&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjt94HA0OraAhXM3YMKHRyzAlg4ChDoAQhPMAg#v=onepage&q=1894%20springfield%20armory%20documents&f=false
1895
https://books.google.com/books?id=YNigAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=editions:qNjo3kHTw8IC&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjo7bWTzO3aAhXH34MKHXM7CTwQ6AEIVzAI#v=onepage&q&f=false
1896
https://books.google.com/books?id=LNmgAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=editions:qNjo3kHTw8IC&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjJo92F_O7aAhUl7IMKHa5QATA4ChDoAQgsMAE#v=onepage&q&f=false
1897
https://books.google.com/books?id=ppkdAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA3&dq=annual+report+of+the+chief+of+ordnance+1897&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiAwqanz-3aAhXG64MKHf_hCGMQ6AEILTAB#v=onepage&q=annual%20report%20of%20the%20chief%20of%20ordnance%201897&f=false
1898
https://books.google.com/books?id=fzKiAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=editions:qNjo3kHTw8IC&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwil-rCS_O7aAhXm5YMKHU5OAWMQ6AEISzAG#v=onepage&q&f=false
More to come later. Ned, let me know if this is working out. thanks

Here is the rest of what I found for now. Hopefully, it will satisfy most for a while.
1899
https://books.google.com/books?id=KNINHIjB4PIC&pg=PA541&dq=annual+report+of+the+chief+of+ordnance+1899&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwju_5yfnu_aAhUI6YMKHSy8DW8Q6AEITjAH#v=onepage&q=annual%20report%20of%20the%20chief%20of%20ordnance%201899&f=false
1900
https://books.google.com/books?id=wNmgAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=editions:qNjo3kHTw8IC&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjf3eTQgO_aAhVL04MKHbMVAFcQ6AEIUTAH#v=onepage&q&f=false
1901
https://books.google.com/books?id=6zM-AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA790&dq=chief+of+ordnance+report+1896&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiz1bmH-u7aAhUm94MKHTTdD-sQ6AEIPDAE#v=onepage&q=chief%20of%20ordnance%20report%201896&f=false
1902
https://books.google.com/books?id=FpAdAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA243&dq=annual+report+of+the+chief+of+ordnance+1902&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiDvM_AnO_aAhWJ6YMKHYzZCbAQ6AEIPTAE#v=onepage&q=annual%20report%20of%20the%20chief%20of%20ordnance%201902&f=false
1903
https://books.google.com/books?id=wAgSAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA170&dq=annual+report+of+the+chief+of+ordnance+1902&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiDvM_AnO_aAhWJ6YMKHYzZCbAQ6AEIJzAA#v=onepage&q=annual%20report%20of%20the%20chief%20of%20ordnance%201902&f=false

This has been the mother lode for me. I don't know how much time I'll be going thru these, it's back to work Monday. But I'm looking forward to posts as others decipher some of this stuff.

Knute1
KCA Forum Member



Here is a link to some more extensive information on this subject matter from the "Journal of the Military Service Institution of the United States" from 1899. It also has some good info why the Krag-Jorgensen design was originally thought to be superior to the Mauser design. The article of interest is titled "Notes On Small-Arms and Ammunition" starting on page 28. I'm sure others will be able to pluck out gems from this writing better than myself. The whole article is interesting and is post Spanish-American War so it has insight on actual battle use.

https://books.google.com/books?id=37BMAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA51&dq=magazine+gun+board+rep
ort+1892&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjkvuSQkZjbAhVGbK0KHcPzDsM4FBDoAQhAMAU#v=onepage&q
=magazine%20gun%20board%20report%201892&f=false

More from Knute1
1904
https://books.google.com/books?id=azY-AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA63&dq=chief+of+ordnance+repo#v=onepage&q&f=false

Finally, the search is over. Not sure why it was so difficult to find, had to use different word searches. But here is the link to the 1892 Chief of Ordnance Report. It has the Board On Magazine Arms report in Appendix 9 endorsing the Krag-Jorgensen design. It has the letters from 1890 leading up to this endorsement including trials. Followed more by lengthy reports of all 53 rifles tested including summaries after all that.

https://books.google.com/books?id=uS4-AQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=editions:jAJYZjWHjT4C&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjH2Zq2gabbAhVGWq0KHc6bBNc4ChDoAQhcMAk#v=onepage&q&f=false

In early 1900 there was a sub-committee formed from the House Committee On Appropriations to address urgent deficiencies. General A.R. Buffington, Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance, addressed the committee with the need for $200,000 more. It is interesting to note that he wanted a total of 500,000 Krags. He almost made it before the 1903 Springfield came into play.

Another interesting note: When asked by the Committee Chairman what the rifle was called he replied "The Krag-Jorgensen; or, in our nomenclature, the United States Rifle, caliber .30." To me this implies that Buffington surmised that the layman, or civilian, referred to this rifle as the Krag-Jorgensen and the military establishment called it otherwise.

An interesting read in regard to supply of seasoned stock wood being used up, due to demands of SAW and actions in Philippines. (This explains the eventual recourse to seasoned Italian blanks in order to be able to manufacture rifles in quantities needed).

The private purchase of woven cartridge belts at $1.75 from the Mass. Manufacturer, (Mills), who held the 'patent'/monopoly is also of interest.

Here is a Mill's ad from the Army and Navy Journal in 1901.



As a Captain in the Army, Anson Mills saw the drawbacks of the leather cartridge belt and designed a woven type. He received a patent for the woven belt in 1880 and also for the loom which it was manufactured on. Thomas Orndorff was the 2nd manufacturer of the belt under Mills direction and was also a brother in law to Mills. Mills retired as a Brigadier General. His business took off during the Spanish American War.

A commission was established for the investigation of conduct of the War with Spain. Here is some questioning of Brigadier General Daniel Flagler of the Army Ordnance Department as it relates to the U. S. Magazine Rifle, .30 Caliber. He was of the "Old Guard" and has some interesting answers for the commission.