The Smithsonian Krag
Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2021 8:49 am
The Smithsonian Institution has a most unusual Krag-Jorgensen rifle, #94, that is chambered for a (undetermined) 'rimless' 7mm cartridge. This rifle has dual locking-lugs on the forward part of the bolt.
It also has a bolt dust-cover and many other peculiar features, that appear in drawings submitted, by the inventors, with a U.S. Patent application in 1892. The patent was approved in early 1893.
It has been a bit of a mystery to me, how this very pristine "patent model or prototype" rifle was acquired and belongs to the Smithsonian?
On the surface, it would have seemed more plausible if it was at Springfield Armory with other test and trial rifles.
However, Norwegian Author, Karl Egil Hanevik identifies this rifle, serial #94, as being a model submitted to the U.S. Patent Office, with a patent application in 1892.
Recently, I spent some time looking at materials and aspects of the "1893 - World's Columbian Exposition", that took place in Chicago, Illinois. It appears that two Krag-Jorgensen rifles, a Danish model and a Norwegian or 'patent' model were displayed. I suspect Krag-Jorgensen rifle, serial number 94, may have been the Norwegian or 1893 patent model, that was at the Chicago Exposition.
The Chicago event had a massive presentation of exhibits by a multitude of U.S. Government Departments.
Participation in the Exposition included many components of the "U.S. War Department".
The Smithsonian, U.S. Mint, Treasury, Post Office, Revenue & Life Saving Service, Fish Commission and innumerable other U.S. Departments also had representative displays .
A lot of the displays were housed in the Columbian Exposition's "U.S. Government Building". The Smithsonian had the responsibility of coordinating the various Departments and their presentations at this venue.
There naturally had to be a lot of overlap between Government Departments and the 'subject matter' of their displays.
A subject like "War" would transcend the War Department, Anthropology, History, Manufacturing, and Art.
Not all the guns used in the Government Building Displays were the property of the War Department.
I do not know the history of ownership for Krag-Jorgensen rifle #94 or when it came into the possession of The Smithsonian Institute?
(This rifle is mentioned and pictured in Franklin Mallory's book, "The Krag Rifle Story", 2nd edition, pages 48-50. This chapter was written by Norwegian firearms authority, Karl Egil Hanevik, who identified the Krag-Jorgensen rifle, serial #94, as being submitted with the U.S. Patent Application, #492212, that was granted February 21, 1893).
I think, it is possible that the Smithsonian's unique Krag-Jorgensen rifle, (1892 dated and 1893 patented), could have been part of a 'Warfare-History-Anthropology' display, that contrasted ancient vs. modern firearms.
An excerpt from an 1893 guide to the U.S. Government Building and its displays makes mention of an 1893 patented "Crag-Jorgensen" (sic).
Of course, stronger evidence would be needed to establish the Smithsonian's novel Krag-Jorgensen was displayed at the 1893 Columbian Exposition.
It also has a bolt dust-cover and many other peculiar features, that appear in drawings submitted, by the inventors, with a U.S. Patent application in 1892. The patent was approved in early 1893.
It has been a bit of a mystery to me, how this very pristine "patent model or prototype" rifle was acquired and belongs to the Smithsonian?
On the surface, it would have seemed more plausible if it was at Springfield Armory with other test and trial rifles.
However, Norwegian Author, Karl Egil Hanevik identifies this rifle, serial #94, as being a model submitted to the U.S. Patent Office, with a patent application in 1892.
Recently, I spent some time looking at materials and aspects of the "1893 - World's Columbian Exposition", that took place in Chicago, Illinois. It appears that two Krag-Jorgensen rifles, a Danish model and a Norwegian or 'patent' model were displayed. I suspect Krag-Jorgensen rifle, serial number 94, may have been the Norwegian or 1893 patent model, that was at the Chicago Exposition.
The Chicago event had a massive presentation of exhibits by a multitude of U.S. Government Departments.
Participation in the Exposition included many components of the "U.S. War Department".
The Smithsonian, U.S. Mint, Treasury, Post Office, Revenue & Life Saving Service, Fish Commission and innumerable other U.S. Departments also had representative displays .
A lot of the displays were housed in the Columbian Exposition's "U.S. Government Building". The Smithsonian had the responsibility of coordinating the various Departments and their presentations at this venue.
There naturally had to be a lot of overlap between Government Departments and the 'subject matter' of their displays.
A subject like "War" would transcend the War Department, Anthropology, History, Manufacturing, and Art.
Not all the guns used in the Government Building Displays were the property of the War Department.
I do not know the history of ownership for Krag-Jorgensen rifle #94 or when it came into the possession of The Smithsonian Institute?
(This rifle is mentioned and pictured in Franklin Mallory's book, "The Krag Rifle Story", 2nd edition, pages 48-50. This chapter was written by Norwegian firearms authority, Karl Egil Hanevik, who identified the Krag-Jorgensen rifle, serial #94, as being submitted with the U.S. Patent Application, #492212, that was granted February 21, 1893).
I think, it is possible that the Smithsonian's unique Krag-Jorgensen rifle, (1892 dated and 1893 patented), could have been part of a 'Warfare-History-Anthropology' display, that contrasted ancient vs. modern firearms.
An excerpt from an 1893 guide to the U.S. Government Building and its displays makes mention of an 1893 patented "Crag-Jorgensen" (sic).
Of course, stronger evidence would be needed to establish the Smithsonian's novel Krag-Jorgensen was displayed at the 1893 Columbian Exposition.