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In 1893 a Swedish-Norwegian commission set out to develop the perfect military round and came up with a 6.5mm caliber bullet and a rimless case that was 55mm long. The new cartridge has had many names throughout its history but today is known as the 6.5x55mm and remains a tried and true choice for hunters in North America, England, and Europe. In 1894, after that commission’s findings, Norway’s Army adopted the 6.5x55mm cartridge and the Model 1894 Krag-Jorgenson rifle, designed by Norwegians Ole Herman Johannes Krag and Erik Jorgensen, as its new military rifle. Krag rifles are a bolt action repeating rifle instantly recognisable by the “half-capsule” clam-shell type magazine mounted on the right side of the action. Somewhere around 33,000 Model 1894 rifles were made under contract with Steyr of Austria between 1896 and 1897 for the Norwegian Army and the Civilian Marksmanship Organisation.
Sometime prior to 1906 Westley Richards stocked and sighted this original Model 1894 Krag-Jorgensen barrel and action made by Steyr in 1897. A new stock was expertly shaped and inletted to accommodate the unusual action and it has a checkered pistol grip and forend and the original smooth steel trap butt. The barrel remains the original 27” but was turned down and tapered to a livelier weight and a pedestal mounted front sling eye was added. The rifle was sighted with Westley’s pattern sights including a ramp front sight with protector and an island rear sight base fitted with a standing Express sight regulated for 100 yards, two folding leaves regulated at 200 and 300 yards and a Tangent sight marked to 1000 yards. Each sight leaf is "platina-lined" as our catalogs from the early 1900’s referred to the platinum alloy wire inlay on the sight leaves. The barrel carries 6.5mm London proof marks and just under the rear sight the barrel is engraved ".256 Krag Jorgensen Cartridge", the commercial name for the 6.5x55 used in England through the 1930’s. Finally, the top of the barrel is named “Westley Richards & Co., London”.
Inside the stock the rifle is numbered 32107 which is no doubt a Westley Richards serial number. Sadly though, we do not have the ledger book containing this block of numbers, which would have just preceded the book we have starting in 1906. While we may never know the whole story on this most unusual Westley Richards rifle, it is a good reminder that there is always something new to learn from a company with such a long and interesting history.
Neil McVeigh on August 9, 2018 at 8:14 am
Certainly very unusual!Nice post L.D.,hopefully you will unearth some other gems for us aficionados.
Peter Buckley. on August 9, 2018 at 2:44 pm
Hi L.D.
The ‘Krag’ is not your normal looking bolt action rifle is it, certainly very different with its side opening magazine access, magazine cut off lever and flag safety, still a great looking rifle with what I believe to be a very smooth (buttery) action!
Not only did the Norwegian army adopt the ‘Krag’ the “U S” adopted it but in 30 calibre I believe manufactured by the ‘Springfield’ armoury, it was the predecessor to the
‘Springfield’ 1903.
Along with you I have never seen one by ‘Westley Richards’, but I’ve heard of them by other British gunmakers. I have at one time seen a speed loader for them.
Great post.
Best regards
Peter.
LD McCaa on August 9, 2018 at 3:24 pm
Yes Peter, that's correct, the U.S. also used the Krag Jorgensen design starting with the Springfield Model 1892 in .30-40 Krag. Teddy Roosevelt also famously hand picked the Springfield/Krag rifle for his rough riders.
Peter Buckley. on August 9, 2018 at 5:56 pm
Didn't Teddy and his officers carry the Winchester 1896 in
.30-40 Krag, all the other 'RoughRiders' had the Springfield/Krag in .30-40, Teddy it seems wouldn't go anywhere without his Winchester!
LD McCaa on August 11, 2018 at 4:03 pm
Yes Peter, I do believe TR carried a Winchester 1895 in .30-40 Krag...
Keith on August 11, 2018 at 3:06 pm
It is interesting that both a small number of Westley Richards military style Martini action rifles in .577/.450 (with the Francotte style action that allowed the whole action to be removed as a single assembly attached to the trigger guard)
And a small number of Steyr manufactured Norwegian style Krag and Jorgensen rifles in 6.5×55mm were obtained by the Afrikaans republics ahead of the second British South African war.
There is a tale about a British arms dealer stringing the Afrikaans Republics along with promises of big shipments that were never delivered
I may be putting two and two together here and coming up with 24,
As you mentioned, we know that Westley Richards and other British gun and rifle makers bought in Steyr manufactured Manlicher Schaunauer rifles to work their magic on
But I have a little suspicion that there may be some connection between this Beautiful Steyr made Krag and Jorgensen barreled action, and the cloak and dagger scheme to fail to deliver more than a few WR martinis and Steyr made Krags to the Afrikaans republics.
Getting back to the gun itself, The Norwegian Krags were the best of the Krags, there was no question of the poor metallurgy which Hatcher's Notebook discusses (the dates show that the metallurgy far from a wartime problem, it was an ongoing systemic problem). Indeed the American Krag was derived from a Norwegian development prototype.
It's wonderful to see a genuine Krag sporter, rather than a victim of Bubba's misplaced enthusiasms and household DIY tools :p
Thankyou for sharing
Per Holmseth on August 13, 2018 at 9:03 pm
Looks like something Frantz Rosenberg could have ordered for one of his rifles.
LD McCaa on August 13, 2018 at 9:50 pm
This would have indeed been a good companion to his 28g Fauneta.
Peter Buckley. on August 14, 2018 at 10:10 am
There is a connection with Frantz Rosenberg and a Krag in 6.5x55 however tenuous, it has a brass disc with the name inscribed F.Rosenberg.
LD McCaa on August 14, 2018 at 8:43 pm
That's interesting Peter...the stock oval happens to be missing on this rifle.