The Norwegian Krag

[TheFlynn01]

Hello everyone!

I love my U.S. Krag, and I find the entire krag family to be interesting. I heard that they were used all the way up to WW2 in Norway and I would love to learn more about them, if anyone has any info they could share?

I heard they are in the 6.5 Swedish round too, is that true?

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Couple little nuggets I read somewhere....

Many Norwegian Krags were captured by the Nazis who thought quite highly of the design and even experimented with rechambering a few into 7.92 Mauser. At one point, they floated a plan to resume production for their own forces too, but it never took off.

The captured guns were reissued to local defense and rear-echelon troops such as prison guards.

During filming of the show "Hogans Heros" the actor playing Sgt.Schultz, John Banner, refused to carry a Nazi-marked K98, so the producers substituted a Krag instead- which was coincidentally still historically accurate (although US production gun).

 

[Kleanbore]

6.5x55 SE--yes.

But not "too". The Norwegian Krag was a different rifle from the Danish and US Krags.

Safer, for one thing.

I had an 1898 US Krag wih a perfect bore that was very accurate.

I had a Norwegian Krag with a terrible bore that was very accurate.

I retired the former because of the single locking lug and the single heat treatment step.

I would love to have a really good Norwegian Krag--preferably the match version.

 

[TheFlynn01]

I agree it would be awesome to have a Norwegian Krag, but they dont seem to be for sale, so what makes the Norwegian so different from the us version? Just caliber and the locking lug?

It is interesting to see a krag in a show! Never watched it personally but thats kinda charming in a weird way.

 

[Jim Watson]

I heard they are in the 6.5 Swedish round too, is that true?

I wonder if it might not be more correct to say that the Swedish Mauser is in the 6.5 Norwegian Krag round.
6.5x55 is not out of the Mauser series of military cartridges like German 8mm, Spanish 7mm, Belgian 7.65mm, American .30.
Its head diameter is slightly greater as you will find in discussions by handloaders.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I agree it would be awesome to have a Norwegian Krag, but they dont seem to be for sale, so what makes the Norwegian so different from the us version? Just caliber and the locking lug?

It is interesting to see a krag in a show! Never watched it personally but thats kinda charming in a weird way.

Hollywood prop houses were full of US Krags during the '20s when the Govt. surplussed them out cheap. They stood in for many bolt-action rifles in war movies because the rifles they were meant to represent were still in usage. One of the most famous was "Gunga-Din" were they played the part of Lee-Metfords in the hands of the British troops.

 

[TheFlynn01]

I wonder if it might not be more correct to say that the Swedish Mauser is in the 6.5 Norwegian Krag round.
6.5x55 is not out of the Mauser series of military cartridges like German 8mm, Spanish 7mm, Belgian 7.65mm, American .30.
Its head diameter is slightly greater as you will find in discussions by handloaders.

that is interesting. I hear the 6.5 is a really good shooting round. People seem to give it a lot of praise for Swedish Mausers. I have heard the Norwegian Krag is just as a good shooter.

Hollywood prop houses were full of US Krags during the '20s when the Govt. surplussed them out cheap. They stood in for many bolt-action rifles in war movies because the rifles they were meant to represent were still in usage. One of the most famous was "Gunga-Din" were they played the part of Lee-Metfords in the hands of the British troops.

that is funny they subbed them out like for movies, but how common are the Norwegian 6.5 up for sale?

 

[Jim Watson]

I have seen more 8mm Danish, and that not many, than Norsk.

 

[TheFlynn01]

I have seen more 8mm Danish, and that not many, than Norsk.

Really? I haven't seen anything but U.S. Krags for sale. Did we make the most of the rifles?

 

[Jim Watson]

We made more than Norway or Denmark but we had a lot bigger army.
For sale, I am talking about single digits either way and that a long time ago.

I know of no source for 8x58R Danish ammo, don't get carried away by their handsome half stock, peep sighted sniper rifle like I almost did.

 

[DocRock]

Check out Krag's in use in Stangskytting in Norway, and the very cool speed loaders that they use:

 

[TheFlynn01]

Check out Krag's in use in Stangskytting in Norway, and the very cool speed loaders that they use:

That was awesome!! I wonder where I could get loaders like that!? I mean, not that I need them, but lets be honest here, that was really, really, cool.

 

[Outlaw75]

Check out Krag's in use in Stangskytting in Norway, and the very cool speed loaders that they use:

How is he triggering the rifle? His hand doesn't leave the bolt.

 

[DocRock]

How is he triggering the rifle? His hand doesn't leave the bolt.

Using tip of ring finger.

 

[TheFlynn01]

It is absolutely awesome. Know anyone who has a Norwegian krag for sale?

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Ive never seen a Nord or Dane Krag outside of books, let alone for sale......

 

[rabid wombat]

Absolutely dumb luck...my brother picked up an early 1900 (1912?) Norwegian 6.5 Krag a couple of weeks ago. Simply the right place, and the right time. If he had not bought it, I would have...

 

[TheFlynn01]

Absolutely dumb luck...my brother picked up an early 1900 (1912?) Norwegian 6.5 Krag a couple of weeks ago. Simply the right place, and the right time. If he had not bought it, I would have...

that is absolutely awesome!! Got any pictures?