Krag–Petersson
The Krag–Petersson was the first repeating rifle adopted by the armed forces of Norway and was one of the first repeating rifles to be adopted as standard issue by a military force, being preceded by the Swiss Vetterli adopted in 1867. Developed by Ole Herman Johannes Krag, the action of the Krag–Petersson was uniquely actuated by an oversized hammer. Another distinguishing feature was that the cartridge rising from the magazine was not seated automatically, but had to be pushed into the breech of the rifle.
| Krag–Petersson | |
|---|---|
The Krag–Petersson rifle | |
| Type | Falling-block repeating rifle |
| Place of origin | Norway |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1876 to 1900 |
| Production history | |
| Designer | O.H.J. Krag and A. Petersson |
| Designed | 1872 |
| No. built | 17 prototypes and preproduction models 30 rifles for Norwegian trials 975 production rifles 115 rifles for Danish trials |
| Variants | prototypes, production rifles |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | Unknown |
| Length | Unknown |
| Barrel length | 951 mm (37.4 in) |
| Cartridge | 12.17 × 44 mm rimfire |
| Action | Falling block |
| Rate of fire | 19 shots a minute when used as a single loader 11 shots in 25 seconds when used with magazine |
| Muzzle velocity | 381 m/s (1,250 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 900 m (3,000 ft) |
| Feed system | 10-round tubular magazine |
| Sights | V-notch and front post |
Testing by the Norwegian military revealed the Krag–Petersson was a robust, accurate and quick-firing weapon, and the Royal Norwegian Navy adopted the rifle in 1876. The rifle was extensively tested by other nations, but none adopted it. After being phased out around 1900, the remaining rifles were sold to civilians and often were extensively rebuilt. Today, it is so difficult to find one in original condition that the Krag–Petersson has been described as "the rifle everybody has heard about, but hardly anybody has ever seen". It was the first rifle designed by Ole H. J. Krag to be adopted by an armed force.