In addition to the fighting in Cuba, the Krags also saw extensive use in the Philippine Islands, which the United States acquired after the Spanish-American War. Krags provided valuable service in numerous small-scale, but brutal and bloody, combat actions against various indigenous insurgent groups. Krag rifles were also in the hands of U.S. Army troops who helped relieve the siege of the International Legation in Peking, China, during the so-called Boxer Rebellion in 1900.

Beginning in military Fiscal Year 1897, Model 1892 Krag rifles began to be sent to Springfield Armory for conversion to Model 1896 specifications. These alterations included modifying the stock to fill in the slot required by the under-barrel cleaning rod, replacing the shorter handguard with the longer Model 1896 handguard, modifying the bolt to Model 1896 configuration and crowning the muzzle—along with a number of other changes. This conversion work continued through Fiscal Year 1902. Virtually all of the Model 1892 Krag rifles were eventually altered to 1896 specifications, which accounts for the rarity of unmodified specimens today.

Model 1898 Krag
While the Model 1896 Krag rectified some of the problems encountered with the original pattern Model 1892, further refinements were deemed necessary. These modifications culminated with the adoption of the “United States Magazine Rifle, Caliber .30, Model of 1898.” One of these changes was reversing the operation of the magazine cut-off lever to make it more functional. The most noticeable change found in the Model 1898 Krag was the configuration of the bolt recess, or “bolt handle seat,” which simplified manufacture of the receiver. The configuration of the stock in this area had to be modified to accommodate the change. There were relatively minor changes made to many of the other components, but some of the parts remained interchangeable with the earlier Krags. The receiver of the new model was marked “Model 1898” and serial numbers remained in sequence with the earlier models.

The nonadjustable Model 1896 rear sight continued to be used on the Model 1898s until the “Model 1898” rear sight, which was adjustable for windage, was adopted. An improved rear sight, designated the “Model 1901,” was subsequently developed for the Krag and installed on new production Model 1898 Krag rifles beginning in August 1901. This sight remained in use until superseded by the Model “1902” rear sight very late in production.

Model 1898 Krag Carbine
A carbine version of the new arm was adopted concurrently with the Model 1898 rifle. The Model 1898 Krag carbine was, for all intents and purposes, a Model 1896 carbine with a Model 1898 receiver. With the exception of the bolt recess, the stock was identical to the Model 1896 carbine’s stock. The barrel, handguard, sights, furniture and most of the other features were also the same as the Model 1896 carbine. Production of the Model 1898 carbine began on Aug. 15, 1898. As with the Model 1896, the Model 1898 Krag rifles and carbines had the same receivers, thus serial numbers are intermixed.

Model 1899 Krag Carbine
It was decided to modify the Krag carbine by increasing the length of the stock and handguard. The primary reason for introduction of the longer carbine stock was to better accommodate the Model 1898 rear sight. In addition, the “ring and bar” attachment was also eliminated. This component was seldom used—as cavalrymen routinely carried their carbines in leather saddle scabbards—which made the attachment more of a hindrance than a help. The new pattern carbine was adopted in August 1899 as the “U.S. Magazine Carbine, Caliber .30, Model of 1899.” Initially, most of the Model 1899 carbines were fitted with Model 1898 sights until superseded by the Model 1901. As with the Model 1898 rifles, late in production, the Model 1901 sight was replaced by the “Model 1902” sight on Model 1899 carbines. Virtually all of the Model 1898 carbines were eventually modified to Model 1899 configuration and fitted with the various updated sights.

Other Variants
In addition to the Krag rifles and carbines, there were limited numbers of other variants produced including cadet rifles and .22-cal. gallery practice rifles. Two or three prototype Model 1898 Krag “sniper rifles” fitted with Cataract telescopic sights were assembled for limited testing. Another interesting variant was a slightly modified version of the Model 1899 carbine (along with a few Model 1898 carbines) fitted with a cut-down Model 1898 rifle stock. Some arms of this pattern were intended for issue to the Philippine Constabulary, and others were fabricated for use by some military schools in the United States.

Despite its relative success as a combat arm during the Spanish-American War, the Philippine Insurrection and the Boxer Rebellion, the previously discussed inherent design deficiencies of the Krag resulted in its numbered days as the standard American military service arm. The Krag’s most serious shortcomings were its inability to be clip- or charger-loaded and the fact that its bolt-action was incapable of safely handling cartridges more powerful than the .30-40 Krag. The deficiencies were studied and methods to improve the rifle’s performance were evaluated. One suggestion was to adapt the Krag’s magazine to clip-loading capability. This resulted in development of the “Parkhurst Clip Loading Attachment,” which enabled the Krag magazine to be loaded by means of a five-round charger. In 1901, Springfield Armory fitted 100 Model 1898 Krag rifles and 100 Model 1899 Krag carbines with the Parkhurst Attachment to test the concept. Although marginally helpful, the Parkhurst Attachment was not adopted and, in any event, did nothing to address the other deficiencies of the Krag, especially in regard to its ballistic performance.

The Beginning of the End
In 1900, the U.S. Army Ordnance Dept. began work on a new service rifle prototype that incorporated some of the desirable features of the Mauser along with an improved cartridge that offered significantly better ballistic performance than the .30-40 Krag. While the Ordnance Dept. was developing the new service rifle, production of the Model 1898 Krag rifle and Model 1899 Krag carbine continued at Springfield Armory. The Krag stayed in production until 1903, the same year that the new service rifle was adopted and designated as the “U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, Model of 1903.” As soon as practicable, the Krag production line at Springfield was converted to manufacture the new Model 1903 rifle.

As production of the Model 1903 Springfield rifle began to meet the demand, the Krags in the hands of the regular Army were withdrawn and placed in storage or issued to “state guard” or similar units. By circa 1910, the regular Army was more or less fully equipped with Model 1903 Springfields. When the United States entered World War I in 1917, approximately 160,000 Krag rifles were still in storage, and significant numbers (mainly Model 1898 rifles) were withdrawn and used by the U.S. military during the war. The vast majority remained stateside for training purposes, although some 2,000 Model 1898 Krag rifles were taken to France during the war by the 10th-19th Engineers (Railway). There is no evidence that any were used by front-line combat units.

After being disposed of as surplus after the war, large numbers of Krag rifles were sold on the civilian market at very attractive prices. Many were cut-down or otherwise sporterized for use as low-cost hunting rifles, which partially accounts for the relative scarcity of unmodified examples today.

“NRA Carbine”
In addition to the Krag rifles that were shortened by their civilian owners, there were a number similarly modified under government auspices beginning around 1926. A number of Krag rifles still remaining in the government’s inventory were cut-down, reportedly at Benicia Arsenal, Calif., to approximately carbine length. This was done primarily to provide badly needed funds to the Ordnance Dept. and to keep some of the skilled armory workmen employed. These modified Krags were not intended for use by the U.S. military. The arms were sold primarily to members of the National Rifle Association and are now often colloquially referred to as “NRA Carbines,” even though they were cut-down rifles, not carbines.