The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-05-21
NEW WEAPONS OF WARFARE,
Krag-JOrgensen Rife to be Used by
California Volunteers.
Instructions Issued How to Handle the
Weapon First Organization to
Receive New Rifles.


military companies have been look
ing forward to the time when they
will lay aside the old Springfield
musket and receive in its stead the
new Krag- Jorgensen magazine rife
with which the United States soldiers
are being armed.
The first organization to receive the
new army rifle on the Pacific Coast
was the First Infantry Regiment
stationed at Angel Island.
In appearance, construction and
operation it is similar to the Lee
magazine rifle now used by the naval
reserves. The rapidity with which
the weapon can be fired causes the
barrel to heat to a great degree, in
fact to such an extent that those
making the first experiments in rapid
firing burned their hands. In order
to inform the soldiers to whom the
new rifle is being distributed the
Secretary of War has issued the fol-
lowing instructions regarding the
weapon, when heated by rapid firing
After fifteen rounds fred rapidly
item or more a minute) the piece
should be handled only by the stock,
handguard, or metal parts in rear of
the chamber, as the barrel becomes
uncomfortably hot about this time,
though the rear sights and bands
will not be found 80 until from thirty
to thirty five rounds have been fired.
In slow firing lat the rate of three
or less a minute) the barrel of the
piece should not be handled after
from seventeen to twenty rounds.
After forty rounds fred at this rate,
handle the arm only by the wooden
parts and those metal parts in rear
of the chamber If the leaf of the
rear right is raised during this firing
las it probably would be,) the sight
can be adjusted, if done quickly, even
after hundred rounds, without fear
of burning the hand.
Two hundred rounds, probably the
maximum amount to be carried by
any soldier, or even as many as he
can possibly carry, can be fired rapid
~ without injury to the arm, other
than the charming of the wooden
If it be necessary or desirable to
would when exposed merely to the
air, remove the bolt, depress the muz-
zle until nearly vertical and pour in
water very slowly at first, until steam
IS no longer formed, when it can be
poured rapidly. In service the
canteen or cup could be used for this
purpose. Owing to the large amount
of water necessary to cool a heated
rife-from four to six quarts being
required-artifcial cooling would not
ordinarily be practicable in the field.
There is little to be gained, even If
employed, as after 200 rounds one
can handle the piece by the stock
without burning the hand. The
soldier will soon learn to handle the
piece carefully after any firing, no
matter how little, and artificial cool
ing by water should not ordinarily
be practiced, as it may prove iDjur-
ious to the barrel.
Note-The barrel Of the Spring-
field rifle, caliber As, using black
powder, becomes too hot to handle
(aboye the lower band) after about
thirty (30) rounds fired at the rate of
seven a minute. In other words, it
appears to take twice as many rounds
in the old rifle as In the new, to bring
the barrel to about the same temper
ature. Until further orders, he fol-
lowing spare parts only will be issued
to companies to be kept on hand for
the repair of the United States
magazine springs, rifle and carbine,
main springs magazine scar springs,
cutoff springs, stocks. In case of dam
age to other parts of the rife, such
parts-if they can be detached with
out further injury to the arm-will
be sent, properly marked for identi
fcation, to the commanding officer,
Springfield Armory, with statement
of the circumstances under which the
damage was incurred. If found ad-
visable, the damaged parts will then
be ordered replaced. Company COM
manders should exercise a careful
of all dismounting and
assembling of the arm, particularly
&c cases where any part is injured,
The authorized dismounting and as
sembling by the soldier, described in
the rules for the management of the
rifle, should be confined to what is
necessary only for instruction under
proper supervision, or for the neces-
sary cleaning of the arm.
Up to the present date the War
Department has issued 1880 of the
new rifles. By the end of the pre-
sent year the entire army will be
supplied. After the infantry is arm
ed the Ordnance Department will
issue carbines of the same pattern to
the artillery and cavalry. The
soldiers at the Preside will not Sc
cure their carbines until the LIST of