Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-10
NEW ARMY . BAYONET
Adoption Of a l6-Inch Knife
Blade.
ISSUE OF NEW RIFLE
NECESSARY CHANGESs IN THE
STOCK.
They Are Not Particularly Important
and Will Not Involve Much
Time or Labor.

The importance or the ADOPTION OF q IT.
inch KIN fe bayonet as part of the small
arms equipment of the United States army
lies in the fact that it removes the only
existing cause of delay in the issue of the
newly adopted United States magazine
rifle, model of 1898, calber4 O.30 inches.
General Crozier, chief of ordnance, was pre-
pared to begin the issue to the troops of
the new rifle early in the year. but in con-
sequence of the receipt of expert informa-
ton from official sources regarding the Ell
ficiency of the small arms used by the
Japanese and Russian troops in the war in
Manchura, the issue of the new piece was
suspended pending thorough consideration
of certain suggested changes in the design
of the rifle tending to it's Improvement
based on the experiences of the small arms
of the Japanese and Russian soldiers IN
actual combat.
Knife Instead of Rod Bayonet.
The result is that the only change found
to be desirable in the new United States
rifle was the substitution for the previously
adopted rod bayonet of a knife bayonet Of
a length of 1G inches. 1t was agreed on all
sides that otherwise the new rife was equal
j. not superior to the small arm of any
other army in the world, not excepting
that Of Germany, OF Fraitce, or of England
The total length of the hew rifle complete
is 4343 riches, and its total weight, ex-
elusive of bayonet is SJ62 pounds. The
diameter Of the bore is o38 inch, and the
length of the bore 23.9:W inches. There are
four grooves in the rififng of depth of
0.OO4 of an inch. The height of the front
sight above the axis of the bore is 1.U52
inches With a powder pressure of about
1900 pounds per square inch in the cham
Der the rifle has an initial velocity of 200
feet per second, and a maximum energy of
g go, t,,1rz dr.. b,,,
maximum range of 4,7S1 yards at an ele-
walton of ~ degrees. and it's projectile will
penetrate a high-steel plate .193 inch thick
at a distance of 29J yards, and white p ne
butts made of 1-inch boards 1-inch apart
for 1872 inches at distance of 1000 yards.
Twenty three aimed shots have been fired
in one minute with this rifle, used as
single loader, and % slots in the same
time using magazine fire. Firing from the
hip without aim, u shots have been fired
in one minute, using rifle as a single loader,
and 30 shots in one minute, using magazine
fire.
Adapting the New Weapon.
The change from the rod bayonet to the
knife bayonet will necessarily delay the
issue of the new rifle to the army. In adj
d.tion to the manufacture of the new
bayonet, it will be necessary to adapt the
rev rifle for the attachment of the bayo-
net. General Crozier, chief of ordnance.
says that the changes in the rifle are not
particularly important and will not in
volve much time or labor AS he explained
IL. the fixtures at the end of the barrel of
the rifle, which were originally arranged
foI the rod bayonet, will have to be re-
moved, the stock cut back about three
inches and a new fixture provided sim lsr
to that on the Krag-JorSenssen rifle, with
which the army is equipped at present. The
krag-JorgenSSen rifle is provided with q
knife bayonet, but that bayonet is six
inches shorter than the one adopted for
the new arm. When the changes in the
rifle are made and until the new baycnet
is ready for issue the Krag-Jorgenssen bay
onet can be attached to the rife in case it
is decided to use the new rifle without
awaiting the manufacture of the new and
longer bayonet.
Hshment of plant for the manufacture of
the new bayonet, but that will not take
very much time According to Genei 81
Crozier, under existing peaceful cond tiOns
there is no special occasion for haste in
the matter especially as 1t has been de-
clded to use the g-Jorgenssen rife in
target practice during the coming summer.
II is estimated that it will take at least
six months to make enough new bayoncts
Tor the army. The changes to be made in
the rifle for their attachment will DE com
pleted in less time. The present policy of
the War Department is to withho the
new small-arms equipment until the stock
on hand will suffice to supply the entire
army. 1t therefore appears that the army,
as well as the National Guard will con-
tirue the use of the g-Jorgenssen rife
at least until the late fall or early winter
of 1905.