Krag vs Trapdoor…...

[Parashooter]

In other words, "James Paris Lee, you may take your detachable magazine and go home."

Not at all. The board's objection is to the Mannlicher style of "en-bloc" clip - as a necessary part of the magazine mechanism. The Lee detachable magazine is still functional without any "clip" present. (This is one example of how it makes sense to distinguish between a "clip" and a "charger" - unfortunately not often done in US English and resulting in the awkward "stripper clip" usage so common here.)

Eventually, the Ordnance Department embraced the en-bloc, but it did prove troublesome in the M1 rifle and was happily abandoned in favor of a Lee-style detachable box for the M14 and subsequent US service rifles.

[Rick the Librarian]

As I recall, Krag production did not commence until about 1894.

[Dan Shapiro]

Eventually, the Ordnance Department embraced the en-bloc, but it did prove troublesome in the M1 rifle and was happily abandoned in favor of a Lee-style detachable box for the M14 and subsequent US service rifles.

The Ordnance specs for the new "semi-auto" rifle included the stipulation that: 'The rounds will be held internally, a box magazine is NOT wanted or DESIRED.'

By 1944, with the planning of the Japanese home islands in the planning stages, SA was working OT to develop a "kit" that would convert the existing M1's to a magazine fed weapon.

[Rick B]

This is a clear cut show of Tried and True or not wanting new change. It was seen with the 1903's .vs M1 Garand. The troops loved their 1903's and scorned the Garand in every way possible. They even started the Clip "Ping" lie back then while trying to attack the New M1. Funny part was once they were being attacked these marines stole all the Garands they allowed to slip out of their hands earlier. It appears some loved their Trapdoors and just didn't want change. The Krag clearly had more capabilities and by far was better with more capacity and a lighter bullet for better trajectory. Rick B

[Rick B]

As Dan shows above a reference to the Box magazine. many do not understand all of our wars were fought in a trench up until WWII so a Box magazine would get caught on the edge of the trench. They wanted a smooth bottom for easy movement on the ground or edge of a trench. Rick B

[Rick the Librarian]

Soldiers tend to be inheritently conservative - they gripe about every new weapon and piece of equipment they get. There were complaints when the Krag was replaced by the M1903, the M1903 by the M1 and so forth. Such was the truth when the Trapdoor was replaced by the Krag; especially with the teething problems the Krag had in the beginning.

[gnoahhh]

Holy cow, Rick! The 1903 was replaced by something called the M1?? When did that happen?