Other than the Parkhurst, did the US experiment with any charger loading systems? I have looked around and saw one that almost looked like a mannlicher clip, as well as that spring loaded magazine type, both of which seem to be foreign manufacture? But I was curious if the US army tested anything else or what the backstory for these devices might be. I am also curious as to exactly what the Parkhurst is; is it an addition that is welded on? Screwed? How does it mount? Do any of these work with .30-40?


I don't expect them to be very practical, just curious historically.

The Parkhurst device was a cubical block of steel, screwed (LH thread) to the receiver just above and behind the magazine cover, There is a T-shaped vertical slot in the front face which accepts a 5-round stripper clip. Just 100 rifles and 100 carbines (in the 287-288K serial range) were modified for the device, which actually worked quite well. The main reason that it was dropped was the fact that the M1903 Springfield (a designed clip loader) was well along in planning/testing, so it was not felt expedient to do much more with the Krag. Nearly all of the arms were scrapped, many (most?) by cutting the receivers in two, so finding one is a needle in haystack scenario.

There MAY have been other chargers, or cartridge packets, associated with the 1983 trials rifles, made in tiny quantities by aspiring promoters, by I do not believe that any others were actually made at SA and issued to troops.

Krag chargers WERE made for the Norwegian Krag, but they were only meant to dump 5 rounds in quickly, by hand - no attachment was applied to the gun.

That is the short answer - hope it helps.

Date in Dick's reply should read '1893' (Rifle) Trials.

Thanks! Not too much info out there on them, and I really love that type of stuff. Reading about all the experimentals is really interesting to me.  I assume it had proprietary clips for the .30-40?

You mean clips for the Parkhurst?  S&S has $150 repros.

butlersrangers wrote on Dec 10^th, 2016 at 5:46am:

Date in Dick's reply should read '1893' (Rifle) Trials.

Ahhh yessssssss - the dreaded senor moment!