Field Marshal Sir Jan Smuts as a Boer General

[Surpmil]

Looks like he had a personal preference for the Krag.

Information

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[browningautorifle]

That was one we've talked about before. That one's in 8mm isn't it?

[butlersrangers]

I believe that is Boer General Tobias Smuts. The rifle is a Steyr made model 1894 Norwegian Krag in 6.5X55mm.

Attachment 76647Attachment 76648Attachment 76649

[Daan Kemp]

Yes, that definitely isn't Genl Jan Smuts, later Field Marshal, etc.

Most of the Boer forces were armed initially with 7mm Mauser then LeeMetford as their Mauser supplies dried up.

There were small numbers of other makes in private ownership, which probably didn't last the whole war due to lack of ammunition. The Krag in that calibre would probably private purchase.

[butlersrangers]

The photograph of General Tobias Smuts, (standing with the Steyr made Krag), is pretty well known. Someone has even been able to read the serial number, #124, by enlarging the original photograph. The whereabouts of Tobias' Krag is unknown.

IIRC - Only about 300 model 1894 Krags are thought to have made their way to the Boers, with a very limited amount of 6.5mm ammunition. The Krags may have been rejected by Norway and do not have Norwegian markings. They are a bit mysterious and may have been available from Steyr or on the 'open market' in 1896-97. There is a small handful of these rifles known to survive. (The British did destroy, by burning, huge piles of Boer rifles).

Some have suggested the Krags were used by Foreign Volunteers.

Definitely a Krag variation with an Aura! (Certainly not a Danish Krag).

[Surpmil]

Yes, that definitely isn't Genl Jan Smuts, later Field Marshal, etc.

Most of the Boer forces were armed initially with 7mm Mauser then LeeMetford as their Mauser supplies dried up.

There were small numbers of other makes in private ownership, which probably didn't last the whole war due to lack of ammunition. The Krag in that calibre would probably private purchase.

That's good to know, again as with the Baden Powell photo; I repeated the original caption in the Colliers book on the war. As a US publication I suppose it's not so surprising they would make a few mistakes or take a few liberties.

Interesting point about the foreign volunteers fighting with the Boers. There was a photo of the "Irish Brigade" I didn't reproduce.

[butlersrangers]

Collier's did not actually make a mistake with the caption. There just was more than one "General Smuts".

The Collier's picture is General Tobias Smuts and not General Jan Smuts.

(Attached photo of Jan Smuts):

Attachment 76714

[green]

Boer Transvaal republic bought several hundred M1894 Krags. See "Small Arms of the Anglo Boer War" Bester for a detailed write up of Boer purchases of Mausers, Martinis, Guedes and Krags.