K98 Mauser
The Karabiner 98k was a bolt-action rifle with Mauser-type action holding five rounds of
7.92x57mm Mauser on a stripper clip, loaded into an internal magazine. It was derived
from earlier rifles, namely the Karabiner 98b, which in turn had been developed from the
Mauser Model 1898. The Gewehr 98 or Model 1898 took its principles from the Lebel Model
1886 rifle with the improvement of a metallic magazine of five cartridges. Since the
rifle was shorter than the earlier Karabiner 98b from which it was derived (the 98b was a
carbine in name only, being identical in length to the Gewehr 98 long rifle), it was
given the designation Karabiner 98 Kurz, meaning "Carbine 98 Short". Just like its
predecessor, the rifle was noted for its reliability, good accuracy and an effective
range of up to 500 meters (547 yards) with iron sights.
The standard Karabiner 98k iron sights could be regulated for ranges from 100 m up to
2000 m in 100 m increments. The 98k rifle was designed to be used with an S84/98 III
bayonet and to fire rifle grenades. Most rifles had laminated stocks, the result of
trials that had stretched through the 1930s. Plywood laminates resisted warping better
than the conventional one-piece patterns, did not require lengthy maturing and were less
wasteful. Starting in late 1944, 98k production began transition to the "Kriegsmodell"
("war model") variant. This version was simplified to meet wartime production demands,
removing the bayonet lug, cleaning rod, stock disk, and other features deemed to be
unnecessary.
The 98k had the same disadvantages as all other turn-of-the-century military rifles in
that it was comparatively bulky and heavy, and the rate of fire was limited by how fast
the bolt could be operated. Its magazine had only half the capacity of Great Britain's
Lee-Enfield series rifles, but being internal, it made the weapon more comfortable to
carry. While the Allies (both Soviet and Anglo-American) developed and moved towards
standardization of semi-automatic rifles, the Germans maintained these bolt-action rifles
due to their tactical doctrine of basing a squad's firepower on the unit's light machine
gun and possibly their problems of mass producing semi-automatic rifles.
In close combat, however, submachine guns were often preferred, especially for urban
combat where the rifle's range and low rate of fire were not very useful. Towards the end
of the war, the Kar98k was being phased out in favour of the StG44 assault rifle, which
fired a rifle round that was more powerful than the pistol cartridges of submachine guns,
but that could be used like a submachine gun in close-quarters and urban fighting.
Production of the StG44 was never sufficient to meet demand, being a late war weapon, and
because of this the Mauser Kar98k rifle was still produced and used as the standard
infantry rifle by the German forces until the German surrender in May 1945.
Several special models of the Karabiner 98k existed.
For snipers, Karabiner 98k rifles selected for being exceptionally accurate during
factory tests, were fitted with a telescopic sight as sniper rifles. Karabiner 98k sniper
rifles had an effective range up to 800 meters (875 yards) when used by a skilled sniper.
The German Zeiss Zielvier 4x (ZF39) telescopic sight had bullet drop compensation in 50 m
increments for ranges from 100 m up to 800 m or in some variations from 100 m up to 1000
m. There were also ZF42, Zeiss Zielsechs 6x and other telescopic sights by various
manufacturers like the Ajack 4x, Hensoldt Dialytan 4x and Kahles Heliavier 4x with
similar features employed on Karabiner 98k sniper rifles. Several different mountings
produced by various manufacturers were used. Approximately 132,000 of these sniper rifles
were produced by Germany.
For Fallschirmjäger (German paratroopers) special versions of the Karabiner 98k that
could be transported in shortened modes were produced. Specimens with folding stocks as
with unscrewable barrels are known.
The Mauser Kar98k rifle was widely used by all branches of the armed forces of Germany
during World War II. It saw action in every theatre of war involving German forces,
including occupied Europe, North Africa, the Soviet Union, Finland, and Norway. Although
comparable to the weapons fielded by Germany's enemies at the beginning of the War, its
disadvantages in rate of fire became more apparent as American and (to a lesser extent)
Soviet armies began to field more semi-automatic weapons among their troops. Still, it
continued to be the main infantry rifle of the Wehrmacht until the end of the War.
Resistance forces in German-occupied Europe made frequent use of captured German 98k
rifles. The Soviet Union also made extensive use of captured Kar98k rifles and other
German infantry weapons due to the Red Army experiencing a critical shortage of small
arms during the early years of World War II. Many German soldiers used the verbal
expression "Kars" as the slang name for the rifle.
7.92x57mm Mauser on a stripper clip, loaded into an internal magazine. It was derived
from earlier rifles, namely the Karabiner 98b, which in turn had been developed from the
Mauser Model 1898. The Gewehr 98 or Model 1898 took its principles from the Lebel Model
1886 rifle with the improvement of a metallic magazine of five cartridges. Since the
rifle was shorter than the earlier Karabiner 98b from which it was derived (the 98b was a
carbine in name only, being identical in length to the Gewehr 98 long rifle), it was
given the designation Karabiner 98 Kurz, meaning "Carbine 98 Short". Just like its
predecessor, the rifle was noted for its reliability, good accuracy and an effective
range of up to 500 meters (547 yards) with iron sights.
The standard Karabiner 98k iron sights could be regulated for ranges from 100 m up to
2000 m in 100 m increments. The 98k rifle was designed to be used with an S84/98 III
bayonet and to fire rifle grenades. Most rifles had laminated stocks, the result of
trials that had stretched through the 1930s. Plywood laminates resisted warping better
than the conventional one-piece patterns, did not require lengthy maturing and were less
wasteful. Starting in late 1944, 98k production began transition to the "Kriegsmodell"
("war model") variant. This version was simplified to meet wartime production demands,
removing the bayonet lug, cleaning rod, stock disk, and other features deemed to be
unnecessary.
The 98k had the same disadvantages as all other turn-of-the-century military rifles in
that it was comparatively bulky and heavy, and the rate of fire was limited by how fast
the bolt could be operated. Its magazine had only half the capacity of Great Britain's
Lee-Enfield series rifles, but being internal, it made the weapon more comfortable to
carry. While the Allies (both Soviet and Anglo-American) developed and moved towards
standardization of semi-automatic rifles, the Germans maintained these bolt-action rifles
due to their tactical doctrine of basing a squad's firepower on the unit's light machine
gun and possibly their problems of mass producing semi-automatic rifles.
In close combat, however, submachine guns were often preferred, especially for urban
combat where the rifle's range and low rate of fire were not very useful. Towards the end
of the war, the Kar98k was being phased out in favour of the StG44 assault rifle, which
fired a rifle round that was more powerful than the pistol cartridges of submachine guns,
but that could be used like a submachine gun in close-quarters and urban fighting.
Production of the StG44 was never sufficient to meet demand, being a late war weapon, and
because of this the Mauser Kar98k rifle was still produced and used as the standard
infantry rifle by the German forces until the German surrender in May 1945.
Several special models of the Karabiner 98k existed.
For snipers, Karabiner 98k rifles selected for being exceptionally accurate during
factory tests, were fitted with a telescopic sight as sniper rifles. Karabiner 98k sniper
rifles had an effective range up to 800 meters (875 yards) when used by a skilled sniper.
The German Zeiss Zielvier 4x (ZF39) telescopic sight had bullet drop compensation in 50 m
increments for ranges from 100 m up to 800 m or in some variations from 100 m up to 1000
m. There were also ZF42, Zeiss Zielsechs 6x and other telescopic sights by various
manufacturers like the Ajack 4x, Hensoldt Dialytan 4x and Kahles Heliavier 4x with
similar features employed on Karabiner 98k sniper rifles. Several different mountings
produced by various manufacturers were used. Approximately 132,000 of these sniper rifles
were produced by Germany.
For Fallschirmjäger (German paratroopers) special versions of the Karabiner 98k that
could be transported in shortened modes were produced. Specimens with folding stocks as
with unscrewable barrels are known.
The Mauser Kar98k rifle was widely used by all branches of the armed forces of Germany
during World War II. It saw action in every theatre of war involving German forces,
including occupied Europe, North Africa, the Soviet Union, Finland, and Norway. Although
comparable to the weapons fielded by Germany's enemies at the beginning of the War, its
disadvantages in rate of fire became more apparent as American and (to a lesser extent)
Soviet armies began to field more semi-automatic weapons among their troops. Still, it
continued to be the main infantry rifle of the Wehrmacht until the end of the War.
Resistance forces in German-occupied Europe made frequent use of captured German 98k
rifles. The Soviet Union also made extensive use of captured Kar98k rifles and other
German infantry weapons due to the Red Army experiencing a critical shortage of small
arms during the early years of World War II. Many German soldiers used the verbal
expression "Kars" as the slang name for the rifle.
