K 98 German rifle
The Karabiner 98k, often abbreviated as K98k, was the standard-issue rifle for the German Wehrmacht during the Second World War. Developed as a shortened version of the earlier Gewehr 98, it retained the robust and reliable Mauser bolt-action system originally designed by Paul Mauser in the late 19th century. Although Mauser himself was responsible for the core action design, the adaptation of the Gewehr 98 into the K98k was carried out by Mauser engineers in the early 1930s to meet the evolving needs of German infantry forces. The rifle officially entered service in 1935 and became a symbol of German small arms engineering during the war. Its design reflected a balance between durability, accuracy, and ease of use, featuring a shorter barrel than its predecessor, making it more suitable for mobile warfare and easier to handle in close combat environments.
The K98k was manufactured by several companies across Germany and occupied territories, with each using coded markings to conceal production sites from enemy intelligence. Notable manufacturers included Mauser-Werke in Oberndorf (coded byf and svw), Gustloff-Werke (bcd), Waffenwerke Brünn in Czechoslovakia (dot), and Erma Werke in Erfurt (ax). Production of the K98k exceeded fourteen million units between 1935 and 1945, making it one of the most widely produced bolt-action rifles of the twentieth century. After the war, many captured rifles were refurbished and reused by countries such as France, Israel, and Yugoslavia, often re-barreled or re-chambered for new ammunition. The rifle’s service life extended into conflicts such as the Korean War and various postwar skirmishes in the Middle East and Balkans.
The K98k was chambered for the 7.92×57mm Mauser cartridge, a powerful round offering effective range and stopping power on the battlefield. It featured a five-round internal magazine loaded with stripper clips, with a muzzle velocity typically ranging between 760 and 820 meters per second depending on the ammunition. The rifle had an overall length of approximately 1,110 millimeters and a barrel length of about 600 millimeters, with an unloaded weight of around 4.1 kilograms. It used iron sights with a rear tangent sight adjustable up to 2,000 meters, though realistic effective fire was considered accurate up to about 500 meters with iron sights and up to 800 or more meters when fitted with an optical scope in sniper configurations. Sniper variants of the K98k were issued with scopes such as the ZF39, offering 4x magnification and enhanced long-range capabilities.
The bolt-action system of the K98k was a controlled-feed design, praised for its strength and reliability. The receiver, bolt, and trigger mechanism were carefully machined, contributing to the rifle’s smooth cycling and mechanical precision. This solid engineering allowed trained marksmen to maintain relatively high rates of aimed fire even under stress. In terms of accuracy, the standard infantry version of the rifle was capable of approximately 1.5 to 2 minute-of-angle precision using standard military ammunition, while sniper variants selected for tighter tolerances and fitted with optics could approach sub-minute accuracy under favorable conditions. Stocks were originally made of walnut, but from around 1940 onward, laminated beech stocks became the norm due to better durability and reduced cost.
The Karabiner 98k left a significant legacy in the world of firearms. Its Mauser action is still regarded as one of the finest bolt-action systems ever made and serves as the foundation for many civilian hunting rifles and military surplus conversions to this day. Even decades after the war, the K98k remains a highly respected and sought-after rifle among collectors, marksmen, and military historians, admired for its craftsmanship, historical importance, and battlefield performance.
