Karabiner 98k Mauser rifle
History, technical sheet and photo
- Karabiner 98k Mauser rifle history
The Karabiner 98k (often abbreviated Kar98k or K98k) represents the culmination of the long line of Mauser rifles developed by Paul Mauser at the end of the 19th century. The Model 1898 rifle family (Gewehr 98), designed by Paul Mauser, established the foundation of a bolt-action system that became the standard for many nations. The original design dates back to 1898, and Mauser distributed and sold its rifles to several countries, including Spain, China, and Belgium.
The version known as the Karabiner 98 kurz (kurz = short) was a more compact evolution of the Gewehr/Model 98, developed in the 1930s to improve the maneuverability of the modern infantryman. The Kar98k was officially adopted by the Wehrmacht on June 21, 1935, and entered mass production starting in 1934–1935.
Production of the Kar98k between 1934 and 1945 was enormous: more than 14 million units are estimated to have been manufactured by Mauser and numerous subcontractors (Gustloff, Steyr-Daimler-Puch, Berlin-Lübecker, and others). Models produced late in the war (the so-called Kriegsmodell) showed significant simplifications (stamped parts, removal of non-essential fittings) due to industrial constraints and shortages of raw materials. Unit costs varied by factory and year: period sources and later compilations indicate a price of about 67–70 Reichsmarks per rifle in some plants (early 1940s figures, depending on source and accounting method).
The Kar98k was the standard infantry rifle of the German Army during World War II: rugged, accurate, and renowned for its reliable mechanism. Despite the introduction of semi-automatic weapons such as the Gewehr 43 and the StG 44, the Kar98k remained the most widely issued weapon until the end of the conflict. Its configuration (five-round magazine, bolt-action, relatively long barrel) made it a precise platform for improvised snipers, and field modifications (scopes, extensions, conversions) were common. Like the Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk I, the Kar98k could be modified for use as a sniper rifle by fitting a scope, and it could also be adapted to fire rifle grenades.
Variants and modifications:
-
Standard Kar98k for infantry service.
-
Kriegsmodell (war model): introduced in 1944, featuring simplified manufacturing (fewer finishing details, omission of the bayonet lug on some rifles, shorter cleaning rods, stamped parts).
-
Sniper/sharpshooter adaptations: some Kar98k rifles were fitted with side rails and scopes. The most notable effort was the Zielfernrohr 41 (ZF41), a compact 1.5× scope intended for widespread issue to improve sharpshooter accuracy. In practice, deployment remained limited, with far fewer rifles receiving the ZF41 than originally planned.
-
Rifle grenade launcher: starting in 1942, a device known as the Schießbecher (Gewehrgranatengerät) was standardized, enabling the Kar98k to launch rifle grenades.
Millions of captured Kar98k rifles were reused by the Red Army and then redistributed as military aid to numerous countries. Several national armies — including France, Israel, Nordic nations, and various countries in Africa and Asia — continued to use the Kar98k after the war, often rebarreled or rechambered to local calibers (Israel, for example, converted many rifles to 7.62×51 mm NATO during the 1950s–60s). Kar98ks continued to appear in local conflicts well into the late 20th century and beyond, sometimes drawn from surplus or obsolete arsenals.
The Karabiner 98k, descendant of Paul Mauser’s Gewehr 98, did not only enjoy a long military career: its strong M98 bolt action and proven reliability also made it popular as a hunting rifle. Originally chambered in 7.92×57 mm (8×57), a traditional European cartridge, the Kar98k offers, with modern ammunition and a sound barrel, ballistics well suited for deer, wild boar, and red stag at typical stalking and driven hunt distances. Civilian derivatives (the Mauser M98 and various “sporter” models) reflect the continued use of this mechanism in hunting applications.
After the war, large numbers of surplus rifles were “sporterized” (new stocks, scope mounts) or rebarreled/rechambered to facilitate ammunition supply or adjust ballistics to local needs. These modifications, commonly performed by gunsmiths, improved the rifle’s comfort and practicality for hunting, but they could also diminish the historical value of pieces with significant collector interest. Likewise, older examples often require a professional inspection (barrel, chamber condition, headspace) before being used, for safety reasons.
Finally, while the Kar98k is well suited to hunting in Europe, it is not recommended for dangerous game, where magnum actions and much more powerful calibers are preferred. From a historical perspective, the hunting use of the Mauser illustrates the dual life of many 20th-century military rifles: weapons of war that later became tools for subsistence or sport, often adapted and reconfigured by civilian users.
- Karabiner 98k Mauser rifle specification
Creator: Germany
Denomination: K98k
Number produced : 2,769,533 during World War 2. Total: 14 millions.
Fire mode: Mauser bolt-action
Caliber: 7.92×57mm Mauser
Feed system: 5-round stripper clip
Effective firing range: 400 m
Maximum firing range: 4000 m
Rate of fire: 15 rounds/min
Weight: 3,92 kg
Length: 1101 mm
