Karabiner Kar 98K

[David]

The Karabiner (carbine), or Kar 98K, was the standard rifle of the German Army in World War II. It owed its legacy to the original bolt-action rifle of the German Army used in World War 1, known as the Gewehr 98, though the Kar 98K was designed to be a little shorter in length.
The Mauser company produced both the Gewehr 98 World War 1 rifle and the Karabiner 98K model used in World War Two. The World War Two model retained many of the Gewehr's original looks. The Kar 98K was shortened to some extent, but was still too long to be officially considered a carbine (which it was). The Kar 98K was in service from the start of the war through to the end, serving infantry units well.
The rifle used the bolt-action style of loading and clearing ammunition. The user would have to eject the spent cartridge out of the weapon and insert the new cartridge from the feed in the same motion utilizing the metal bolt found alongside the rifle.
Production of the rifle increased during wartime, though little was done to refine or improve upon the system, as more resources were dedicated to aircraft and armor (tank) development and production. Towards the end of the war, with resources running low on the German side, less attention was given to the finish and material selection. Thusly, the weapon would go out of the factories sub-par wood furniture (sometimes laminated) or no bayonet lugs.
The weapon did see a few variants produced including two different sniper types utilizing different scope mounts, grenade launcher fixtures, periscope mount, and folding butt stocks.
The rifle's length also proved to be a negative, as infantryman found it difficult to wield in close-quarters combat or in even stowing in their front-line foxholes. Needless to say, the 7.92 mm round had the stopping power that was required of a rifle, and in that respect the Kar 98K did not disappoint.
Comparisons will always be made to the British Lee-Enfield, American M1903 Springfield and the M1 Garand as to which rifle owns the bragging rights for best rifle of the war. It should be noted that the German Kar 98K served its users well, and made a lasting impact on the war and in post-war use.
In the end, this classic World War 1 rifle continued into World War 2 and beyond, now finding itself in the hands of collectors worldwide. Wartime users and producers included China, Belgium and Czechoslovakia.
Specifications for the Kar 98K Rifle:

Kar 98K shown above with attachable Bayonet

Designation: Karabiner 98K
Classification: Carbine Rifle
Operation: Bolt-Action Operation
Caliber: 7.92 mm
Length: 43.6 inches
Weight: 8lbs, 6oz
Magazine Capacity: 5-round box
Muzzle Velocity: 2,477 feet per second

Kar 98K with grenade launcher attachment, grenade projectile and flip up sites.