Karabiner 98k
Karabiner 98k | |
---|---|
Bolt-action[3] | |
Muzzle velocity | 760 m/s (2,493 ft/s) |
Effective firing range | 500 m (550 yd) with iron sights 800 or 1,000 m (870 or 1,090 yd) with telescopic sight |
Maximum firing range | 4,700 m (5,100 yd) with s.S. Patrone |
Feed system | 5-round stripper clip, internal magazine |
Sights | Iron sights or telescopic sight. |
The Karabiner 98 kurz (German:
Although supplemented by semi-automatic and fully automatic rifles during World War II, the Karabiner 98k remained the primary German service rifle until the end of the war in 1945.[4] Millions were captured by the Soviets at the conclusion of World War II and were widely distributed as military aid. The Karabiner 98k therefore continues to appear in conflicts across the world as they are taken out of storage during times of strife.
History
In February 1934, the
The desire for adopting new shorter barreled rifles and the introduction of the Karabiner 98k, featuring a 600 mm (23.62 in) long barrel, were reasons for changing the standard German service ball rifle cartridge. The 1903 pattern 7.92×57mm Mauser S Patrone produced excessive muzzle flash when fired from arms that did not have a long barrel like the Gewehr 98. It was found that the s.S. Patrone, originally designed for long range machine gun use, produced less muzzle flash out of rifles that had a shorter barrel and also provided better accuracy. Because of this, the S Patrone was phased out in 1933 and the s.S. Patrone became the standard German service ball cartridge in the 1930s.[6][7]
Design details
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Features
The Karabiner 98k is a controlled-feed bolt-action rifle based on the Mauser M98 system. Its internal magazine can be loaded with five 7.92×57mm Mauser cartridges from a stripper clip or one-by-one.[3] After loading, the empty clip is ejected when the bolt is closed. The straight bolt handle found on the Gewehr 98 bolt was replaced by a turned-down bolt handle on the Karabiner 98k. This change made it easier to rapidly operate the bolt, reduced the amount the handle projected beyond the receiver, and enabled mounting of aiming optics directly above the receiver. Each rifle was furnished with a short length of cleaning rod, fitted through the bayonet stud. The joined rods from 3 rifles provided one full-length cleaning rod.
The metal parts of the rifle were
Sights
The impractical Langevisier or "rollercoaster" rear sight of the Mauser Gewehr 1898 was replaced with a conventional tangent leaf sight. The Karabiner 98k rear tangent sight was flatter compared to and does not obstruct the view to the sides during aiming as the Langevisier. Originally, the Karabiner 98k
During World War II, s.S. Patrone ball ammunition was gradually replaced by S.m.E. - Spitzgeschoß mit Eisenkern ("spitzer with iron core") mild steel cored projectile ammunition and later by S.m.E. lg - Spitzgeschoß mit Eisenkern lang ("spitzer with iron core long") ammunition to save on lead and other metals that became scarce in Germany during the war. Within the Karabiner 98k effective range the external ballistic behavior of these rounds were practically identical to s.S. ammunition, so the iron sight line range graduation could be retained.[9]
Stock
Early Karabiner 98k rifles had solid
Accessories
When issued, the Karabiner 98k came accompanied with assorted accessory items including a sling, a protective muzzle cover, and for field maintenance a Reinigungsgerät 34 ("Cleaning Kit 34") or RG34 kit. Introduced in 1934, the Reinigungsgerät 34 consisted of a flat 85 mm (3.3 in) wide by 135 mm (5.3 in) long sheet metal container with two hinged lids carried on the person, which held an oiler, a take down tool for removing the floorplate and cleaning the receiver of the rifle, an aluminum barrel pull-through chain, a cleaning and an oiling brush, and short lengths of tow used as cleaning patches.[11] From 1905 until 1945, the German military used Ballistol intended for cleaning, lubricating, and protecting metallic, wooden and leather firearms parts.[12]
The Karabiner 98k rifle was designed to be used with an S84/98 III bayonet.[13] The S84/98 III had a blade length of 252 mm (9.9 in) and an overall length of 385 mm (15.2 in) and was accompanied by a bayonet frog.[14] The Seitengewehr 42 or SG 42 was a shorter multi tool combat knife that could also be mounted as a bayonet on the Karabiner 98k rifle. The SG 42 was issued in small numbers.
Rifle grenade launcher
In 1942, an attachable
.ZF41 long eye relief optical sight
Starting from 1941, the short 1.5× Zielfernrohr 41 (ZF41) long eye relief telescopic sight was fitted over the rear iron sight element to some Karabiner 98k rifles for designated marksman use. Adding the ZF41 to the rifle turned the Karabiner 98k essentially into an early somewhat big and heavy scout rifle, though that concept did not exist at that time. The ZF41 was in fact the first attempt to provide the ordinary infantryman with a rifle capable of being used for sharpshooting. Early production ZF41 were matched, zeroed and fitted on Karabiner 98k rifles selected for being exceptionally accurate at the factory before issue. After the development of a field replaceable mount the ZF41 sights were issued to be mounted on random Karabiner 98k rifles by field armorers. This led to an inevitable reduction in accuracy in lots of these field fitted rifles. By the end of the war in 1945, more than 100,000 ZF41 sights had been produced, the largest production of German optical sights during the war.[15][16]
Suppressor
A removable, muzzle-mounted HUB-23
Variants
Kriegsmodell
Starting in late 1944, Karabiner 98k production began transition to the Kriegsmodell ("war model") variant. This version was simplified to increase the rate of production, removing the bayonet lug, cleaning rod, stock disc (which functions as a bolt disassembly tool), and other features deemed unnecessary.[18] Non-critical parts like the stock were finished to lower standards and metal parts like the nose cap, barrel band, floor plate and trigger guard (lacking the small locking screw provision) were simplified stamped parts and less elaborately mounted to the rifle. The M98 bolt was also simplified by no longer milling the two oval-shaped emergency gas relief holes in the bottom of the bolt. Instead, two emergency gas relief holes were drilled and the bolt guide was omitted from the bolt body. It had fewer serial numbered parts, a phosphate metal surface finish, and a hole at the bottom end of the butt plate that replaced the stock disk. At least two transitional variants existed, which incorporated only some Kriegsmodell features, and some factories never switched to Kriegsmodell production at all.[19]
Sniper variants
Despite the experiences of World War I, prior to the outbreak of World War II the German military command believed sniper rifles with telescopic sights were not necessary due to military technology advances in connection with new resulting tactics. Partly for that reason, the Karabiner 98k was not designed for use with aiming optics and the German military did not standardize a particular telescopic sight or mounting system and fielded many variants of sniper rifles.[20] Already in the Poland campaign, and especially in the Russian campaign, it became apparent that specialist snipers were urgently needed as substantial losses were suffered caused by enemy snipers. For snipers, Karabiner 98k rifles selected for being exceptionally accurate during factory tests were fitted with a telescopic sight and issued as
Paratrooper variants
Experimental versions of the Karabiner 98k intended for the
G40k
The G40k with a total length of 1,000 mm (39.37 in) and a barrel length of 490 mm (19.29 in) and 3.2 kg (7.1 lb) weight was a shortened experimental version of the Karabiner 98k.[8][24] The rear tangent sight of the G40k was graduated for s.S. Patrone cartridges from 100 m to 1000 m in 100 m increments. A batch of 82 G40k rifles was produced in 1941 at Mauser Oberndorf.[25]
Mauser KKW cadet rifle
The Mauser KKW cadet rifle is a single shot, .22 caliber rifle that was introduced in 1938. Its operation is virtually identical to the Karabiner 98k. These cadet rifles were used by all German military, paramilitary and police organizations, especially the Hitler Youth.[citation needed]
Receiver codes
Karabiner 98k receivers were stamped with a factory code indicating date and location of manufacture. These codes were originally prefixed with "S/" and suffixed with "K" for 1934 or "G" for 1935. The intervening numeric code indicated location. The two- or four-digit year of manufacture was stamped on the receiver ring instead of a letter suffix after 1935. The numeric codes were:
- 27 for Erfurter Maschinen- und Werkzeugfabrik (ERMA) in Erfurt
- 42 for Mauser in Oberndorf am Neckar
- 147 for Sauer & Sohn in Suhl
- 237 for Berlin-Lübecker Maschinenfabrik in Lübeck
- 243 for Mauser in Borsigwalde
- 337 for Gustloff Werke in Weimar
- 660 for Steyr-Daimler-Puch in Steyr
- 945 for Waffenwerke Brünn in Brno
The "S/" prefix was dropped and letters were used for location codes beginning in 1937, although some manufacturers retained the numeric codes past that date. The letter codes were:
- ar for Mauser in Borsigwalde
- ax for Erma Werke
- bcd for Gustloff Werke
- bnz for Steyr-Daimler-Puch
- BSW for Berlin-Suhler Waffen und Fahrzeugwerke (BSW is abbreviation not letter code
- byf for Mauser in Oberndorf am Neckar
- ce for Sauer & Sohn
- dot for Waffenwerke Brünn in Brno
- dou for Waffenwerke Brünn in Bystrica
- duv for Berlin-Lübecker Maschinenfabrik
- svw45 for Mauser 1945 production in Oberndorf am Neckar
- swp45 for Waffenwerke Brünn 1945 production in Brno
Combined production by multiple manufacturers are indicated by two codes separated by a slash.[26]
Usage history
This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2021) |
Pre–World War II export
Though most Karabiner 98k rifles went to the German armed forces, the weapon was sold abroad in the years prior to World War II. In Portugal, a large quantity of Karabiner 98k rifles made by Mauser Werke were adopted as the Espingarda 7,92 mm m/937 Mauser infantry rifle.[27] They were later used during the Portuguese Colonial War.[28] Other pre-war exports of Karabiner 98ks were to China (an unknown number of rifles 1935 - 38),[29] and 20,000 in 1937 to Japan.[30] Exports of Karabiner 98ks decreased as war drew closer, as all available production capacity was needed to equip the German Armed Forces.
World War II use
The Mauser Karabiner 98k 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 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, and about between 900 thousand and 2 million of them were produced annually.[31] Resistance forces in German-occupied Europe made frequent use of captured German Karabiner 98k rifles. The Soviet Union also made extensive use of captured Karabiner 98k 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.
Sweden ordered 5,000 Karabiner 98ks that were provided from the regular production run in 1939
Post–World War II use
Soviet capture
During World War II, the Soviet Union captured millions of Mauser Karabiner 98k rifles and re-furbished them in various arms factories in the late 1940s and early 1950s. These rifles, referred to by collectors as RC ("Russian Capture") Mausers, can be identified by an "X" stamp on the left side of the receiver. The Soviet arsenals made no effort to match the rifle's original parts by serial number when reassembling them, and some metal parts (the cleaning rod, sight hood, and locking screws) were omitted after rebuilding, and instead were melted down and recycled, presumably with the other parts that weren't suitable for re-use.
Many of these rifles (along with the
The Korean War would not be the only conflict where Soviet-capture Kar98k rifles and WWII German small arms were provided to the allies of the Soviet Union. The
Post-occupation service
In the years after World War II, several European nations on both sides of the Iron Curtain that were invaded and occupied by Nazi Germany used the Mauser Karabiner 98k rifle as their standard-issue infantry rifle, due to the large number of German weapons that were left behind by the Germans at the end of World War II.
Nations like France and Norway used the Mauser Karabiner 98k rifle and other German weapons in the years after World War II. France produced a slightly modified version of the Kar 98k in the
Norway's captured Karabiner 98k rifles were soon superseded as a standard issue weapon by the US M1 Garand, but remained in service as Norwegian Home Guard weapons until the 1990s, in which role they were rebarreled for the
In West Germany, the Karabiner 98k were issued to the Bundesgrenzschutz (BGS; English: Federal Border Guard), which was originally organized along paramilitary lines and armed as light infantry; in the 1950s.[42]
Former German Karabiner 98k rifles were widely distributed throughout the Eastern Bloc, some being refurbished two or three times by different factories. They were used by military and para-military forces (such as the East German Combat Groups of the Working Class), and were replaced by Soviet weapons in the 1960s.
During the Greek Civil War, the Greek pro-communist factions were equipped with large numbers of Kar 98k rifles, captured from the Germans or supplied by Yugoslavia.[43] Later, during the Cyprus Emergency, the Cypriot EOKA smuggled several dozens of these rifles from Greece.[44]
East German refurbished Karabiner 98ks featured Russian-style thicker blue finish, a 'sunburst' proof mark and sometimes had the factory designation '1001' applied, which was the factory where the refurbishment was carried out. Numbers were re-stamped to match the receiver and old numbers barred out. Numbers of East German and Czech refurbished Karabiner 98ks were exported to the West in the late 1980s and early 1990s and are now in the hands of collectors. Russian Capture Karabiner 98ks were exported to the West in large numbers in the early and mid-2000s.
Yugoslavian postwar refurbishment
Because of the lack of weapons after World War II, the Yugoslavian arms producer Crvena Zastava (Nowadays Zastava Arms) refurbished German Karabiner 98k rifles that were left over or captured during the war. These rifles are readily identifiable as the German factory code markings have been scrubbed from the receiver and replaced with the Yugoslavian communist crest and the marking "Preduzeće 44" on the receiver's ring. In addition to this, if the refurbishment took place after 1950, the marking "/48" was added to the "Mod. 98" originally present on the left side of the receiver, becoming "Mod. 98/48". The refurbished rifles were known also as Zastava M 98/48. The refurbished Prеduzeće 44 Karabiner 98k rifles were still being used in the Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s.
Austrian modification and use as SSG 98k sniper rifle
By modifying and accurizing surplus Karabiner 98K rifles, the
Accuracy potential
The following table lists minimum expected accuracy statistics for typical in service Karabiner 98k rifles firing s.S. Patrone ball service ammunition. The statistics were computed under the 1930s German method for determining accuracy, which is more complex than Western methods which usually involve firing a group of shots and then measuring the overall diameter of the group. The German method differs in that after a group of shots are fired into the target, hits on the outer part of the target are disregarded, while only half of the hits on the inner part of the circles are counted (50% or R50). This significantly reduces the overall diameter of the groups. The vertical and horizontal measurements of the reduced groups are then used to measure accuracy. This circular error probable method used by the German and other European militaries cannot be converted and is not comparable to US military methods for determining rifle accuracy. When the R50 results are doubled the hit probability increases to 93.7%.
Karabiner 98k average dispersion with s.S. Patrone 7.92×57mm service ammunition[46] | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Range | Vertical accuracy of fire (R50) | Horizontal accuracy of fire (R50) | Radius (R50) | Diameter of group (R93.7) |
0 m (0 yd) | 0 cm (0.0 in) | 0 cm (0.0 in) | 0 cm (0.0 in) | 0 cm (0.0 in) |
100 m (109 yd) | 4 cm (1.6 in) | 3 cm (1.2 in) | 3 cm (1.2 in) | 12 cm (4.7 in) |
200 m (219 yd) | 8 cm (3.1 in) | 6 cm (2.4 in) | 6 cm (2.4 in) | 24 cm (9.4 in) |
300 m (328 yd) | 12 cm (4.7 in) | 10 cm (3.9 in) | 10 cm (3.9 in) | 40 cm (15.7 in) |
400 m (437 yd) | 16 cm (6.3 in) | 14 cm (5.5 in) | 14 cm (5.5 in) | 56 cm (22.0 in) |
500 m (547 yd) | 22 cm (8.7 in) | 18 cm (7.1 in) | 18 cm (7.1 in) | 72 cm (28.3 in) |
600 m (656 yd) | 28 cm (11.0 in) | 23 cm (9.1 in) | - | - |
700 m (766 yd) | 34 cm (13.4 in) | 27 cm (10.6 in) | - | - |
800 m (875 yd) | 40 cm (15.7 in) | 32 cm (12.6 in) | - | - |
900 m (984 yd) | 50 cm (19.7 in) | 39 cm (15.4 in) | - | - |
1,000 m (1,094 yd) | 60 cm (23.6 in) | 45 cm (17.7 in) | - | - |
1,100 m (1,203 yd) | 70 cm (27.6 in) | 52 cm (20.5 in) | - | - |
1,200 m (1,312 yd) | 82 cm (32.3 in) | 60 cm (23.6 in) | - | - |
1,300 m (1,422 yd) | 95 cm (37.4 in) | 69 cm (27.2 in) | - | - |
1,400 m (1,531 yd) | 110 cm (43.3 in) | 79 cm (31.1 in) | - | - |
1,500 m (1,640 yd) | 125 cm (49.2 in) | 90 cm (35.4 in) | - | - |
- R50 means the closest 50 percent of the shot group will all be within a circle of the mentioned diameter.
- R93.7 means the closest 93.7 percent of the shot group will all be within a circle of the mentioned diameter.
- The Gewehr 98 and MG 13 in semi-automatic firing mode performed similar with s.S. Patrone 7.92×57mm service ammunition.
Acceptance standard
The minimum accuracy acceptance standard for the Karabiner 98k was putting three out of five shots inside an 8 cm × 12 cm (3.1 in × 4.7 in) wide and high rectangle at a distance of 100 m (109.4 yd) during the factory zeroing (Anschießen) of the sight line and firing test with no marking or observation between rounds. If a fired round touched the edge of the rectangle it was considered inside. All five shots had to be inside a 12 cm (4.7 in) circle at 100 m (109.4 yd), which translates into 4.1 MOA. The rifle manufacturer had two attempts to pass the accuracy acceptance standard and was allowed to correct the rifle between the attempts. If a rifle did not pass the first test firing submission, the unsatisfactory target was kept to compare it to the second test firing submission.[47][48]
Post–World War II derivatives
This section needs additional citations for verification. (February 2020) |
Many of the liberated European countries continued production of rifles similar to the Karabiner 98k, for example
As with post-Nazi occupation service post-war production of derivatives was a stop-gap solution until enough numbers of more modern automatic rifles could be developed and produced. The vast majority of the 98k pattern rifles were soon stored as reserve weapons or given for very low prices to various fledgling states or rebel movements throughout the developing world. For instance, between 1950 and 1952, a hybrid of Kar 98k and
Both FN and CZ utilized a modified Kriegsmodell design, with the cleaning rod and stock disk omitted, but the bayonet lug restored. In Czechoslovakia it was known as P-18 or puška vz.98N, the first being the manufacturer's cover designation of the type, the second official army designation - rifle model 98, N for německá - German.
Yugoslavian M48
From 1948 to 1965, Yugoslavian Zastava Arms produced a close copy of the Karabiner 98k imported between the wars from
A hunting variant of the Yugoslavian M48 is still produced by Zastava Arms, it is designated as the Zastava Arms M70 Bolt Action Rifle now.
Spanish M43
The Spanish M43, produced in
Israeli Mauser
A number of non-European nations used the Mauser Karabiner 98k rifle as well as a few guerrilla organizations in conflicts to establish new nation-states. Israel issued Mauser Karabiner 98k rifles from the late 1940s until the 1970s, which are today sought after by collectors. Many were acquired under Operation Balak.[56]
Many Jewish organizations in Mandatory Palestine acquired them from Europe after World War II to both defend themselves and carry out operations against Arabs and British forces in the region.
The Haganah, which later evolved into the modern-day Israel Defense Forces, was one of the Jewish armed groups in Palestine that brought large numbers of Mauser Karabiner 98k rifles and other surplus arms (namely the British Lee–Enfield bolt-action rifle, which was used on a large scale by these groups) and the Mosin–Nagant from Europe after World War II. Many, though not all, Israeli-used German surplus Mauser Karabiner 98k rifles have had their Nazi Waffenamt markings and emblems stamped over with Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hebrew arsenal markings.
As the Arab-Israeli conflict approached and the British Mandate set to expire, the Haganah and other Jewish forces in
During the late 1950s, the IDF converted the calibre of their Mauser Karabiner 98k rifles from the original German 7.92×57mm Mauser round to 7.62×51mm NATO following the adoption of the FN FAL rifle as their primary rifle in 1958.[58] The Israeli Mauser Karabiner 98k rifles that were converted have "7.62" stamped on the rifle receiver. Rifles with original German stocks have "7.62" burned into the heel of the rifle stock for identification and to separate the 7.62×51mm NATO rifles from the original 7.92×57mm Mauser versions of the weapon still in service or held in reserve. Some Karabiner 98k rifles were fitted with new, unnumbered beech stocks of recent manufacture, while others retained their original furniture. All of these converted rifles were proof-fired for service. The IDF employed a 22 mm rifle grenade adapter for the Mauser Karabiner 98k rifle.[59]
The Karabiner 98k rifle was used by the reserve branches of the IDF well into the 1960s and 1970s and saw action in the hands of various support and line-of-communications troops during the 1967 Six-Day War and the 1973 Arab-Israeli War.[58] After the rifle was retired from reserve military service, the Israeli Mauser Karabiner 98k was given to a number of third-world nations as military aid by Israel during the 1970s and 1980s, and sold as ex-military surplus on the open market, with many Israeli Mausers being exported to Australia (the Israeli Mauser is the most predominant variant of the Mauser Kar98k rifle on the Australian surplus firearms market today) and North America during the 1970s and 1980s. The Israeli Mausers provided to third world armies began to be exported for civilian sale, and tend to be in significantly worse condition than those sold directly out of Israeli storage.
Contemporary use
The Bundeswehr still uses the Karabiner 98k in the Wachbataillon for military parades and show acts. In 1995, remaining swastikas and other Nazi-era markings were removed from these rifles, after criticism regarding the presence of such symbols on Wachbataillon kit by the Social Democratic Party.[60]
During the 1990s, the Yugoslavian Karabiner 98k rifles and the Yugoslavian M48 Mauser and M48A rifles were used alongside modern automatic and semi-automatic rifles by all the warring factions of the Yugoslav Wars. There are a number of photographs taken during the war in Bosnia, showing combatants and snipers using Yugoslavian-made Mauser rifles from high-rise buildings in the Bosnian city of Sarajevo.[61]
After 2003, the Mauser Karabiner 98k rifle (along with the Mosin–Nagant, the Lee–Enfield and the Yugoslavian M48 Mauser) was encountered in
Many
Civil use
This section needs additional citations for verification. (February 2020) |
The Karabiner 98k rifles that were used by Germany during World War II are highly sought after collector's items in many circles. The Mauser Karabiner 98k rifle remains popular among many rifle shooters and military rifle collectors due to the rifle's historical background, as well as the availability of both new and surplus 7.92×57mm IS ammunition. As of 2010[update], the Mauser Karabiner 98k rifles that were captured by the Soviets during World War II and refurbished during the late 1940s and early 1950s have appeared in large numbers on the military surplus rifle market. These have proven popular with buyers in the United States and Canada, ranging from ex-military rifle collectors to target shooters and survivalists, due to the unique history behind the Soviet capture of Mauser Karabiner 98k rifles.
The widespread availability of surplus Mauser 98k rifles and the fact that these rifles could, with relative ease, be adapted for hunting and other sport purposes made the Mauser 98k popular amongst civilian riflemen. When German hunters after World War II were allowed again to own and hunt with full bore rifles they generally started to "rearm" themselves with the then abundant and cheap former
Surplus Mauser 98K actions were used by Schultz & Larsen in Denmark as the basis for target rifles. The actions had the German markings removed, were refinished in gray phosphate, and new serial numbers and proof marks applied. The Schultz & Larsen M52 and M58 Target Rifles used shortened and refurbished Karabiner 98k stocks. Later versions had new target stocks fitted and were available in .30-06, 6.5×55mm and 7.62mm NATO. Some of these rifles are still in competitive use today although with the benefit of new barrels. Besides conversions of original Karabiner 98k rifles, other sporter variants made by a number of manufacturers such as FN Herstal, Zastava, Santa Barbara (Spain), and many others have been available at various times in a wide variety of chamberings, but most are large-bore hunting calibres.
Modern civilian offspring
The Mauser-type action is widely held to be the pinnacle of bolt-action rifle design, and the vast majority of modern weapons of this type, both military and civilian, are still based on it to this day. The safety offered by its three-lug bolt and the added reliability of controlled feed (especially favored by dangerous game hunters) are considerable refinements not found in other designs.
Throughout the design's history, standard sized and enlarged versions of the Mauser M 98 system have been produced for the civil market.
As of 2010, Zastava Arms manufactured the M48/63 sporting rifle, which is a short-barreled variant of the Model 1948 military rifle and the Zastava M07 sniper rifle.[66][67]
Since 1999, the production of Mauser M 98 and M 98 Magnum rifles has been resumed in Germany by Mauser Jagdwaffen GmbH[68] (Mauser Huntingweapons Ltd.) according to original drawings of 1936 and the respective Mauser patents.[69]
Users
- Armée de Libération Nationale guerrillas[70]
- Austria[71]
- Bolivia: Czech-made Modelo B-50[50]
- Mauser Standardmodell before it, also producing a licensed copy of it domestically.[72]
- Used by Chinese Warlords and pro-Japanese Collaborationist Chinese Army[73]
- Used by
- People's Republic of China: Used by the People's Volunteer Army in the Korean War. Some of the Kar98k rifles the PVA used in Korea were provided as military aid by the USSR.[74]
- Croatian Home Guard[5]
- Czechoslovakia: Used post-1945[75]
- Denmark[75]
- Egypt: obtained from Czechoslovakia[76]
- Ethiopian Empire: Received from Nazi Germany as military aid during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. Also purchased from the Zbrojovka Brno factory after WWII.[77][78]
- Finland: Ordered 600 rifles with rifle grenade launchers during World War II as the Finns lacked a domestic rifle grenade launcher for their Mosin–Nagants. Only 100 were used in combat.[79]
- France: Used during and after the war.[75]
- Nazi Germany: Used as the standard-issue rifle for the Wehrmacht.[5]
- West Germany: Used by the Bundeswehr's Wachbataillon[75]
- East Germany: In standard use by the Landstreitkräfte until the 1960s, in occasional use after this. Some also used by the Kampfgruppen der Arbeiterklasse, in addition to some being sent as aid to the Ethiopian Derg Government.[75]
- Guatemala: Bought from Czechoslovakia during Jacobo Arbenz's presidency. During the civil war surplus Israeli rifles were bought and issued to civilian defence patrols[80]
- Iceland[citation needed]
- Indonesia[81]
- Iraq[82]
- Israel[75]
- Italy: some captured by Italian partisans[83]
- Japan: Used by the Imperial Japanese Navy[84]
- Libyan Civil War[86]
- Luxembourg: The Grand Ducal Guard used captured German K98ks in 1945, later replaced by Ross rifles in the same year.[87]
- Mauritania[88]
- Manchukuo: used rifles captured from the Chinese forces[89]
- Netherlands: Post-World War II use.[90]
- Norway[91] Some later converted to K98kF1[92]
- Poland: (captured use)[93]
- Portugal designated m/937[91]
- Kingdom of Romania: 27,000 received from Germany in 1943[94]
- El Salvador: Kar 98k converted to 7.62×51mm NATO bought before receiving surplus US weapons.[95]
- Saudi Arabia: bought 1,000 Kar 98ks in the 1960s, probably to supply proxy forces.[citation needed]
- Serbia[5]
- First Slovak Republic[96]
- Soviet Union: (captured use)[97]
- Sweden: Imported 5,000 Kar 98k rifles in 1939.[98]
- Syria[99][100]
- Tunisia[101]
- Turkey[90]
- North Vietnam[102]
- Yemen[103]
- Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia[75]
Non-state users
- East Timor: Some Ex-Portuguese m/937s used by FALINTIL during the early stages of Indonesian Invasion of East Timor.[citation needed]
- Ethiopian insurgents: Used captured K 98ks against the Italians from 1941 onwards.[104]
- FRELIMO: Delivery of 4,800 Karabiner 98k from the German Democratic Republic in 1967[105]
- Haganah (in Mandate Palestine)[citation needed]
- Indonesian insurgents: Used Kar98ks captured from the Dutch during the Indonesian National Revolution.[90]
- Iraqi insurgents[62]
- ISIL: Used by ISIL insurgents in 2019.[106]
- Korean Liberation Army[75]
- MPLA: Delivery of 1,600 Karabiner 98k from the German Democratic Republic in 1967[105]
- National Liberation Front
- People's Movement for the Liberation of Azawad[63]
- Syrian opposition[107]
- Viet Cong: Some were ex-French leftovers from the Indochina War, others were Soviet aid provided during the Vietnam War.[108]
- Viet Minh[37]
- Yugoslav Partisans: Some later had the receiver markings removed, and the SFRY crest applied postwar.[109][110]
- Zimbabwe African People's Union: Delivery of 3,200 Karabiner 98k from the German Democratic Republic in 1967[105]
See also
- Chiang Kai-shek rifle
- Karabinek wz. 1929
- M24 series
- vz. 24
References
- ^ a b K98k Mauser Page Archived 2007-03-29 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 28 March 2007.
- ^ French K98k and G40k Page—go to "sommaire" at the bottom of the page to use the index (in French) Archived 2008-02-02 at the Wayback Machine
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External links
- Media related to Mauser Karabiner 98K at Wikimedia Commons
- How a Kar98k Works YouTube