WWII Tech Pubs Briefing

Written by
Duane Godwin

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Overview

In 1898, Mauser introduced a fine rifle, the Gewehr (rifle) 98 that Germany adopted and used in WWI.  After the war, the Wehrmacht decided to modify the rifle.  Although the Wehrmacht desired a shorter and less bulky gun, the new version, the Karabiner (carbine) 98b (abbreviated Kar 98b), despite its name (a carbine is a short-barreled gun) was the same length as the Gewehr 98 and incorporated only some fairly minor changes.

By the time Germany invaded Poland, Kar 98b had at last shrunk a little.  The 140-mm (5.51-in) shorter and otherwise improved rifle was based on a commercial Mauser design called the Standard Modell (standard model), and in military service was known as the Karabiner 98k (the “k” stood for kurz, meaning “short”).  Even though it was called short, it was still fairly long for a carbine.

The 98k went into production in 1935, and served throughout World War II as Germany’s standard rifle.  During the war, factories churned out huge quantities of 98ks which proved to be reliable and accurate arms.  Due to shortages of raw materials, time, and skills, the aesthetic appearance of the guns deteriorated as the war went on.  The expensive wooden stock and other wooden parts were replaced with laminated wood, and the finish grew rougher

The German soldier prized his 98k for its accuracy.  The 98 family of guns featured a light action that promoted sure shooting, although at the expense of speed - a Lee-Enfield could get off more shots per minute.  The 98k’s V-shaped rear sight marked off ranges from 100 m (109 yd) to 2,000 m (2,187 yd). 

The Germans introduced various types of extras, including periscopic and telescopic sights, and folding butts for airborne troops.  The 98k acquired the ability to launch rifle grenades in 1941.  The weapon is still being made today as a sporting rifle.

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Specifications

Figures are for the Karabiner 98k.