Karabiner 98k
The Karabiner 98 kurz (German: [kaʁaˈbiːnɐ ˌʔaxtʔʊntˈnɔʏntsɪç ˈkʊɐ̯ts]; "carbine 98 short"), often abbreviated Karabiner 98k, Kar98k or K98k and also sometimes incorrectly referred to as a K98 (a K98 is a Polish carbine and copy of the Kar98a), is a bolt-action rifle chambered for the 7.92×57mm Mauser cartridge. It was adopted on 21 June 1935 as the standard service rifle by the German Wehrmacht. It was one of the final developments in the long line of Mauser military rifles.
| Karabiner 98k | |
|---|---|
Karabiner 98k made in 1940 from the collections of the Swedish Army Museum | |
| Type | Bolt-action rifle |
| Place of origin | Nazi Germany |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1935–present |
| Used by | See Users |
| Wars | See List of conflicts and wars |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1934 |
| Manufacturer | Mauser (augmented by several other makers) |
| Unit cost | 55 ℛ︁ℳ︁ (1935) 250 EUR current equivalent |
| Produced | 1934–1945 |
| No. built | 14,600,000+ |
| Variants | See Variants |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 3.7–4.1 kg (8.2–9.0 lb) |
| Length | 1,110 mm (43.70 in) |
| Barrel length | 600 mm (23.62 in) |
| Cartridge | 7.92×57mm Mauser |
| Action | Bolt-action |
| 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. |
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. 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.