The Karabiner 98k rifle was designed to be used with an S84/98 III bayonet and to fire rifle grenades.Īs of 1942, an attachable rifle grenade launcher called the Gewehrgranatengerät or Schießbecher (shooting cup) was introduced that was developed based on rifle grenade The laminated stocks were somewhat heavier compared to one-piece stocks. Plywood laminates are stronger and resisted warping better than the conventional one-piece patterns, did not require lengthy maturing and were cheaper. Most rifles had laminated stocks, the result of trials that had stretched through the 1930s. These cartridges were loaded with 12.8 g (197 gr) sS (schweres Spitzgeschoß/heavy pointed bullet) ball bullets The rear tangent sight was graduated for 1935 pattern 7.92x57mm IS cartridges from 100 m to 2000 m in 100 m increments. These standard sight lines consisted of somewhat coarse aiming elements making it suitable for rough field handling, aiming at distant area fire targets and low light usage, but less suitable for precise aiming at distant or small point targets. From 1939 onwards the post front sight was hooded to reduce glare under unfavourable light conditions and add protection for the post. Originally the Karabiner 98k iron sight line had an open post type front sight, and a tangent-type rear sight with a V-shaped rear notch. 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 on the Karabiner 98k.
The straight bolt handle found on the Gewehr 98 bolt had been replaced by a turned-down bolt handle on the Karabiner 98k. It could be loaded with five rounds of 7.92x57mm IS ammunition from a stripper clip, loaded into an internal magazine. The Karabiner 98k was a controlled-feed bolt-action rifle based on the Mauser M 98 system. Just like its predecessor, the rifle was noted for its reliability, great accuracy and an effective range of up to 500 meters (547 yards) with iron sights. Since the Karabiner 98k rifle was shorter than the earlier Karabiner 98b (the 98b was a carbine in name only, a version of Gewehr 98 long rifle with upgraded sights), it was given the designation Karabiner 98 Kurz, meaning "Carbine 98 Short". The Karabiner 98k was derived from earlier rifles, namely the Mauser Standardmodell and the Karabiner 98b, which in turn had both been developed from the Gewehr 98. 6.1 Modern civilian offspring of the Mauser 98K.