Germany’s Karabiner 98k Bolt-Action Rifle

I had a friend who served in combat in Europe from D-Day through to the end of the war. Like most all of those old heroes, he is gone now. However, the stories he could tell…

Mr. P was a farmer, a man of the earth. He invested his entire adult life raising his family, loving his neighbors, and glorifying God. He was the very image of a Southern Christian gentleman. The man was meek, humble, and generous. However, in his youth this stately old grandfather was a cold-hearted professional killer.

The Mauser Karabiner 98k served as the standard issue rifle for German forces throughout World War II.

Mr. P had absolutely no use for the Waffen SS. In fact, he said, to his recollection, he and his fellow grunts never took an SS man prisoner. To hear him tell it, those SS guys earned that.

One of the more disquieting practices of the SS was that they would often post a two-man sniper team as a stay-behind element as they retreated from an area. G.I.s who were tasked with clearing an unfamiliar space would carefully advance only to find that these SS snipers would kill a handful of Americans before departing just for meanness. Mr. P said they came to expect it.

The Story

When first I met Mr. P he took me out to his barn. The man dropped out of school at a young age to keep his family from starving during the Great Depression, yet he restored old steam engines for fun. Like many of his generation, the guy was a mechanical savant. Hanging on a nail among all of those meticulously organized tools was an old German coal scuttle helmet. The SS runes on the side were faded but obvious. What made the antique stalhelm remarkable, however, was the .30-caliber hole that poked clean through from one side to the other.

A German sniper takes firing position behind railroad tracks on the Eastern Front, aiming a scope-equipped Karabiner 98k Mauser rifle during World War 2 combat operations against Soviet forces. The Wehrmacht or Waffen SS marksman demonstrates tactical use of railway infrastructure as cover while employing the scoped Kar98k bolt-action sniper rifle that served German designated marksmen throughout the war. This precision shooting variant of the standard German infantry rifle features a telescopic sight mounted to the receiver, transforming the basic Mauser 98k into an effective long-range weapon system. German snipers operated extensively on the Eastern Front from Operation Barbarossa in 1941 through the final battles in Berlin, using the 7.92x57mm chambered Karabiner 98k to engage Soviet infantry, officers, and crew-served weapon teams at extended distances. The railroad tracks provide both hard cover against incoming fire and a stable shooting platform for the German marksman to steady his scoped Mauser rifle for precision shots. Wehrmacht sniper doctrine emphasized two-man teams and aggressive forward positioning, with SS units particularly known for using stay-behind sniper elements to harass advancing Allied and Soviet troops during tactical withdrawals. The Kar98k sniper rifle could be fitted with various German military optics including the 4X ZF4 scope, the turret-mounted Zeiss ZF39, or the less popular 1.5X ZF41 long eye relief sight. German snipers on the Eastern Front became legendary for their effectiveness, with the scoped Karabiner 98 kurz serving as their primary weapon throughout the brutal campaign against the Red Army. — A German solider uses railroad tracks for a brace while aiming his Karabiner 98k on the Eastern Front. Image: NARA

Mr. P’s unit was tasked with securing Orly Airport outside of Paris. This is one of two major airports serving the Paris area today. His commander held the unit up short of the front gate. This objective just seemed too juicy for the krauts to have abandoned without a fight.

A German Karabiner 98k bolt-action rifle equipped with a ZF41 telescopic sight displayed alongside period-correct Wehrmacht equipment including a steel stahlhelm helmet, stripper clip of 7.92x57mm Mauser ammunition, and Model 24 Stielhandgranate stick grenade. The Kar98k shows the ZF41 scope mounted to the rear sight base, a 1.5X long eye relief optic that approximately 100,000 units were produced during World War 2 though it proved less effective than other German military sights. The stripper clip holds five rounds of 7.92x57mm Mauser s.S. Patrone ammunition used to rapidly charge the rifle's internal magazine from the top of the receiver. German infantry carried multiple stripper clips in ammunition pouches along with grenades, entrenching tools, gas masks, and other combat equipment during operations from 1939 through 1945. The coal scuttle helmet or stahlhelm represents the iconic German military headgear that protected Wehrmacht and Waffen SS soldiers throughout World War 2 on all fronts. The Model 24 stick grenade with its distinctive wooden handle became one of the most recognizable German weapons of the war, used extensively in both offensive and defensive operations. This collection of Mauser rifle accessories and German military equipment shows the typical combat loadout for Wehrmacht infantry armed with the Karabiner 98 kurz standard issue rifle. The ZF41 optical sight mounted on this Kar98k proved less popular than the 4X ZF4 scope due to its small size and limited eye relief that made aimed shooting difficult, though the concept of a low-power combat optic was sound for its era. — Wehrmacht soldiers carried their Mauser rifles with stripper clips for quick reloading, and various equipment including stick grenades.

Mr. P and another redneck Mississippi guy then slipped off ahead of the main body to recon the space. They carefully ascended one of the taller hangars and set themselves up on the roof. Peering across the airfield structures with the eagle eyes of youth, they spotted what they came for. Perched on another hangar was the obligatory SS sniper team. The German marksman and his spotter were both fixated on the front gate. They had no idea that Mr. P and his buddy were there.

Waffen SS soldiers dismount from a tracked armored vehicle while carrying Karabiner 98k Mauser rifles during Eastern Front combat operations against Soviet forces in World War 2, demonstrating German mechanized infantry tactics that combined vehicle mobility with dismounted infantry assault. The SS troops equipped with standard Kar98k bolt-action rifles jump from the halftrack or armored personnel carrier to engage in ground combat, using the 7.92x57mm Mauser service weapon that served both Wehrmacht and Waffen SS units throughout the war from 1939 to 1945. German mechanized infantry doctrine emphasized rapid deployment from vehicles into tactical positions where soldiers would fight on foot with their individual weapons including the Karabiner 98 kurz rifle, MP40 submachine guns, and MG34 or MG42 machine guns. The Eastern Front from 1941 through 1945 saw extensive use of German halftracks, armored cars, and other vehicles to transport SS and Wehrmacht infantry across the vast distances of the Soviet Union during Operation Barbarossa and subsequent campaigns. Waffen SS units like the Leibstandarte, Das Reich, Totenkopf, and Wiking divisions operated as elite mechanized formations on the Eastern Front, equipped with vehicles for mobility but still relying on the Kar98k as the primary individual weapon for dismounted combat. The bolt-action Mauser rifle proved effective in the hands of well-trained SS troops despite being inferior to Soviet semi-automatic rifles like the SVT-40, with German emphasis on marksmanship training and fire discipline compensating for lower rate of fire. German armored vehicles provided protected transport and heavy weapons support but mechanized infantry still conducted most actual fighting dismounted on foot, using terrain, buildings, and fortifications for cover while employing rifles, machine guns, and grenades. The Karabiner 98k served Waffen SS soldiers throughout brutal Eastern Front combat including major battles at Moscow, Stalingrad, Kursk, Kharkov, and numerous other engagements where SS formations fought as shock troops and fire brigades plugging gaps in German lines against overwhelming Soviet numerical superiority. — Waffen SS troops dismount from an RSO variant, carrying their Kar98k rifles, during Eastern Front operations against Soviet forces. Image: NARA

Each American G.I. drew a careful bead with his M1 Garand rifle. On a three count, the two young Americans fired simultaneously, killing both Germans. In the gory aftermath, Mr. P retrieved the dead man’s helmet, cleaned it up, and shipped it home. That helmet with its distinctive hole remained hanging from that nail in his barn for decades. It is in a small local museum today.

The Mauser Kar98k served as the standard German infantry rifle throughout World War II, with more than 14 million units produced between 1934 and 1945.

The weapon that hapless German sniper wielded was a scoped version of the Mauser Kar98k bolt-action infantry rifle. The Kar98k was a shortened carbine variant of the same rugged Gewehr 98 that carried the Kaiser’s legions through World War 1. The Kar98k served as the standard infantry weapon for both the Wehrmacht and the Waffen SS throughout WWII.

Karabiner 98k Origins

Adopted in 1934, the Karabiner 98 kurz was an evolutionary development of the same Gewehr 98 bolt-action rifle that carried the Kaiser’s armies through World War 1. The nomenclature literally translates to “Carbine 98 Short.” The abbreviated 23.6-inch barrel also drove the adoption of a specific cartridge.

Military firearms author and historian Will Dabbs holds a surplus Karabiner 98k Mauser rifle while wearing period-correct German uniform reproductions that replicate Wehrmacht infantry combat dress from World War 2. The Kar98k bolt-action rifle represents one of millions produced between 1934 and 1945 that served German forces on all fronts throughout the war. Dabbs demonstrates proper handling of the 7.92x57mm Mauser rifle, showing how German soldiers would have carried and presented the Karabiner 98 kurz during infantry operations. The period uniform includes typical Wehrmacht field gray tunic, trousers, boots, and equipment that German riflemen wore while armed with the standard issue Kar98k service rifle. Surplus Mauser rifles remain available to collectors and shooters today through various importers who brought demilitarized and shooter-grade examples from European stockpiles after the war ended. The author's recreation helps modern audiences understand the weight, balance, and ergonomics of the German military rifle that proved both reliable and accurate despite being obsolete compared to semi-automatic designs like the American M1 Garand. Original Kar98k rifles in collector condition command significant prices due to historical interest in World War 2 German firearms, with matching numbers examples and rare variants being especially valuable. The Mauser 98k design remains mechanically sound today, with the controlled-feed bolt action proving so successful that commercial sporting rifles still use variations of the same system developed over a century ago. — The Kar98k remains popular with collectors and military firearms enthusiasts decades after World War II ended.

The WWI-vintage G98 fired the 1903-pattern 7.92×57mm Mauser S Patrone. However, this round was found to produce excessive muzzle flash from the shorter Kar98k barrel. As a result, the Germans adopted the 7.92×57mm Mauser s.S. Patrone in 1933. This new cartridge used the same case but offered diminished muzzle flash and improved accuracy out of the shorter Kar98k tubes.

The Kar98k is a controlled-feed design based upon the proven Mauser M98. That means the extractor snaps over the cartridge rim as the round comes out of the magazine, controlling its orientation throughout the feeding cycle. The gun’s internal magazine holds five rounds, and it is typically loaded from the top via stripper clips. The strippers are considered disposable once the weapon is charged.

German honor guard troops stand at attention holding Karabiner 98k Mauser rifles during the ceremony where Hans Frank assumed command of the General Government for the Occupied Polish Region following Nazi Germany's conquest of Poland in 1939 during World War 2. The Wehrmacht soldiers carry the standard Kar98k bolt-action rifles in ceremonial presentation position, demonstrating how the 7.92x57mm Mauser service weapon served both combat and formal military functions throughout the Third Reich. Hans Frank served as Governor-General of occupied Poland from 1939 until 1945, overseeing brutal occupation policies that resulted in millions of deaths and earning him a death sentence at the Nuremberg Trials after Germany's defeat. The honor guard's Karabiner 98 kurz rifles represent the standard German infantry weapon that was used not only on battlefields across Europe, Africa, and the Eastern Front but also for ceremonies, parades, and official state functions in occupied territories. German military tradition emphasized formal ceremonies and guard duties, with soldiers carrying their Mauser 98k rifles in pristine condition for official events while the same weapon design saw hard use in combat from Poland in 1939 through Germany's surrender in 1945. The General Government established by Nazi Germany in occupied Poland became the site of horrific war crimes and genocide, with Frank's administration implementing policies that led to the extermination of Polish Jews and the brutal subjugation of the Polish population. Wehrmacht and Waffen SS troops used the Kar98k for honor guard duties across all occupied territories including France, Norway, the Low Countries, the Balkans, and conquered Soviet territories where German military governors held power. The ceremonial use of the Karabiner 98k bolt-action rifle contrasts sharply with its primary role as the standard combat weapon that millions of German soldiers carried into battle throughout six years of total war that devastated Europe and resulted in tens of millions of deaths. — The Karabiner 98k served ceremonial functions in addition to combat roles throughout the Third Reich’s existence. Image: Polish National Digital Archives

Unlike the previous Gewehr 98, the bolt handle on the Kar98k is turned down. This reduces the effort required in cycling and allows the rifle to be fitted with an optical sight. Early examples were blued. Later versions produced from 1944 onward were Parkerized. Between 1934 and 1945, the Germans produced some 14,600,000 copies.

Each weapon comes with a short length of threaded cleaning rod secured underneath the barrel. As with most bolt-action military rifles, maintenance is pretty straightforward.

There is a bolt release latch on the left side of the receiver. To disassemble the rifle, just retract the bolt, pull up on that latch and remove the bolt assembly to the rear. That’s really about all there is to it.

The Kar98k comes fitted with a tangent leaf rear sight corresponding to a fixed front barleycorn. Guns made after 1939 included a pressed steel front sight hood. The rear sight is graduated in 100-meter increments out to 2,000 meters.

Close-up photograph of the Karabiner 98k sliding tangent leaf rear sight showing the graduated markings calibrated in 100-meter increments from 100 out to 2,000 meters for long-range shooting with the German bolt-action rifle during World War 2. The Kar98k rear sight assembly mounts on the barrel just forward of the receiver, featuring a folding tangent leaf that German soldiers adjusted up or down to compensate for bullet drop at different ranges when firing the 7.92x57mm Mauser cartridge. The graduated sight markings allowed Wehrmacht infantry to dial in specific range settings from close quarters out to theoretical maximum effective distance, though practical combat accuracy with iron sights rarely exceeded 400 to 600 meters even for skilled marksmen. German military doctrine emphasized marksmanship training with the Mauser 98k, with soldiers learning to estimate range and adjust the tangent rear sight accordingly during training exercises before deployment to combat zones. The sliding sight leaf on the Karabiner 98 kurz pairs with a fixed barleycorn front sight to create the traditional iron sight system used on military bolt-action rifles throughout the early 20th century. Rifles manufactured after 1939 incorporated a pressed steel hood over the front sight to protect it from damage during combat, transportation, and field handling that could knock the sight out of alignment. The 2,000-meter maximum graduation on the Kar98k rear sight reflects optimistic expectations for infantry rifle effectiveness, though actual combat engagements typically occurred at much shorter ranges where the tangent sight settings of 200 to 400 meters saw more practical use. German soldiers learned to quickly adjust the sliding rear sight during combat based on target distance, with experienced infantry developing instinctive understanding of proper sight settings for common engagement ranges encountered on the Eastern Front, Western Front, and other theaters throughout World War 2. — The Kar98k rear sight features a sliding tangent leaf graduated in 100-meter increments out to 2,000 meters for long-range shooting.

Early Kar98k stocks were conventional one-piece designs. Starting in 1937, the rifles were fitted with laminated plywood stocks. These stocks were cheaper and more robust than the solid sort. Laminated stocks incorporate a stamped steel cup buttplate and a sling slot. Period commentary from WWII claimed that most Kar98k stocks that failed, failed through that slot. There is a round fitting in the butt that can be used to disassemble the bolt. The Germans also ran steel rods through these holes and used that to secure multiple rifles together in racks.

Accessorizing the Kar98k

The Germans fielded a mean bayonet with the Kar98k. They also produced a cup-style grenade launcher called the Schiessbecher, or Gewehrgranatengerät, along with a dedicated cleaning kit with a pull through. Later versions of this launcher would also fit the G98/40, the MP44, and the FG42 rifles as well. Special grenade launching rounds launched wooden bullets that would automatically prime the grenades upon firing.

A German Wehrmacht soldier in combat uniform loads a Gewehr-Panzergranate anti-tank rifle grenade into the Schiessbecher cup-style launcher mounted on his Karabiner 98k bolt-action rifle while fighting from a trench position on the Eastern Front during World War 2. The Kar98k equipped with the Gewehrgranatengerät launcher system gave German infantry the ability to engage armored vehicles, fortifications, and personnel targets at ranges beyond standard rifle fire using specialized grenade projectiles. The soldier demonstrates proper handling technique for rifle grenade operations, inserting the grenade's tail boom into the cup launcher affixed to the muzzle of the 7.92x57mm Mauser rifle. Special grenade launching cartridges with wooden bullets provided propulsion for rifle grenades while automatically priming the explosive warhead upon firing from the Karabiner 98 kurz. Eastern Front combat conditions from 1941 through 1945 saw extensive use of rifle grenades by Wehrmacht troops fighting Soviet forces in trench warfare, urban combat, and defensive positions across Russia and occupied territories. The Schiessbecher launcher cup attached to the Kar98k muzzle using a clamp system that could be removed when standard rifle fire was required, giving German infantrymen flexibility in combat roles. German soldiers carried multiple rifle grenade types including anti-personnel fragmentation rounds and anti-tank Panzergranate projectiles with shaped charge warheads capable of penetrating light armor. The Gewehrgranatengerät system later adapted to other German weapons including the semi-automatic G98/40, the revolutionary MP44 assault rifle, and the selective-fire FG42 paratroop rifle for broader tactical employment. — A German soldier loads a Gewehr-Panzergranate (grenade) in the Schiessbecher (launcher) affixed on his Karabiner 98k rifle. He is firing from a trench on the Eastern Front. Image: Polish National Digital Archives

The Germans designed a curious prototype sound suppressor for the Kar98k called the HUB-23. The corresponding subsonic cartridge was called the Nahpatrone or “Near Cartridge.” This combination supposedly diminished the rifle’s report by about 75%.

German Admiral Otto Ciliax test fires a Mauser Karabiner 98k rifle fitted with the Schiessbecher rifle grenade launcher during a coastal inspection of Wehrmacht defensive positions in occupied Norway during World War 2. The senior Kriegsmarine officer handles the Kar98k bolt-action rifle equipped with the cup-style Gewehrgranatengerät launcher that allowed German infantry to fire anti-tank Panzergranate and fragmentation grenades from their standard 7.92x57mm service rifles. Norwegian coastal defenses manned by Wehrmacht troops received regular inspections from German military leadership throughout the occupation from 1940 to 1945, with officers evaluating weapons, fortifications, and troop readiness against potential Allied amphibious assault. The Schiessbecher launcher mounted on the Karabiner 98 kurz muzzle gave German soldiers defending Norway's extensive coastline the ability to engage landing craft and armored vehicles with rifle-launched explosive projectiles. Admiral Ciliax served in prominent Kriegsmarine roles including command of capital ships during the famous Channel Dash operation in February 1942 when Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, and Prinz Eugen escaped from Brest through the English Channel. German cross-service cooperation meant naval officers frequently inspected and coordinated with Wehrmacht ground forces, particularly in coastal defense sectors where Kriegsmarine and army units worked together defending occupied territories. The rifle grenade system on the Mauser 98k provided squad-level indirect fire capability without requiring dedicated mortar teams or heavy weapons, making it valuable for dispersed defensive positions along Norway's rugged terrain. Wehrmacht soldiers stationed in Norway used the Karabiner 98k as their primary infantry weapon throughout the occupation, with the Schiessbecher launcher attachment enhancing their ability to defend beaches, fjords, and coastal installations against Allied commando raids and potential invasion forces. — Admiral Otto Ciliax aims a Karabiner 98k Mauser rifle equipped with a Schiessbecher cup-style grenade launcher during an inspection tour on the Norwegian coast. Image: Polish National Digital Archives

There were three major optical sights used with the Kar98k. The ZF41 scope was a curious 1.5X long eye relief optic that mounted to the rear sight base. While the concept was sound, the optic’s small size and limited eye relief made it like shooting through a tube of Chapstick. They produced around 100,000 copies, but the ZF41 was not terribly popular.

Close-up view of a ZF41 telescopic sight mounted on a Karabiner 98k Mauser rifle showing the distinctive 1.5X long eye relief optic that attached to the rear sight base of the German bolt-action infantry weapon during World War 2. The ZF41 scope represents one of three major optical sights used on the Kar98k, with approximately 100,000 units produced between 1941 and 1945 for Wehrmacht and Waffen SS use across all combat theaters. This compact optic mounted directly to the existing rear sight base of the 7.92x57mm Mauser rifle without requiring special machining or gunsmithing, making it economical to produce and install compared to the ZF4 and ZF39 scopes that needed dedicated mounting rails. The small objective lens and tube diameter of the ZF41 created a restricted sight picture that German soldiers compared to looking through a narrow tube, limiting its effectiveness despite the theoretical advantage of 1.5X magnification. German military doctrine attempted to provide standard infantry with modest optical enhancement through the ZF41 system, though the limited eye relief and small field of view made rapid target acquisition difficult during combat operations. The ZF41 telescopic sight on the Karabiner 98 kurz proved less popular than iron sights or the superior 4X ZF4 scope that designated marksmen preferred for actual sniper and precision shooting applications. This long eye relief optic allowed German riflemen to maintain normal shooting position and cheek weld on the Kar98k stock while using the scope, unlike conventional scopes that required closer eye positioning to the ocular lens. The ZF41 mounting system's simplicity meant any standard Karabiner 98k could be fitted with the optic in the field without specialized tools or modifications to the receiver, though most soldiers preferred removing the scope and using traditional iron sights for general infantry combat. — The ZF41 1.5X long eye relief optic on the Kar98k was a curious bit of kit. Despite being well ahead of its time, it was never terribly popular.

The ZF4 was a much more utilitarian optic that was also used on the StG44 and FG42 rifles. This 4X sight featured a post-type reticle and was not fundamentally dissimilar from modern combat optics used today. It was inexpensive to produce and quite effective.

Eastern Front combat scene showing a German rifle grenade team in a defensive trench with one Wehrmacht soldier aiming a Karabiner 98k fitted with a Schiessbecher launcher while his comrade uses binoculars to spot targets and adjust fire during operations against Soviet forces in World War 2. The grenadier holds the Kar98k bolt-action rifle at an elevated angle necessary for launching rifle grenades in high arcs toward enemy positions, using the Gewehrgranatengerät cup launcher mounted on the 7.92x57mm Mauser's muzzle. German infantry tactics emphasized coordinated fire team operations where spotters with optical equipment directed rifle grenade fire, providing range estimates and observing impact points to help gunners adjust subsequent shots onto Soviet troop concentrations or fortified positions. Trench warfare conditions on the Eastern Front from Operation Barbarossa in 1941 through the final battles in 1945 required German soldiers to maximize firepower from limited positions, making rifle-launched grenades valuable for engaging targets beyond direct fire range. The Karabiner 98 kurz rifle grenade system gave Wehrmacht infantry squad-level indirect fire capability without the weight and complexity of mortars, allowing individual two-man teams to provide supporting fire during defensive operations and assaults. Special grenade launching cartridges with wooden bullets propelled various projectile types from the Mauser 98k including high-explosive fragmentation rounds against Soviet infantry, Gewehr-Panzergranate shaped charges against T-34 tanks and armored vehicles, and smoke grenades for screening maneuvers. The spotter's binoculars allowed German soldiers to identify targets at extended ranges across the Eastern Front's vast open terrain, observing fall of shot and communicating corrections to the grenadier for improved accuracy on subsequent rounds. Wehrmacht rifle grenade doctrine trained soldiers to work as integrated teams where observation and fire adjustment were as important as the actual launching, reflecting German emphasis on combined arms tactics even at the smallest unit levels. — Two German Wehrmacht soldiers operate as a rifle grenade team in an Eastern Front trench. One prepares to fire a grenade from his Karabiner 98k while his partner observes targets through binoculars. Image: Polish National Digital Archives

The Zeiss ZF39 was a 4X optic that utilized a distinctive turret mount. In addition, many Kar98k rifles were hand-fitted with a variety of civilian optics as they came available. As a result, there was very little standardization.

Ruminations on the Karabiner 98k

The Kar98k was really obsolete by the time WWII broke out. The American M1 Garand offered significantly greater firepower, and the subsequent StG44 represented a quantum leap forward. However, once WWII really got energized, the Germans never quite caught up. Around-the-clock strategic bombing played an outsized role in that problem. The Kar98k was nonetheless a superb bolt-action infantry rifle for its day.

Special thanks to www.worldwarsupply.com for the replica period gear used in this project.

Editor’s Note: Be sure to check out The Armory Life Forum, where you can comment about our daily articles, as well as just talk guns and gear. Click the “Go To Forum Thread” link below to jump in!