Karabiner 98k
The Karabiner 98k was a German rifle introduced into general service in 1898. It was manufactured by the Mauser armory in huge quantities until it became obsolete after WWII. The 98K is a bolt-action rifle with Mauser-type action that holds five rounds of 7.92x57 mm on a stripper clip. It was the primary German infantry rifle in both world wars, and was noted for its excellent accuracy and effective range of 800 meters. For this reason it continued to be used with a telescopic sight as a sniper rifle, after it was obsolete as a standard weapon. The 98k had the same disadvantages as all other turn of the century military rifles, that being bulky and heavy and slow rate of fire (mainly due to its bolt action mechanism). It was also designed to be used with a bayonet and to fire special grenades. A version with a folding stock was introduced in 1941 to be used by airborne marksmen.
Towards the end of the war the 98k was being phased out in favor of the much more advanced StG44.
Karabiner 98k specifications:
- Length: 111 cm
- Barrel length: 60cm
- Weight: 3.7-4.1kg
- Rate of fire: Approx. 15 rpm
- Wartime production: over 10 million
See also: List of common WWII infantry weapons,List of Axis firearms of WW2
