| Gewehr 98 | |
|---|---|
 Gewehr 98 with bayonet and 5 round stripper clip on the side |
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| Type | Bolt-action rifle |
| Place of origin |  German Empire |
| Service history | |
| In service | Germany 1898-1935 |
| Used by | See users and civil users |
| Wars | Boxer Rebellion, World War I, Spanish Civil War, World War II |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Mauser |
| Designed | 1895 |
| Manufacturer | Mauser, Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken, Haenel, Sauer & Sohn, Waffenwerke Oberspree, V. Chr. Schilling Co., Simson, Imperial Arsenals of Amberg, Danzig, Erfurt, Leipzig, and Spandau |
| Produced | 1898-1918 |
| Number built | Approx. 5,000,000[1] |
| Variants | Kar 98a, Kar 98b, Kar 98k |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 4.09 kg (9 lb) with empty magazine Gewehr 98 3.50 kg (7.7 lb) Karabiner 98a |
| Length | 1,250 mm (49.2 in) Gewehr 98 1,090 mm (42.9 in) Karabiner 98a |
| Barrel length | 740 mm (29.1 in) Gewehr 98 590 mm (23.2 in) Karabiner 98a |
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| Cartridge | 7.92x57mm Mauser |
| Action | bolt-action |
| Muzzle velocity | 878 m/s (2,881 ft/s) |
| Effective range | 500 m (547 yd) (with iron sights) 800+ m (875+ yd) (with optics) |
| Feed system | 5 round clip in internal magazine |
The Gewehr 98 (abbreviated G98 or Gew 98) was the standard German infantry rifle from 1898 to 1935, when it was replaced by the Karabiner 98k.
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General information
The Gewehr 98, named for 1898, the first year of its manufacture, superseded the earlier Model 1888 Commission Rifle (also known as Gewehr 88) in German service. The bolt-action design used for the Gewehr 98 was patented by Paul Mauser on 9 September 1895. The Gewehr 98 itself was the latest in a line of Mauser rifles that were introduced in the 1890s.
The German Gewehr-Prüfungskommission (G.P.K.) (Rifle Testing Commission) adopted the Gewehr 98 on 5 April 1898. The action was derived from the experimental Gewehr 96 Rifle. In 1901, the first troop issues of the Gewehr 98 Rifles were made to the East Asian Expeditionary Force, the Navy and three premier Prussian army corps. The Gewehr 98 received its baptism by fire in the Boxer Rebellion (1898 - 1901). In 1904, contracts where placed with Waffenfabrik Mauser for 290,000 rifles and Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken (DWM) for 210,000 rifles.
In 1905, the 8 mm M/88 7.92x57mm I (it has been declared that the common "J" reference was a miscommunication with American intelligence, and it ended up sticking) cartridge which was introduced in 1888 and loaded with a 8.08 mm (.318 in) 14.6 g (226 gr) round nose bullet was replaced by the 7.92x57mm IS which was loaded with a new 8.20 mm (.323 in) 9.9 g (154 gr) spitzer bullet. The ammunition conversion was indicated by a small "S" stamped above the chamber and on the barrel at the back of the rear sight base, the sight was changed to the Langes Visier which is a distinctive large ramp.
Design details
The Gewehr 98 or model 98 (M98) rifle is a manually operated, magazine fed, controlled-feed bolt-action rifle, 1,250 mm (49 in) in length and 4.09 kg (9 lb) in weight. It has a 740 mm (29 in) long rifled barrel and carries 5 rounds of 7.92x57mm ammunition in an internal magazine. The Gewehr 98 has two sling swivels, open front sights, and a curved tangent-type rear sight, known as the Lange Visier.
The controlled-feed bolt-action of the Gewehr 98 is a distinct feature and is regarded as one of the major bolt-action system designs.
M 98 controlled-feed bolt-action system
The controlled-feed Mauser M98 bolt-action system is a simple, strong, safe, and well-thought-out design that inspired other military and hunting/sporting rifle designs that became available during the 20th century. A drawback of the M98 system is that it can not be cheaply mass produced very easily. Some other bolt-action designs (e.g. the Lee Enfield) also offer trained operators a significantly faster rate of fire.
Features
The M98 system[2] consists of a receiver that serves as the systems shroud and a bolt group of which the bolt body has three locking lugs, two large main lugs at the bolt head and a third safety lug at the rear of the bolt which serves as a backup in case the primary locking lugs failed. This third lug is a distinctive feature and was not present on previous Mauser bolt-action designs. The diameter of the receiver was also enlarged compared to previous Mauser receivers for additional strength and safety. The bolt handle is permanently attached to the bolt and on the Gewehr 98 is straight and protrudes out.
Another distinctive feature of the M98 system is the controlled-feed mechanism, consisting of a large, non-rotating claw extractor that engages the cartridge case rim as soon as the round leaves the magazine and firmly holds the cartridge case until the round is ejected by the ejector, mounted inside the receiver. Combined with a slight bolt retraction at the last stage of the bolt opening cycle, caused by the cammed surface on the rear receiver bridge, this results in a positive cartridge case extraction. The M98 bolt-action will cycle correctly irrespective of the way the rifle is moved or positioned during the bolt cycling action or if the cartridge has been fired or not. Only if the bolt is not brought back far enough, sharply enough, in a controlled round feed bolt-action the cartridge case may not be cleanly ejected and a jam may result.
The bolt houses the firing pin mechanism that gets cocked when the bolt is opened and the cocking piece protrudes visually and tactilely from the rear of the bolt to indicate the action is cocked. This bolt sleeve lock was not present on previous Mauser bolt-action designs and reduced firing pin travel and lock time.
The action features large gas relief holes and a gas shield on the bolt sleeve designed to protect the users head in case of a primer or cartridge rupture or detonation. When the action suffers a catastrophic failure it is designed to deflect the debris away from the operator's face.
The M 98 bolt group can be easily removed from the receiver simply by pulling out the bolt stop, located at the left wall of the receiver, and then by rotating and pulling the bolt out.
Safety
A three-position safety attached at the rear of the bolt which operating lever can be flicked from right (safety on, bolt locked) to middle (safety on, bolt can be opened for reloading), to left (ready to fire) but only when the rifle is cocked, otherwise the safety will not move. The safety secures the firing pin. The safety can only be released by firing the rifle with the safety set in the ready to fire position or by closing the cocked bolt with a previously pulled trigger that must be kept pulled back during the closing operation. Disengaging the safety by closing the bolt is only possible with the safety set in the ready to fire position. The safety catch leaver is quite large, making it easy to operate but posing a problem for mounting telescopic sights low above the receiver whilst retaining good operability of the safety catch leaver.
Ammunition feeding
The internal magazine of the M98 system consists of an integral box machined to match the cartridge for which the rifle was being chambered, with a detachable floorplate, that can hold up to 5 standard sized rifle cartridges. The magazine can be loaded with single rounds by pushing the cartridges into the receiver top opening or via stripper clips. Each stripper clip can hold 5 rounds to fill the magazine and is inserted into clip guides machined into the rear receiver bridge. After loading the empty clip is ejected when the bolt is closed. The magazine can be unloaded by operating the bolt (the safety should for safety reasons be set to the middle position for this) or in case of mechanical problems by opening the magazine floorplate.
Modern civilian offspring of the M98 system
Though the production of the M98 system for the German military ceased at the end of World War II in 1945, the production of new Mauser M 98 and Mauser M 98 Magnum rifles for civil users has been resumed in 1999 by Mauser Jagdwaffen GmbH[3] (Mauser Huntingweapons Ltd.), according to original drawings of 1936 and the respective Mauser patents. Several other gun manufactures and custom gun builders also currently produce new M98 system clones or M98 inspired bolt-action hunting/sporting rifles.
Variants
Sniper models
In the spring of 1915, it was decided to fit 15,000 Gewehr 98 rifles, selected for being exceptionally accurate during factory tests, with telescopic sights for sniper use, though the Gewehr 98 was not designed for use with aiming optics. To mount a telescopic sight directly over the rifle, the bolt had to be replaced with a model with a turned-down bolt handle. In the stock, a recess had to be made to accommodate the turned-down bolt handle modification. The telescopic sights consisted of 2.5x and 3x models, made by manufactures like Görtz, Gérard, Oige, Zeiss, Hensoldt, Voigtländer and various civilian models. Several different mountings produced by various manufacturers were used. Even with a turned-down bolt handle (unless it is low-profile as is common practice with modern hunting rifles), optics mounted low above the receiver will not leave enough space between the rifle and the telescopic sight body for unimpaired operation of the bolt or three-position safety catch lever. This ergonomic problem was solved by mounting the telescopic sight relatively high above the receiver. In reality, 18,421 Gewehr 98 rifles were converted and equipped with telescopic sights and issued to German snipers during World War I.[4]
Karabiner 98a
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Not to be confused with the later Karabiner 98k, the Karabiner 98a (K98a) was a shorter version of the Gewehr 98 originally made for cavalry and support unit use. The original model Karabiner 98, with a shorter barrel than the G98, was produced from 1899-1908, but it was not successful. In 1908, the Karabiner Model 1898AZ was approved. The new features were a small diameter receiver ring, tapered rather than stepped barrel contour, an L-shaped stacking rod attached to the stock near the muzzle, a turned-down bolt handle and recess in the stock in the same fashion as sniper Gewehr 98s. The "A" stood for "with bayonet", the "Z" stood for stacking pyramid, meaning carbine Model 1898 with bayonet attachment point and stacking rod device. In 1923, the AZ was dropped for 'a' as Germany sought to distinguish the model from the newer models 'b' and 'k'.[5]
During World War I, the Karabiner 98a was issued to cavalry, to mountain troops, and later to "established" assault units. It was liked because it was lighter and less bulky than the Gewehr 98, and was thus better suited for use in trench assaults.
Karabiner 98b
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The Karabiner 98b was another "carbine" variant. The Karabiner Model 1898b was introduced in 1923.[6] The new rifle had a long Gewehr 98 type barrel, tangent rear sight as opposed to the original "Lange" ramp sight, wider lower band with side sling attachment bar with a side butt attachment point, and a turned down bolt handle. It was essentially the same length as the Gewehr 98 and was designated as a carbine to comply with the terms of the Treaty of Versailles which only allowed Germany to produce carbines and no rifles.[5] The Karabiner 98k was derived from this variant of the Gewehr 98.
Combat service
The Gewehr 98 saw service primarily in World War I, as well as various colonial actions in the preceding years. As with all contemporary bolt-action rifles, it was a powerful and accurate rifle with long range that was poorly suited for the close quarter fighting of trench warfare. The considerable length of the rifle and the minimum sight setting of 400 meters (far in excess of the typical range in trench battles) were particular handicaps.
Its successor, the Karabiner 98k, would go on to be the standard rifle of the German infantry during World War II. Some Gewehr 98s also saw service in World War II, though many of these older rifles were converted to either 98b or 98k specifications.
The Gewehr 98 after World War I
Sporting and hunting
After the World War I, the Treaty of Versailles left Germany extremely constricted in terms of military power. Civilians were not allowed to have any use of standard military weapons or ammunition. Since the 8 x 57 IS round was so stout and great for hunting, people did not want to give up on it, so a redesign of the cartridge was made for the civilian market and the 8 x 60 S accommodate the new longer case.
The also rare 8 x 64 S cartridge offers a comparable rechambering option for Mauser Gewehr 98 and Karabiner 98k rifles sporting 8 mm S-bores. Due to its larger case capacity the 8 x 64 S chambering offers better ballistic performance than the 8 x 60 S. Some custom rifles were made using Mauser 98's and rechambering them for the 9 x 57 Mauser.
Since the purpose for these rifles was hunting and sporting, the bolt was professionally bent down, gradually the bent bolt became the standard and replaced the older straight bolt (though that was of course not always the case). The standard military sights were replaced by a 100 m sight, along with a flip-up on the rear sight for 200 m. The military stocks were replaced by newer ones that did not include the extra piece of stock for the bayonet lug.
Today these sporter rifles are extremely rare and the 8 x 60 and 8 x 60 S, 8 x 64 and 8 x 64 S and 9 x 57 Mauser cartridges are nearly obsolete, as only few mainstream ammunition manufacturers along with some other smaller companies continue to produce them. When correct ammunition is used in a converted rifle, a 8 x 60 (S), 8 x 64 (S) or 9 x 57 Mauser modified Gewehr 98 can be an extremely potent and inexpensive long-range big-game rifle.
Also, many Gewehr 98 rifles acquired as trophies by Allied forces during the war and brought to the US were converted to the 8mm-06 wildcat cartridge, a modification of the original 8 x 57 IS chambering to 8 x 63 S to accommodate the use of common and inexpensive surplus .30-06 Springfield cartridges, with their 7.62 mm (.30 caliber) bullets replaced by 8 mm (.323 caliber) bullets. Such conversions are indistinguishable from unmodified rifle without careful examination, and can be quite dangerous if fired with the shorter 8 x 57 mm ammunition, as the cartridge case will stretch to fit the elongated chamber and possibly rupture in the process, spraying the shooter with leaked propellant gas. However, the Mauser 98 action is designed specifically to direct gas away from the shooter in the event of a case rupture.
Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany
The Weimar Republic, the successor state to the German Empire, implemented a program designed to update their remaining supplies of Gewehr 98 rifles for the Reichswehr in the years following World War I. Rifles allowed into service with the early Weimar security forces were stamped with a "1920" marking on their receiver ring. Further updates to Weimar-era Gewehr 98's often included the replacement of the Lange Visier rear sight with a standard Karabiner 98k-style rear sight and sometimes a shortening of the barrel to Karabiner 98k length. Rifles that received these later modifications will often have both Weimar-era and Nazi markings, and "S/42" stamped on the rear sight base.
Additionally, Hitler initially chose to outfit his elite Schutzstaffel (SS) bodyguard units with modified Gewehr 98 rifles. Those rifles obtained by the SS normally had their original markings fully or partially removed and replaced with stylized Totenkopf markings.
Ottoman Empire
Large numbers of Gewehr 98 rifles were also given to the Ottoman Empire both during and after the war. Most of these rifles were converted to the "M38" standard by the Turkish Republic in the years before, during, and after World War II. Today these rifles are widely available in North America along with other Turkish Mausers. Careful observation is usually needed to tell an ex-Gewehr 98 apart from the myriad of other common M38-standard Mausers. Turkish Gewehr 98 rifles that were not converted can be easily identified by a crescent moon stamping on the top of the receiver.
Spanish Civil War
The rifle saw some usage in the Spanish Civil War, mostly in the hands of Franco's Nationalists and German volunteer legions. Most of these rifles were bought and imported to the United States as cheap sporting rifles in the 1960s.
China
After 1935, a shortened derivative, the Kunghsien Type 24 Chiang Kai-shek battle rifle, saw service with the Chinese National Revolutionary Army and saw extensive use from the Nationalist-Communist Civil War and the Second Sino-Japanese War to (in the hands of their communist opponents) the Korean war.
Israel
During the formation of the state of Israel in the aftermath of World War II, the Haganah acquired substantial numbers of Karabiner 98k rifles from any European sources they could find. Some of these rifles were converted Gewehr 98 rifles, which aside from the Imperial German markings are identical to all other Israeli Mausers. Like other Israeli Mausers, most of these rifles were rebarreled for 7.62 mm NATO after that round was adopted as the Israeli standard in 1958.
Users
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This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2009) |
- German Empire[7]
Weimar Republic[8]
Nazi Germany[9][10][11]
Ottoman Empire[12]
Republic of China in the form of the Chiang Kai-shek rifle[13]
Spanish State
Norway
Uruguay
See also
References
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This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate. (April 2009) |
- ^ French Gewehr 98 and Karabiner 98a Page - use the index to choose a particulare rifle variant (French)
- ^ Exploded view drawing of the Mauser Model 98 controlled-feed bolt-action
- ^ Mauser Jagdwaffen GmbH
- ^ French Gewehr 98 and Karabiner 98a Page - use the index to choose a particular rifle variant (French)
- ^ a b Smith, Randy D. (2005). "Old Mausers". http://www.chuckhawks.com/old_mausers.htm. Retrieved 2007-04-01.
- ^ Graf (2005). "The Kar.98a". http://gewehr98.com/html/Karabiner98a.html. Retrieved 2007-04-01.
- ^ http://world.guns.ru/rifle/rfl02-e.htm
- ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=KlReVu0HziIC&pg=PA188&lpg=PA188&dq=mauser+98+weimar&source=bl&ots=viOGHuG9q5&sig=lQjWEP-iX-6asEmfGMBxdPH7TtU&hl=en&ei=y4XcSvzYKc2xlAf1oYGiAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CB8Q6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=mauser%2098%20weimar&f=false
- ^ http://www.greyfalcon.us/Weapons.htm
- ^ http://www.gkironfist.greatnow.com/GerInfWeap.htm
- ^ http://www.probertencyclopaedia.com/F_GEWEHR_98.HTM
- ^ http://www.turkmauser.com/gew98/
- ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=KlReVu0HziIC&pg=PA93&lpg=PA93&dq=chiang+kai+shek+rifle&source=bl&ots=viOFGsHcu3&sig=mj_ZNlf_zf0UjdknOs_17irVWvs&hl=en&ei=BXTLSqmGK8O2lAfj7eHZBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=11#v=onepage&q=chiang%20kai%20shek%20rifle&f=false
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Mauser M1898 |
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Mauser System 98 |
- Mauser model 98 at guns.ru
- Mauser Military Rifles of the World, third ed. Ball, Robert W.D. Krause Publications.
- French Gewehr 98 and Karabiner 98a Page - use the index to choose a particulare rifle variant (French)
- Exploded view drawing of the Mauser Model 98 controlled-feed bolt-action
- Technical drawings of the Mauser Karabiner 98k rifle
- Gewehr 98 Mauser Military Rifles of the World by Robert W. D. Ball
- Historical Summary and Disassembly instructions for the Gewehr 98 from American Rifleman
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