Karabiner 98k
- Category
- Rifle
- Barrel
- 600 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.90 kg
- Introduced
- 1935
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Karabiner 98k is a bolt-action rifle chambered in 7.92x57mm Mauser, produced by Mauser since 1935. This German-manufactured firearm reflects the engineering traditions and quality standards of its country of origin, designed to meet the demands of both civilian and professional users in a competitive global marketplace. Featuring a 5-round magazine capacity, this rifle offers compact firepower. The striker-fired action provides a consistent trigger pull for every shot, simplifying training and reducing the manual of arms - a design philosophy that has become the dominant paradigm in modern defensive handguns. The 23.6-inch barrel maximizes accuracy potential and ballistic performance, making this an excellent choice for target shooting, competition, or field use. At 3900g (137.6 oz), this is a substantial firearm whose weight contributes to reduced felt recoil and enhanced stability during precision shooting. The steel frame provides a solid, premium feel with the durability to withstand decades of regular use and thousands of rounds. This firearm represents its manufacturer's commitment to delivering a well-engineered, reliable product that serves the needs of discerning shooters seeking quality, accuracy, and dependable performance from a proven platform.
The Kar98k's Mauser M98 bolt action was so reliable and influential that it became the basis for virtually every bolt-action sporting rifle made in the 20th century. After WWII, millions of captured Kar98ks were redistributed globally by the Soviet Union, seeing continued combat service well into the 1970s. Israel famously converted many captured examples to 7.62 NATO for its own defense forces.
In late 1944, the Kriegsmodell variant was introduced with simplified manufacturing to increase wartime production, omitting features like the bayonet lug, cleaning rod, and stock disk. The rifle could mount the Zielfernrohr 41 (ZF41) 1.5x scope or more powerful 4x scopes for sniper use. The standardized Schiessbecher grenade launcher attachment allowed firing of rifle grenades. Post-war, millions of captured Kar98k rifles were redistributed by the Soviet Union as military aid and saw service in numerous conflicts through the 1970s. Israel notably converted many to 7.62x51mm NATO. The Kar98k remains highly regarded by collectors and is still used in ceremonial roles by some militaries today. Production costs during WWII averaged 67-70 Reichsmarks per rifle.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Mauser
- Category
- Rifle
- Country
- Germany
- Status
- Discontinued
- Produced
- 1935 to 1945
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 600 mm
- Overall length
- 1110 mm
- Sight radius
- 500 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.90 kg
- Weight, loaded
- 4.00 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Bolt action
- Firing mechanism
- Striker fired
- Trigger
- Single stage
- Trigger pull
- 27.0 N
- Capacity
- 5
- Magazine
- Internal
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Steel
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Wood
- Finish
- Blued
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 760 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 3700 J
- Effective range
- 500 m
- Maximum range
- 2000 m
- Rate of fire
- 15 rpm
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
No load solved for this record yetThe flight path is computed from a cartridge and a bullet. This record has no ammunition filed against its chambering, so there is nothing to solve.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Turned down bolt handle
Stripper clip loading
Bayonet lug
Iron sights- Optics capable
Rifle grenade capable
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 36 7.92x57mm Mauser rifles | 3.90 kg | 4.00 kg | Lighter than about 70% |
| Overall lengthAmong 35 7.92x57mm Mauser rifles | 1110 mm | 1105 mm | Longer than about 60% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 35 7.92x57mm Mauser rifles | 600 mm | 600 mm | Shorter than about 60% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 36 7.92x57mm Mauser rifles | 5 | 5 | Holds fewer rounds than about 60% |
Answers
Questions about the Karabiner 98k
How much does the Karabiner 98k weigh?
The Karabiner 98k weighs 3.90 kg (8.60 lb) empty and 4.00 kg (8.82 lb) loaded.
What caliber is the Karabiner 98k?
The Karabiner 98k is chambered in 7.92x57mm Mauser.
How many rounds does the Karabiner 98k hold?
The Karabiner 98k holds 5 rounds, fed from an internal magazine.
How long is the Karabiner 98k?
The Karabiner 98k is 1110 mm (43.7 in) long overall, with a 600 mm (23.6 in) barrel.
Who makes the Karabiner 98k?
The Karabiner 98k is made by Mauser (Germany). It was designed by Paul Mauser.
When was the Karabiner 98k introduced?
The Karabiner 98k was introduced in 1935 and discontinued in 1945.
How does the Karabiner 98k operate?
The Karabiner 98k uses a bolt action, and its firing mechanism is striker fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- Wehrmacht
- 1935
- Waffen-SS
- 1935
- Soviet Armed Forces
- 1945
- People's Liberation Army
- 1945
- Israel Defense Forces
- 1948
- French Armed Forces
- 1945
- Norwegian Armed Forces
- 1945
- Romanian Armed Forces
- 1945
- Yugoslav People's Army
- 1945
- Czechoslovak People's Army
- 1945
Provenance
Confidence in this record
88%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/kar98k' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "kar98k", "name": "Karabiner 98k", "manufacturer": { "id": "mauser", "name": "Mauser", "countryCode": "DE", "foundedYear": 1874, "website": "https://www.mauser.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:38", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:40:45", "version": "ebf488347439c6088bd29deb6dd22bcc1ca8215e5042f489f4bf5cbea07e3307" }, "category": { "id": "rifle", "name": "Rifle", "description": "Long-barreled firearms designed for accurate shooting" }, "country_of_origin": "DE", "year_introduced": 1935, "barrel_length_mm": 600, "weight_empty_g": 3900, "action_type": "bolt_action"}