K98s were produced by a wide variety of companies including Erma, Mauser Oberndorf, J.P. The “K” in K98 stands for Karabiner which is the German word for Carbine or shortened rifle. Further improvements and changes were made to the Reichspost Rifle which resulted in the K98 rifle, which was adopted as a the standard rifle of the German Army in 1935. This rifle had a turned down bolt handle, and had the same barrel length as the Standard Modell. The German Post Office (Deutsche Reichspost) used an improved version of the Standard Modell for security. Pre-World War I German Erfurt KAR 98 Carbine **Īfter Adolf Hitler took power of Germany in 1933, he began a rearmament program for the German Army. To get around the Treaty of Versailles the Standard Modell was intended for export rather than domestic sale, however some of these guns were bought within Germany. In Germany the Mauser Oberndorf factory made a shortened Mauser called the Standard Modell with improved sights. The Model 1924 was sold all over the world and was a success. Following the war both FN in Belgium and the Czechs began producing a shortened version of the 98 Mauser called the Model 1924. Mauser Model GEW 98 Bolt Action Sniper Rifle ** Mauser Model 1924 Bolt Action Rifle **īecause Germany lost World War One, their military and armament were severely limited under the Treaty of Versailles. Carbine versions of the Gew 98 had been issued in smaller numbers to specialized German troops during World War One but they never became standardized. The Gew 98 proved to be a reliable weapon but it was long and heavy. The Gew 98 action was the final product of several years of development and earlier Mauser designs such as the Model 1889, 1893, and 1896 rifles. The K98 is also regarded as one of the finest military bolt action rifles in history.ĭuring World War One the German Army’s standard rifle was the Gewehr 98 Mauser in 8mm Mauser. The rifle went on to see use in other conflicts after World War Two and was even used ironically by the Israelis. The K98 was the standard issue rifle for one of the most notorious and violent regimes in history, Nazi Germany.

Mauser 22 cal training rifle