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Mauser Karabiner 98k Rifle

Operation: Manual, bolt-action
Caliber: 7.92 mm (.30 inch)
Capacity: 5-round magazine
Weight: 4.3 kg
Maximum Range: 2000 meters
Rate of Fire: 10 rounds/minute

The 98 series was an extremely popular repeater rifle. It was used in the First World War in its longer form, and was then cut down in size and used in the Second World War in its new form as the 98k (k = krutz or short in English).

Every soldier fighting for Germany had at least trained with this rifle, and for hundreds of thousands it had been their only weapon throughout the war.

The casings were pushed through the box magazine from above to load the weapon, and held in place by a turning cylinder lock. The 98k could also be used as a snipers weapon by attaching a ZF41 2.5x Scope or a ZF42 5x scope to the rifle.

The 98k could also fire explosive or armor piercing grenades by the attachment of a shot cup to the end of the rifle. This was done by one man in a rifle squad who was trained to set up and fire them and carried the ammunition. Other grenades also existed, such as propaganda grenades, but were used to a much lesser degree.

Source: Germany's World War Two Weapons