The Original Kar. 98 . . .

a little-known German
Military arm
By Heinz Lehner
th

(GUN COLLECTORS DIGEST 4 edition)

THE GEWEHR 98, a Mauser design adopted as a prototype by the German Army in April, 1898, is well known. Its
adoption was preceded by two tests with rifles in calibers 8mm (Gewehr 88/97) and 6mm (Mauser). Production examples of the
29,000 Gewehre made by Mauser in Oberndorf from 1898 to 1907, from government Gewehrfabriken in Spandau, Danzig,
Erfurt, Amberg, and during WWI manufactured by many private German arms companies, have survived in great numbers and
can be seen in arms museums and private collections.
On the other hand, early military Model 98 carbines are generally unknown. The reason is that only a small number was
manufactured, from 1898-1905, and most of them went to the Kaiserliche Schutztruppe in Africa and the Deutsches
Ostasiatische Expeditionskorps. When Germany lost World War I in 1918 those arms remained in Africa, and only a few have
survived. The author was able to obtain his early Kar.98, marked ERFURT 1904, from a collector in South Africa.
Several authors in the past have shown one or two samples of the short Kar.98, built in the beginning primarily for troop
testing, with or without an Aufpflanzvorrichtung (attachment) for the Seitengewehr 98 (SG.98) bayonet; their attempts fell short
of giving a complete list of all the variations. While in the U.S. publications the Kar,98 has been shown with a round-headed bolt,
in German books these carbines are pictured with a flat bolt as is found with the German Kar.88. Ludwig Baer wrote in Die
leichten Waffen der deutschen Armeen von 1844 -1945, that the Kar98 was made with two different bolts: The flat Kar.88 bolt,
and, with the later Kar.98, a round-head bolt. This author found that on all known carbines with round-head bolts, the bolt serials
did not match the guns serial. Kar.98 with flat bolts, in comparison, had mostly matching serial numbers throughout.
Since the Kar.98 bolts can be interchanged with Gewehr 98 bolts, it must be assumed then, that all early Kar:98s were
manufactured with a flat bolt, the same as all Kar.88 and Gew.91s.
Worldwide research by the author found carbines with the following types of rear sights:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

200-1200 MAUSER
200-1200 LANGE
200-1800 LANGE
200-1800 LANGE (with a 200-1200 limit curve)
300-1800 LANGE
300-1800 LANGE (with a 200-1200 limit curve)
300-2000 MAUSER (Erfurt 1907)

One model carbine of the Kar.98 variations was officially accepted on June 16, 1902, by Kaiser Wilhelm II, Commander in
chief of the German Armed Forces. This Einheitskarabiner (official model) was produced in the Arsenal Erfurt from 1903-1905.
One carbine that was inspected by the author is marked, DANZIG 1903, but its serial number was completely rusted away. This
indicates that a few may also have been made in this East Prussian arsenal. All the remaining carbines, those made from 18981902, should be seen as Versuchskrabiner (test carbines) for troop tests.
It should be noted that in the Spandauer Gewehr Prufungs Kommission (Spandau Rifle Test Commission), which was
responsible for testing and evaluating new weapons, one group of commissioners advocated that two types of 98 carbines should
be made, one for the cavalry and a second one for the artillery, following the tradition of the Kar.88 (Kav.) and Kar.88 with a
stacking hook, which was desiginated the Gew.91 (Art.). A second group within the commission believed that only one carbine
type could serve the cavalry, artillery and other troops with similar needs. The second group won out and the Einheitskarabiner
was adopted in 1902.

The Kar.98 was designed to use the same cartridge as the late Kar.88, that is, the Patrone 88. The rear sight graduation of 2001200 meters did not change. In 1903 the new S cartridge was introduced into the German Army, requiring all Gew.98 and
Kar.98s to be modified for the S-Patrone. The cartridge seat in the barrel had to be bored slightly larger to fit the new cartridge,
and the rear sight was extended to 1800 meters. The letter S was then stamped on the top of the barrel, to indicate the change
had been made.
Unfortunately, the more powerful S-Patrone with its Spitzgeschoss (pointed bullet) caused not only much heavier recoil, but also
a foot-long flame at the muzzle when fired in a carbine! The carbine, only 95cm long, thus proved to be too short for the new
cartridge so its production was terminated in 1905. Most of the carbines made from 1903-1905 received replacement rear sight
curves, which limit their use to the Patrone 88 at ranges from 200 to 1200 meters.

Spandau 1898
The oldest known Kar.98 is marked SPANDAU 1898 under a crown on top of the barrel. This carbine has the matching serial
number 2 on all parts. In addition, the barrel is stamped on the side,

C.7.9 Z.O.15.D.24
Hans Bert Lockhoven, who has researched Mauser rifles and carbines over the past 30 years, and will publish his findings in
the near future, interprets these markings as follows:
C.
7,9
Z.
0.15
D.
24

= Caliber
= 7.9 millimeter (bore)
= Depth of grooves (Zugtiefe)
= 0.15 millimeter
= Length of twist (Dra11-Lange-length of barrel for one turn of rifling)
= 24 centimeter (Drall-Lange). It probably should read 240, but the 0 is covered by the rear sight; the
Drall-Lange is normally given in millimeters (24 centimeters equals 240 millimeters).

Kar,98 number 2 is in the Museum Fuer Deutsche Geschichte (M.F.D.G.) in Berlin. This carbine has the following features;
1Aufpflanzvorrichtung for the Seitengewehr 98 (S.G.98),
2Mauser-Visier (rear sight) 200-1200 meters.
3Pistol grip
4Total length of 950 millimeters
5Cartridge: Patrone 88.

Erfurt 1900
One of the first Erfurt 1900s marked KAV.KAR.98, can be seen in Berlin at the M.F.D.G. Its serial number 32 is matching
throughout this carbine is of the same construction as the Spandau 1898 with one exception: The Mauser-Visier 2-12 is replaced with a Lange-Visier also graduated 2-12, and the correct cartridge is still the Patrone 88. This Kav.Kar.98 has,
however, also been modified at some time by inserting a smaller, shorter barrel to shoot 5mm Zielmunition (low-powered
ammunition for indoor target shooting).
Another early Erfurt 1900 carbine marked ART.KAR.98, full stocked to the muzzle with a stacking hook,
(Zusammensetvorrichtung) but without an Aufpflanzvorrichtung for the S.G.98, is in a private German collection. Its serial
number is 158, and its total length is 950mm and caliber 7.91mm.
A second Erfurt 1900, marked ART.KAR.98, in the same private collection, bears serial number 202, but bolt number 5639;
the caliber is 7.91mm. It has the Lange-Visier 2-12 and uses the Patrone 88. Since this carbine has the
Aufpflanzvorrichtung with the later (1903-05) double barrel band and no front sight protection it is doubtful this carbine
was originally manufactured in this form. The stock of this carbine was replaced after World War II, probably because it
had rotted away through improper Auslagerung (storage) during the war.
A third Art.Kar.98 marked ERFURT 1900, serial number 933, all matching with full stock and stacking hook, was reported by
another German private collector, The troop marking O.F.A.1.21 indicates that this carbine saw service with the
Ostasiatisehes Feldartillerie-Regirnent I. Batterie, Waffennummer 21

Erfurt 1901

Two Kav.Kar.98s with full stock to the muzzle and Aufpflanzvorrichtung for the S,G.98 survived in South Africa. The first,
serial number 1645, is in a private collection. The troop markings F.P.3.72 (Fahrpark-Kolonne Nr,3, Waffe Nr.72), indicates this
carbine could have seen service with the Kaiserliche Schutztruppe in South-West Africa against the Hereros and Hottentotten,
when they rebelled against the German Colonial Troops. The second Kav.Kar98, serial number 1668, is without regimental
markings and is in the collection of an arms manufacturer in South Africa,

Still another original Art.Kar.98 with a full stock and stacking hook, can be seen at the Bavarian Army Museum in Ingolstadt.
The serial number 2170 matches on all parts. The Lange rear sight is numbered 2-12, for the Patrone 88. The total length was
reported as 960mm, 10mm longer than all other known artillery and cavalry carbines; the barrel length is 425mm. But, since all
other Kar.98s listed by the author are of the same length of 95 centimeters, it must be assumed that this carbine was measured at
an angle, rather than at a straight line with the barrel, and is probably also 95 centimeters long.

Erfurt 1902
One Einheitskarabiner 98, with non-matching round head bolt, double barrel band, rear sight 3-18, was reported (with a
question mark) to be stamped ERFURT 1902. This carbine was checked by the author together with three others, and found to be
so badly rusted through poor safekeeping during World War II, that the date 1902 was not clear and the serial number not
readable anymore. This carbine was not listed in the table at the end of this article. It could have been manufactured in any year
from 1903-1905.

Erfurt 1903
The author was able to locate several carbines Erfurt 1903, marked KAR.98, or just 98. They all are almost identical with the
Erfurt 1900, serial number 32, and represent the first issue of the Einheitskarabiner 98th cavalry and artillery alike. Some of these
carbines had seen service in Maschinengewehr-Abteilungen, as indicated by M.G.A. markings on butt-plates. The barrel is visible
above the open barrel band, which is part of the Aufpflanzvorrichtung for the Seitengewehr 98 (S.G.98). The serial numbers are
between 794 and 1498, and are listed at the end of this article. Hans Bert Lockhoven, the eminent German researcher on Mauser
rifles has suggested that the barrel would move freely at the muzzle without the enclosing barrel band; it was also tested on the
very first Gew.98.
All first issue Einheitskarabiner were manufactured to accept the S-Patrone. The base of the LangeVisier is scaled 2-18, but
the original upper curve was later exchanged with a replacement curve to limit shooting to 1200 meters with the Patrone 88. All
carbines show the S stamp in front of the Erfurt and crown markings.
The author did not include a reported and personally inspected Danzig 1903 carbine in the final table because of its
questionable characteristics and condition. Its serial number is not visible because of corrosion. This carbine has the open barrel
band and the early 2-12 rear sight for the Patrone 88, while all other known Erfurt 1903 carbines, first issue, were manufactured
with the 2-18 rear sight, and later changed to 2-12 with the replacement rear sight curve.
In 1903 the first Einheitskarabiner 98, second issue, was assembled in Erfurt, Only one good example of this type survives,
which can be seen at the M.F.D.G. in Berlin. The serial number 1 matches on all parts. The original Lange-Visier 3-18 was never
modified with a replacement curve to limit the distance to 1200 meters for the Patrone 88, as were all known carbines of the first
issue. The half-open barrel band is now secured with a second (double) band of the same type used on the Gewehr 98, with an
opening on the left side to accept a sling. As one can see, the two differences between the two carbine issues are the change from
a 2-18 scaled Lange-Visier to the 3-18 rear sight, and the addition of an extra barrel band to give the barrel more strength at the
muzzle. The Einheitskarabiner 98, -second issue, was then built through 1904 and 1905 as the official Kar.98, without further
change, in some numbers.

Erfurt 1904
This year saw production total well over 7,000 Kar.98s; the highest serial number reported is 7141 the lowest 1834. The latter,
in the arms collection of the Bavarian Army Museum in Ingolstadt, is the only known unmodified Kar.98 from 1904, which can
still utilize the S-Munition up to 1800 meters. All other recorded carbines of this production period have been altered in later
years to limit their use to 200-1200 meters with the Patrone 88, as explained before. There was only one remaining obstacle with
the sight which had to be overcome. The Lange-Visier of the second issue was designed for a minimum distance of 300 meters,
in contrast with the first issue which maintained a lower limit at 200 meters, the same as the earlier rear sights from 1898 to 1902.
The replacement rear sight curve for the second issue carbine was thus designed so that the sight release knob could be pushed
one notch further to the rear resulting in a reduced setting of 200 meters.
The authors Kar.98, Erfurt 1904 with serial number 6913, has a round-head bolt with serial number 5421. This short carbine
has been compared with a Kar.88 of the same length and the later Kar.98a accepted in 1908. Luck also led the author to an extra
Kar.98 action with a flat-head bolt, serial number 1244, with all matching parts, to be able to show this carbine with both type
actions. As stated before, all short Kar.98s were manufactured with flat-head bolts.
An interesting note is that carbine number 6913 is marked on the buttplate K.G.P.47; another, serial 7141, is marked
K.G.P.202 suggesting Kaiserliche Government Polizei, Waffennummers 47 and 202. The German police in South-West Africa
were officially named: Kaiserliche Landes Polizei, so the correct interpretation of KG.P. has to stay open for the time being
until other proof can be found.
The Kar.98 with Aufpflansvorrichtung could be used both with the short S.G.98 saw back bayonet, and with the long S.G.98
bayonet as shown on page 159. However, new information brought to the attention of the author indicates that the short S.G.98
bayonet was only used with the short Kar98 in East Africa and Cameroun, while the long S.G.98 was used exclusively in SouthWest Africa; all three are former German colonies

Erfurt 1905
Only two Kar98s produced in Erfurt in 1905 could be found. The first, serial number 3030 with matching flat bolt, is located
in the arms museum in Swakopmund, South-West Africa. The second, serial 8993 with round head bolt, serial 3686, is on display
at the Muse d Armes, Liege in Belgium. The last carbine serial number indicates that at least 9,000 carbines were manufactured
this final year in Erfurt before production was halted.

Erfurt 1906-1908
In order to find a replacement for the obsolete short Kar.98, the Gewehr-Prufungs Kommission in Spandau assembled a new
Versuchskarabiner with a total length of 1090mm and a barrel length of 590mm. Here, as before, one group of commissioners
wanted one carbine design for the cavalry, and another for foot troops. Result: two Versuchskarbiner without an
Aufpflanzvorrichtung for the SG98, made in Erfurt in 1907, can be seen in the Bavarian Army Museum in Ingolstadt.
The final Kar.98, accepted on January 16, 1908, was again an Einheitskarabiner with Aupflanzvor-richtung to mount the
S.G.98, called the Kar.98a. A Mauser-Visier 300-2000 allowed use of the S-Munition to its full potential. This model carbine is
known to most collectors, and is very well documented in the various arms books, making it unecessary to discuss the Kar.98a in
detail.

A final Note
The research of the author documents that the first Versuchkarabiner 1898, serial number 2, survived as a Einheitskarabiner
despite all later introduced and tested Versuchskarabiner. Only the Mauser-Visier was replaced, plus some other rather minor
changes, when it was accepted as the official Karabiner 98 from 1902-1905.
The idea of having separate carbines for the cavalry and artillery was rejected. Adoption of the S-Patrone rendered the short
Kar.98 obsolete for the new ammo, but, by reverting to the 200-1200 meter rear sight, this carbine was still useful with the
Patrone 88 (in stock in great quantities). It saw service until 1918 with secondary units.
The author estimates that a minimum of 20,000 Kar.98sperhaps morewere manufactured from 1898-1905, taking
known serial numbers, which started each year with the number one, into account.

Bibliography (QueIIenverzeIchnis)
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Acknowledgements
Chris Dixon, South Africa
B. Musgrave, South Africa
Klaus Moefler. South-West Africa
Prof. Dr. W. Herbst, M.F.D.G., Berlin
Hans-Dieter Goetz, Germany
Arnold Wirtgen, Germany
ObIt. Udo Lander, Germany
Lt. Comm. (FGN) Juergen Mascow, Germany
Siegfried Godendorf, Germany
Col. Robert N. Waggoner, U.S. Army
Ludwig Olson, U.S.A.
J.P. Penn, 1.W.M. London
Robert F. Rubendunst
Martin B. Rotting
Leslie E. Field
Ed Macauley
Warren W. Odegard
Hans Bert Lockhoven
Joseph Schroeder