Karabiner 98AZ
Mauser · Carbine · Discontinued · 1908
Also known as: Gewehr 98 AZ, Kar 98AZ, Karabiner 98a, Kar98a
Overview
The Karabiner 98AZ (also designated Gewehr 98 AZ) is a German bolt-action carbine derived from the Gewehr 98 service rifle, chambered in 7.92x57mm Mauser. Introduced in 1908, it shortened the long Gewehr 98 for use by cavalry, artillery, and other mounted and support troops, pairing the proven Mauser controlled-round-feed action with a short-ring receiver, a turned-down bolt handle, and an extended handguard. The 'AZ' designation refers to its provisions for a stacking rod (Aufpflanz) and bayonet lug (Zusammensetzen) that were unusual for carbines of the era. It saw heavy use throughout World War I and directly influenced the later Karabiner 98k.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3500 g (123.5 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1090 mm (42.91") |
| Barrel Length | 590 mm (23.23") |
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 800 m/s (2625 fps) |
| Effective Range | 500 m (547 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 2000 m (2187 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 240 mm (9.45") |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 7.92x57mm Mauser · primary — also known as 8mm Mauser, 8x57mm IS, 7.92x57mm
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Internal Box Magazine, Stripper Clip
- Safety mechanisms: Three Position Wing Safety, Controlled Round Feed
- Features: Short Ring Receiver, Turned Down Bolt Handle, Stacking Rod, Bayonet Lug, Stripper Clip Loading, Tangent Leaf Sight
Base model
Service history
Operators
- German Empire · adopted 1908
- Reichswehr · adopted 1920 · as Karabiner 98a
Conflicts
- World War I (1914-1918)
Production
Estimated total produced: 1,500,000 · Production years: 1908-1923
Over one million produced by 1918, representing roughly 65% of German rifle production by the end of WWI; manufactured at the state arsenals of Erfurt, Spandau, Danzig and Amberg in addition to Mauser.
Origin
Country of origin: Germany
Designer: Mauser
Discontinued: 1923
Notes
After WWI the Reichswehr retained roughly 100,000 examples under the Treaty of Versailles, often marked with a '1920' property overstamp; the carbine was later redesignated Karabiner 98a. Muzzle velocity is lower than the full-length Gewehr 98 owing to the shorter barrel.
Background
Soldiers prized the handier 98AZ over the unwieldy full-length Gewehr 98 in the cramped conditions of trench warfare, and the lessons learned from its short-rifle layout were carried directly into the design of the WWII-era Karabiner 98k.