Karabinek wz.29

Fabryka Broni Lucznik - Radom · Rifle · Discontinued · 1930

Also known as: Kbk wz.29, Karabinek wzor 29, wz.29, Polish Mauser wz.29

Overview

The Karabinek wz.29 is a Polish bolt-action rifle chambered in 7.92x57mm Mauser, developed at the state arms works in Radom and adopted by the Polish Army in 1930. Drawing on the German Karabiner 98a and the Czechoslovak vz.24, it used a large-ring Mauser action with two forward locking lugs and a third safety lug, a five-round internal magazine fed by stripper clips, and a tangent rear sight graduated to 2,000 metres. It served as the standard Polish service rifle through the September 1939 campaign.

Specifications

Weight (empty)3990 g (140.7 oz)
Overall Length1100 mm (43.31")
Barrel Length600 mm (23.62")
Action TypeBolt Action
Firing MechanismStriker Fired
Trigger TypeSingle Action
Magazine Capacity5 rounds
Magazine TypeInternal
Muzzle Velocity745 m/s (2444 fps)
Effective Range500 m (547 yd)
Maximum Range2000 m (2187 yd)
Barrel RiflingRight Hand
Number of Grooves4
Frame MaterialSteel
Barrel MaterialSteel
Stock MaterialWood
FinishBlued

Calibers

Features

Production

Estimated total produced: 264,000 · Production years: 1930-1939

Manufactured at the National Arms Factory in Radom; figure includes rifles produced for export.

Origin

Country of origin: Poland

Discontinued: 1939

Notes

Roughly 264,000 were produced between 1930 and 1939, including examples for export. Captured rifles were pressed into German and later Soviet service during the Second World War.

Background

The wz.29 was the rifle in the hands of Polish infantry when Germany invaded on 1 September 1939, becoming a lasting symbol of the outnumbered defence of the Second Polish Republic.