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(Originally manufactured by Danzig Arsenal in 1913)
(Click PIC to Enlarge)
Caliber: ........................ 7.92 x 57mm (8mm Mauser)
Rifling & Twist: .............. 4 Groove, Right Hand
Barrel Length: ............... 23.23 in. (590mm)
Overall Length: ............. 42.91 in. (1090mm)
Weight: ........................ 8 lb. - 8.6 lb. (3.60 - 3.80 kg without sling, depending upon stocking wood)
Magazine Capacity: ....... 5 rounds
Qty Mfg: ....................... 1.5 million (Estimated production between 1908 - 1918 by John Walter's calculations)
Source: ....................... The German Rifle by John Walter (1979) - ISBN: 0969048688
Canadian Collector Market Value Estimate: $
1913/1920 (Double Dated) Kar98a
(100 picture virtual tour)
Observations: by Jamie Mangrum (click here)
The German Kar.98a is known by several names including but not limited to: Kar.98AZ and Kar.98a. An obvious ancestor in the K98k lineage of German carbines the Kar.98a has many common features to be later incorporated in the K98k including a turned down bolt handle, a sling slot cut into the butt stock and overall similar looks and functionality. Designed as a replacement for the Model 1898 Carbine and adopted in 1908 as the Kar.98AZ it has an increased barrel length over the 1898 Carbine to help reduce muzzle blast and felt recoil. Made in four arsenals: Amberg, Danzig, Erfurt, and Spandau. During the early stages of WWI it was carried primarily by Support Troops, Cavalry, and Assault Troops. Later the carbine was carried often by regular German Army forces. Easily distinguishable by the curved stacking hook located at the front underside of the carbine's forestock. After WWI the carbine was renamed the Kar.98a to differentiate it from the Kar.98b.
Collector's Comments and Feedback:
1. The Kar98a Carbine displayed in the picture virtual tour is double dated 1913/1920. Under the terms of the Versailles Treaty the number of rifles the German Army was limited to 84,000 Gew98’s and 18,000 Kar98a’s (later increased by 50,000 rifles to be used as a reserve). The German Military worked around these restrictions by assembling rifles from previously made parts and by hiding large numbers of rifles from the Versailles weapons commission. This particular Kar98a Carbine is "all matching", with the exception of the bolt and safety. The handguard has also been arsenal repaired and the correct rifle serial number stamped into the underside of the wood.
One of the best web pages run by a highly knowledgeable Gew98 collector is Graf's Gewehr98.com Web Site (click here). He goes into great detail about the rarest manufacturers and describes what the Kar98a collector should look for. He also covers the Gew98 in detail, another rifle which appears in our CGN Knowledge Base Forum. ...... (Feedback by "Badger")
2. 1920 is not actually a date "per se". "1920" is the ownership stamp of the Weimar Republic. It was added to all former Imperial arms set aside under the strict limitations of the Versailles Treaty for use by the severely limited post-war German Armed Forces.
1920 refers to the year the weapons program came into effect after the bickering and in-fighting amongst the allies in 1919 to determine how severely to hamstring the new German gov't. Of course, we all know they went to far and basically set europe up for the next war 20-odd years later. hindsight is, after all, 20/20.
A rifle, Luger, etc. marked 1920 was not generally inspected 1920. It could have undergone arsenal service, inspection or repair anywhere from 1920 to about 1932 or so, but generally most would have been so marked 1920-1925 when the program was ramped up.
All the 1920 refers to is that the weapon was inventoried by the allied Versailles Inspectors and allowed into German Army stores as part of their treaty limits on small arms. Most such arms, of course, eventually came to serve Nazi Germany, many coming to Canada as vet returns in 1945-46. ...... (Feedback by "Claven2")
3. All Kar.98a’s were produced at Government arsenals. The Germans produced no Kar98a Carbines after 1918. The PostWar I Polish Government produced a Carbine which was in most respects identical to the Kar.98a. On the right side of the receiver ring you will find the German proof marks. From left to right German receiver proofs indicate Hardness testing, assembly testing, and final fit. A crown over RC indicates that the original inspection failed and the weapon was sent to the “revisor committee” for inspection.The letter under each crown identifies the inspector who examined the weapon. The chamber marks on an imperial Kar98a are limited to a crown, the name of the arsenal which made the carbine, and the date the carbine was manufactured. Carbines that were used by the Weimar republic are“double dated” and will also have a 1920 stamped on the receiver. Imperial 98a’s will NOT have a blued bolt. Some of these carbines soldiered on through the end of World War 2.
German Arsenals Manufacturing the Kar98a
Amberg 1909 through 1911
Danzig 1909 through 1913 and in 1918
Erfurt 1906 through 1918
Spandau 1907 through 1910
Kar98a Carbine Occasional Notes Series compiled by Peter Kuck
(Click PIC to read and save Adobe PDF File)
(Right Click on PIC and choose "Save Target As..." to download PDF file)
This brief PDF file by Peter Kuck is an excellent quick reference to the various markings and other things to look for when examining a Kar98a Carbine. ...... (Feedback by "Badger")
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