1916 rifle

[Gary123]

Afternoon, im trying to get some information on this rifle. It's in Qatar and a friend has asked if we can trace it's origin and as much information as I can find out. Would anyone on her be able to help or guide me? Believe it's a 303 but I could be wrong. 

Kindest regards 

Gary

[tullybrone]

I’m sure the experts will be along soon.

 

It’s not a British 303 Rifle - it’s a German made rifle but I’ll leave it to experts to give you full chapter and verse.

https://second.wiki/wiki/kc3b6niglich_preuc39fische_gewehrfabrik_erfurt

 

Steve

[Gary123]

Thank you Steve

[AOK4]

It's a Karabiner 98.

[Gary123]

Thanks AOK4, just read but they say the Karabiner was Produced: 1935–1945

[ShtLE303]

German kar98Az. 7.92 (8mm)

Missing the stacking hook.

[Gary123]

Thank you, would it be possible to track the history of this rifle as to where it was made and sold? Sorry for all the questions 

[Sir Mortimer]

59 minutes ago, Gary123 said:

Thank you, would it be possible to track the history of this rifle as to where it was made and sold? Sorry for all the questions 

Well, the "Crown over Erfurt" stamp indicates the city of the imperial state arsenal the rifle was produced in.

At the time, there were a total of 4 state arsenals: Spandau (was integrated into the city of Berlin in 1920, now Berlin-Spandau city district), Danzig (now in Poland) and Erfurt for Prussia; the state of Bavaria had its own arsenal in the city of Amberg.

The Erfurt arsenal produced the main bulk of Kar 98a's with ~1.7 million rifles total between 1907 and 1918. The highest production numbers per year were reached in 1916 (405,000) and 1917 (495,000).

It certainly saw action during WW1; after the war lots of weapons were surrendered to the Entente powers and then sold off by them to different minor nations. That's probably how it ended up in Qatar.

Here's a link withsome further information such as stamps, production numbers and stock variants.

[AndyBsk]

K98AZ with missmatch bolt? doesnt look as same number and c range as on receiver, anyway its in good condition.

[trajan]

On 28/06/2022 at 21:48, Gary123 said:

Thanks AOK4, just read but they say the Karabiner was Produced: 1935–1945

There is some understandable confusion here.

What you show is an original Kar.98 Az, the modified version of the first production Kar.98, yours having a bayonet mounting which the first version did not, and yours being made in 1916. Where the confusion comes is that when Germany re-armed under the 3Reich, they wanted a rifle that was halfway between the Gew 98 and the Kar.98, and so the Kar.98k...

Trajan

[AndyBsk]

The confusion was already done by germans, a rifle with over 100 cm lenght is in all terms not declared as carbine, so the germans after changing of 1905 to Spitzround by 8x57IS ammo, they got so heavy blast and kick on the carbines Kar.98 so they were not usable, and the barell was prolongated to fulllenght of weapon to 109cm. Similar range is declared in various countries as a short rifle and not carbine. The difference between Kar98AZ and post NS period Kar98k is one centimeter lenght.

Edited 30 June , 2022 by AndyBsk

[trajan]

Thanks Andy... I wasn't aware that there was an agreed barrel length specification for a carbine and for a rifle!

Edited 30 June , 2022 by trajan