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The Kar.98a

The various books that cover the Kar.98a seemingly cannot even agree on its proper designation. While many use Kar.98AZ, some use Kar.98a, and there is no perfect explanation for the discrepancy.

I eventually accepted that the proper designation is the “Karabiner 98a” or 98a. The explanation on the designation discrepancy was reasonably explained by a well-known collector and makes perfect sense. “While the designation Kar.98AZ was correct for the prototype design of 1907, to distinguish the rifle in the trials from the earlier Kar.98; once accepted, it became the Karabiner 98. The actual 98a designation arose after the First World War to distinguish it from the 1923 designated Kar.98b” so in essence to the actual soldier who used the rifles both were always just the Kar.98, and the need to differentiate the two rifles was only needed once the war was over and the Kar.98b (a modified Gew 98) came into being.

As with the Gewehr 98, a beginning collector who gets interested in the Kar.98a will find the same difficulties, primarily the vast void of information on the subject. Very few books cover the rifle in detail; below are a few resources with some information of value.

The Kar.98a came with a turned down bolt, with a flat, checkered handle, with Imperial proofs (either an Prussian eagle or a Bavarian Lion) under the handle base. The difference between the 98a and 98k bolt is significant and obvious.

Originally the Kar.98a came with a blued receiver (unlike the Gew 98 which receiver was bright finish or “in the white”) it also has the bolt, bayonet lug, recoil lug, rear sight leaf spring, follower and butt plate all in the white (bright finish). Most parts are fully interchangeable with the Gewehr98 with the exception of the trigger guard.

Serial numbering of the various parts were done similar to the serialing done on the Gew 98, basically full serial w/ letter suffix on the receiver, barrel, & bolt; full serial minus suffix in barrel channel of stock, comb, trigger guard, and butt plate. Remaining parts will have the last two digits on them - all parts except the lock screws, front band screw and sometimes the bayonet lug, (I have seen the bayonet lug serialed and not serialed, but it always has an Imperial proof, sometimes under the lug and sometimes on its face).

The manufacturers of the Kar.98a were the 4 arsenals; no commercial concerns produced the 98a:

While all 4 arsenals produced the rifle at one time or another, some are obviously more common than others, with Spandau examples the most difficult to locate, followed by Amberg. All pre-war 98a rifles are rare if original and can be expensive, during the war only Erfurt and Danzig produced the rifle and both variants are fairly common. Erfurt produced rifles are by far the most common, especially plentiful are Erfurt production 1916-1918. As the German tactical doctrine evolved so did the use of the Kar.98a, by the end of the war the 98a was common and the preferred rifle of the German soldier, no longer the rifle of the specialist troops or rear area troops. Matter of fact, the later in the war a 98a was produced the more common they are. Even the Danzig arsenal restarted 98a production by 1918.

1916 was a date of change for the Kar.98a also, with the introduction of the grasping grooves & bolt takedown, it was a gradual process, and one can find much variation in the application of these changes. By early/mid 1917 the changes were firmly in place. As with the Gew 98, insufficient walnut sources induced the Germans to use other wood for stocks in 1916. By mid 1916 beech had largely replaced walnut as the primary stock source and by 1917 beech was the primary source to stock the Kar.98a and Gewehr98. Though largely replaced, walnut was used till the end in limited amounts.

As can be expected, the 98a is often found with post World War I use markings, 1920 Versailles Permission stamps, and often German police markings.

German rebuilds exhibit several features and not always consistent with other rebuilds- by the nature of a rebuild there is variation to them because they were done by different facilities, armorers & at different times. The primary signs to look for are a blued bolt and follower (sometimes the butt plate will be blued as well, this is the only exception to the rule that German rifles don’t have blued buttplates!). Very often the post war German used rifle will have the 1920 permission stamp on the receiver, but not always.

Like the Weimar Gewehr98 the small parts (that usually have but the last two digits on them) will often have the first digits of the serial number added to the various parts like the bands and rear sight in order to include the full serial number on them, sometimes parts will be renumbered to match, forced matched, but done in the proper way- these Weimar reworked rifles very often have re-numbered parts, the general method post war was scrub & re-serial to the rifle, there is some variation though.

When it comes to what is most desirable to the collector, it is condition, date of manufacture and if it has any unit markings.

Condition: primarily interested in the stock, as that is where most problems are found with the 98a. The stock is often found sanded, and even more important is the hand guard, which is a little fragile (and very difficult to replace). When examining a 98a check for the proofs on the butt stock/comb, which is supposed to have several clear proofs and the serial number, if there is weakness or especially smooth, I take this as a serious distraction. Hand guards are prone to cracking & are often repaired, a minor distraction.

The finish is always important, it is nearly impossible to correct a metal surface problem & an unattractive finish is something to take serious when buying. Signs of foreign military service (Turk, Polish or Spain are most encountered) are serious distractions to most collectors.

Pre-war production, especially Spandau or Amberg are especially desirable, if original condition very valuable. Unit markings are found on the buttplate tang and depending on the unit they can add significantly to the value.

The reference material that would be helpful to the new collector:

Mauser Bolt Rifles, by Ludwig Olson
German Military Rifles and Machine Pistols, by Gotz
The German Rifle, by John Walter
Central Powers Small Arms of World War One, by John Walter
The Imperial German Regimental Marking, by Jeff Noll
German Small Arms Markings, by Gortz and Bryans
The Original Kar 98, 4th Edition Gun Collectors Digest 1985 American Rifleman, July 1998 and Oct. 1999

Thanks to Peter Kuck for the examples he provided.

John Walters “The German Rifle” is dated but the best single reference. Jeff Noll’s “The Imperial German Regimental Marking” is invaluable for identifying rifles with unit markings.









Links to other pages of info:

Observations On Collecting Imperial German Rifles

Gewehr 98

Karabiner 98a

2007 MRJ Indexes

2008 MRJ Indexes






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