Hobbies And Interests
Model 98
In 1903 the 7.92 x 57 rifle cartridge was introduced. Mauser model 98 rifles were manufactured to utilize the new standard, and the round became known as the Mauser 8mm. The barrel and sights on the rifle had to be modified for using the more powerful cartridge. The letter S stamped on the receiver indicates a Mauser rifle's modification. According to Randy Smith of the Chuckhawks website, the rear sight was recalibrated from a range of of 200 yards minimum to a range of up to 400 yards.
K98k
K98k is the designation given to the Mauser Karabiner Kurz. This rifle is also known as the WWII Portuguese K98k because the rifles were ordered in 1941 for sale to the Portuguese military. They never made it to Portugal, however, as they were sent to the German Army in 1944. According to the Mauser Shooting Association, the Gewehr 98 Mauser used in World War I was modified and shortened to create the K98k. In German the word "kurz" means short, so the lowercase "k" in K98k literally means short carbine. Mauser built 14 million of these rifles for the German military during World War II.
G43 Battle Rifles
Mauser manufactured the G43 to provide the German army with a weapon to counter the semiautomatic rifle in use by the Soviets. The first version of the weapon, the G41, failed to satisfy the Germans; an improved version, the G43, was developed. The weapon is heavy, cumbersome and hard to reload quickly; but it could be loaded with regular 8mm or high-powered explosive rounds. According to Panzergrenadier.net, the G43 was outfitted with a ZF4 scope for use as a sniper's rifle.