Mauser K98k vs. M98 vs. Gewehr 98

Throughout its 200-year long history, the Mauser company presented a vast array of rifles. During the production period, they named several rifles by the year of introduction date which started to result in some naming ambiguities at the turn of the century. A list of Mausers containing the numeral 98 is no exception, thus a confusion among users often arises when confronted with models such as Mauser M98 and Mauser K98k. This article should provide you with a basic understanding of how these rifles differ in design and how they developed through time.

Is Mauser K98k the Same as Gewehr 98?

Although the rifles share some similarities, Mauser K98k and Gewehr 98 are not the same. Mauser presented the Gewehr 98, chambered for 7.92x57mm Mauser caliber in 1898. Gewehr 98 served as a primary German service rifle up until 1935. It set the foundation for the development of various later models, many of them containing the confusing number 98.

In 1921, a Polish copy of the German Mauser Kar98az rifle (commonly used during World War I) was presented and renamed Mauser K98 with the major difference being the strengthened and improved staking hook.

The Difference Between Mauser K98 and K98k

Mauser K98k which is frequently confused with the abovementioned Polish K98, was introduced in 1935 and served as the service rifle of the German Wehrmacht up until 1945. K98k was a tad shorter than the original version – the letter ‘k’ at the end stands for ‘kurz’ or short carbine. It is a controlled feed bolt-action rifle with the bolt body featuring three locking lugs, two at the front and one at the rear end of the bolt that locks up safely with the action’s housing.

Like Gewehr 98, Mauser K98k was also chambered for 7.92x57mm Mauser caliber. The pre-war versions of K98k came with an included cleaning rod, fitted through a bayonet stud which was banned on later models. However, there are no changes in the receiver design between the models produced before and during the war. The shape of the butt plate was, on the contrary, improved on the newer versions as it was redesigned into a cupped shape increasing the overall durability of the stock which was often chipped or damaged on the early models.

After the war, the allies and liberated European countries continued the production of K98k using numerous leftover parts and German machinery captured during the war. 

You can see our scope mounts offer for Mauser K98k here:

Mauser K98k (Source: https://www.highwoodclassicarms.co.uk/Firerms%20For%20Sale/0129.htm)

Mauser M98

Hundred years might sound like a long time, and it certainly seemed long enough for Mauser to use the 98-mark again on their ‘new’ Mauser M98 presented in – you’ve guessed it – 1998. But the elephant never forgets, and so the naming-confusion saga continued among collectors and clients at the turn of the new century.

As the wheels within wheels began to turn, Mauser decided to offer their users a choice, presenting not one, but two versions of the new M98 in different action lengths, namely M98 Standard and M98 Magnum.

Mauser M98 Standard

Compared to previous Mauser models, the M98 Standard comes with an enlarged receiver for added strength and durability increasing the height difference between the front and the rear mounting surface. The bolt body features three locking lugs locking up with the action’s housing.

The receiver on M98 Standard is drilled and tapped for optic mounts contrary to the Magnum model that features a double square bridge. The mounting dimensions are identical to the ones used on Mauser M12 (pre-2019), making mounts interchangeable between the rifles. The bulb on the rear side of the receiver was revoked as the feeding on M98 Standard was no longer carried out using stripper clips.

If you are looking for scope mounts suitable for Mauser M98 Standard, you can see our offer here :

Mauser M98 Magnum

The bolt body features three locking lugs, two at the front and one at the rear end of the bolt that lock up safely with the action’s housing. Other structural components such as the rear part of the receiver with a safety catch and the bolt release lever mounted on the side are the same as on M98 Standard.

Compared to M98 Standard, M98 Magnum comes with a double square bridge mounting surface, thus the mounts between the two rifles are not interchangeable. The double square bridge is compatible with manifold of pivot mounts produced by different manufacturers.

If you are considering purchasing scope mounts suitable for Mauser M98 Magnum, you can have a look at our offer here:

Is Mauser M98 still made?

The short answer is yes. Both versions – M98 Standard and M98 Magnum are still manufactured today. The series was introduced in 2009 and has not been discontinued since.

The Difference Between Mauser K98k and M98

The difference between K98k and M98 should be clear by now. There is more than a 100-year age difference between the rifles, making it an easy job to tell them apart. However, there is still one more issue worth mentioning. 

The Difference between Mauser M98 and Gewehr 98

Numerous short forms were used for the abovementioned Gewehr 98 throughout a 100-year period – it was best known as G98 or Gew98. The thing that added to the Chinese puzzle was the fact that it often used another abbreviation – the M98. Although it is clearly not the same as the modern M98 presented a century later, many may still confuse the two rifles.

When choosing the suitable mount for either of the rifles one should always keep an eye out for the production date, receiver shape and overall design. Although they may be eponymously named, the visual differences between the two are apparent at the first glance.

What Happened to Mauser 98 Rifles After WWII

The Mauser company was revived after World War II and continued to produce weapons in West Germany. The 98 actions had a significant impact on both World Wars and swiftly gained recognition as a global standard of bolt action rifles industry.

The French took control of Mauser-Oberndorf after World War II to supply arms for the severely under-equipped French military. After the factory was largely dismantled in 1946, three former Mauser engineers named Edmund Heckler, Theodor Koch, and Alex Seidel salvaged what they could and established the business Heckler and Koch.

However, with the growing number of seized rifles piling up the warehouses, barns and basements around the world, the destiny of these historical pieces was divergent and unpredictable. After World War II, a lot of rifles were refurbished and refitted for various purposes. They can still be found all over the world.

Mauser 98 Modifications After WWII

Many rifles that served in combat during the War were modified and refitted for hunting. Such modifications granted easily accessible and inexpensive rifles to gain another chance at service instead of rotting in some deserted place. Other components such as the stocks, bolt handles or sights, were oftentimes changed or modified during the refitting process.

For hunting purposes, the bulb was frequently filed off to enlarge the mounting surface for use with scope mounts. The old versions of Mauser 98 came with the bulb on the receiver which was used for feeding via stripper clips to allow for a faster reloading time during combat. This bulb was industrially revoked on newer, after-war versions of the 98 models. Various other alterations of the mounting surface can be found on the market, which are usually the results of DIY conversions.

Not all Mausers 98 ended up being used solely as hunting rifles though. Since Paul Mauser primarily intended for his bolt action system to be used in the army, some countries decided to repurpose the confiscated rifles to continue serving their initial military purpose. One such example was Norway.They took the post-war guns, refitted them, repaired them and in various cases even restamped receivers, stocks and buttplates.

Norwegians even went as far as to re-barrel most of the seized German Mausers in 1953 to be used with the .30-06 Spr. ammunition supplied by the United States. This meant that additional modifications had to be made to the rifle. Because of the increased length of the new caliber, they had to cut out the notch of the receiver for the cartridge to fit. For the same reason, the magazine box had to be lengthened as well.

Some minor changes had been made to the shape of the rear sight notches, turning them from the standard German V-shape to the U-shape. A hood was often added to the front sights which were converted from triangular to a squared shape.

The Production of Mauser 98 Rifles After WWII

In addition to the Mauser 98 Standard and Mauser 98 Magnum which entered the market in 1998, many manufacturers, although offering numerous unique features and countless design variations, used the tried-and-tested Mauser 98-action design as the basis of their rifles. These rifles were built in-house, meaning that the companies manufactured all the parts, including the actions, themselves. The stripper clip guide on the rear receiver ring had been removed on these newer models. However, for the most part, the structural design remained the same except for the mounting surface which was updated. Usually, users could choose between the M98-Standard or M98-Magnum style receiver with the first one featuring four holes and the latter the double square bridge for mounting purposes.

These rifles were predominantly designed for hunting which reflected in ergonomic stocks, reshaped bolt handles and variations of hunting sights – although some models did not come equipped with sights at all. Another major change happened in the barrel dimensions which were reduced in length and weight.

Here are some of the other companies still using the Mauser action:

• Antonio Zoli
• Zastava Arms
• CZ
• Empire Rifles
• Ferlach gunsmiths
• Holland & Holland
• Husqvarna
• John Rigby & Co.
• Kimber America
• Remington
• Ruger
• Winchester

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The Production of Mauser 98 Actions After WWII

Not all companies manufacture the 98 actions by themselves though. Oftentimes, the action can be purchased directly from a manufacturer as a basis for a rifle-build project.

This is still a common practice in many smaller gunsmith shops. The trend is also becoming increasingly popular among the DIYers that tend to rely on the M98 system and choose other components of the rifle according to their preferences. The caliber, barrel length, kind of sights, configuration, and style of the stock, among a broad range of other details, are all selectable by the user.

Here are some of the manufacturers that offer Mauser 98-style actions to their end customers:

• Recknagel
• Prechtl
• Mayfair Engineering
• The FZH Waffen GmbH
• Brownells
• H. Dumoulin

These 98 actions mostly featured the same magnum-style mounting surface used on Mauser M98 Magnum rifles. The receiver came with integrated bases, suitable for pivot scope mounts.