World War II: Karabiner 98k

One of a long line of Mauser rifles designed for the German military, the Karabiner 98k (right) entered service in 1935. The principal rifle used by the Wehrmacht during World War II, the Karabiner 98k saw use in all theaters involving German forces. Accurate to 547 yards, the weapon possessed a magazine capable of accepting a five round stripper clip of 7.92 x 57 mm (8 mm Mauser) ammunition. During its production run (1935-1945), over 14 million were made for German forces. After the war, the Karabiner 98k was used in variety of other conflicts including fighting in the Middle East and Vietnam.

Photograph Source: Public Domain