Shaping the Stock on the Original Kar 98 (Part 3)

Prior to World War One, it was very common for militaries around the world to have a standard long rifle for their ground troops as well as a shortened carbine for the cavalry, artillery and other soldiers whose primary duty was something other than fighting. Imperial Germany fit this mold. During the black powder era, they had the Gewehr 1871 long rifle and it's shortened version, the Karabiner 1871. During the smokeless revolution, they issued the Gew 1888, and the short Kar 1888. When the Gewehr 1898 long rifle was adopted, there was a lag in carbine adoption, which didn't start trials until 1903-1905. However that shortened Mauser 98 pattern rifle was not the Kar 98AZ that was later adopted. Instead, it was a shortened large ring Mauser 98 action, with approximately a 17.5" barrel resulting in a very short carbine.

The trials program ran into difficulties when the S Patrone cartridge was adopted in 1905. The hotter loaded spitzer round created excess recoil and muzzle blast and the short Kar 98 pattern carbine was brought back to the drawing board. The result in 1908 was the Kar 98AZ, which featured a 23" barrel and would see extensive use in World War One.

But what about the original Kar 98? Despite around 5,000 carbines made for the troop trials, they are exceedingly rare in the collector's market today and only a few known examples exist. With it's large ring Mauser 98 action, short barrel and features such as the bayonet lug, small nose cap, lange vizier sight and spoon bolt handle, it's a very unique rifle. Standard Mauser 98 parts are easily available, the question is can they be assembled and modified to create a replica Kar 98? Follow along as I tackle this project in a multi part series.

In part 3 of the series, I shape the rear half of the stock to mirror the Gewehr 1898 shape. The front half of the stock will need to be shaped later on, after the middle band and nose cap are made, the reason being that it's easier to shape wood to fit metal, than the other way around. The stock is from an FN Model 1950 short rifle chambered in .30-06. I chose this stock in particular since it doesn't have any provisions for a sling attachment, inletting for a sling swivel or a cut out through the stock, since the Kar 98's sling cut out is unique. The stock was listed as semi-finished and is oversized in nearly all dimensions. Quite a lot of material needs to be removed to match the look and feel of the Gewehr 1898 stock.

DISCLAIMER
All subjects featured on this channel are shown for historical and informational purposes only. All gunsmithing work is intended to restore the item to it's original condition, never modifying to serve any other purpose. In no way, shape or form is anything featured on this channel ever intended to be sold at any time. Any messages regarding selling a firearm, ammunition or an accessory will be removed. Everything shown is legal where the creator is located, please check your local laws.

00:00 Intro
02:48 Spokeshave
06:37 Rough shaping
09:48 Shaping the bottom
12:36 Shaping the wrist
17:02 Shaping the fore end
19:45 Fine tuning
23:41 Sling recess
27:19 Chiseling the recess
32:38 Conclusion