Making the Nose Cap for the Original Kar 98 (Part 8)

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 8 of the series, I machine the distinctive nose cap for the carbine from a bar of steel. I also make the screw that holds it onto the front sight base, and fit the nose cap to the end of the 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
02:28 Curved bottom
09:25 Front sight slot
12:03 Hole for the barrel
14:26 Side holes
15:45 More milling
21:33 Making the screw
28:40 Drilling the sight base
31:04 Fitting to the stock
36:26 Rounding the ears
37:35 Conclusion