How to Remove a Curved Bolt From a Kar98

The earliest versions of the Mauser model 1898 rifle were manufactured with straight bolt handles, a common feature on many military rifles of the period. By 1935, when the Mauser Kar98k ("Karabiner 98 kurz," or carbine 98 short) was accepted as the service rifle of the German army, all Mauser rifles featured what collectors now call a curved bolt, or a bolt with a turned-down handle. The Kar98k's curved bolt made the weapon more comfortable to carry and improved the operation of the bolt, which allowed soldiers to load and fire their weapons more rapidly.

Instructions

    • 1

      Point the rifle in a safe direction. Pull the bolt handle up and back to operate the bolt and eject any ammuniton from the chamber. Look into the open action. If any cartridges remain in the magazine, operate the bolt repeatedly until they all eject from the weapon.

    • 2

      Push the bolt handle all the way forward, but do not turn it down into the locked position. Set the safety lever, located at the top rear of the bolt, to its vertical position. This "safe and unlocked" setting allows the bolt to operate freely, but blocks the trigger from firing.

    • 3

      Pull the bolt handle all the way back until the bolt comes to rest against the bolt stop at the rear of the receiver.

    • 4

      Locate the bolt stop release on the left rear of the receiver. Push the lever in slightly to disengage its locking spring, then pull it out and back to open the bolt stop.

    • 5

      Rotate the bolt slightly so that the bolt handle will pass through the bolt stop. Pull the bolt back and out of the receiver.