Waffen

Year Built: 1935-1945
Caliber: 8mm
Load: 5 rounds / stripper clip fed
Action: Bolt
Weight: 8.4lbs
Price: $100-$350

The 98 series was an extremely popular repeater rifle. It was used in the First World War in its longer form, and was then cut down in size and used in the Second World War in its new form as the 98k (k=kurz or short in English).

Every soldier fighting for Germany had at least trained with this rifle, and for hundreds of thousands it had been their only weapon throughout the war.

The casings were pushed through the box magazine from above to load the weapon, and held in place by a turning cylinder lock. The 98k could also be used as a snipers weapon by attaching a ZF41 2.5x Scope or a ZF42 5x scope to the rifle.

The 98k could also fire explosive or armor piercing grenades by the attachment of a shot cup to the end of the rifle. This was done by one man in a rifle squad who was trained to set up and fire them and carried the ammunition. Other grenades also existed, such as propaganda grenades, but were used to a much lesser degree.

Year Built: 1943-1945
Caliber: 7.9mm
Load: 10 rounds / Magazine fed
Action: Semi - Automatic, Gas - Operated, Air Cooled
Weight: 8.6 lbs
Price: $1000-$1600

The Gewehr / Karabiner 43 was designed to replace the problematic G41 series. The design incorporated the action of the G41(W) and the gas system of the Soviet Svt38/40, along with a detachable 10 round box magazine.

The design was a vast improvement, but many flaws were not properly worked out, thus this rifle saw it's share of problems. On the positive side, where as the G41 was heavily machined and time consuming to produce, the new G/K43 could be produced much more efficiently using rough castings, forgings, and stamped parts.

The new weapon was chambered with the standard 7.92x57mm cartridge, which proved to be overpowered for its required duties.

Although originally not intended solely as snipers weapons, the G41/43 series ended up being Germany's first real attempt at developing a standard sniper arm utilizing the zf4 and zf4 k43 series of 4 power scopes. Even so, sniping effectiveness with the G43/zf4 was disappointing, mostly due to the rushed service of both components.

Furthermore, the G43 suffered terrible first shot accuracy problems (as did the Soviet Svt.) and sniper use was limited to about 600 yards due to poor trajectory characteristics of the weapon. The kar 98k still proved to be the preferred sniping arm.

The G43 could fire rifle-grenades, as could the Kar 98k, through the use of the Schiessbecher device, and could even use a Schalldämpfer silencer, although this was an uncommonly used device.

Several variances and design changes exist as this rifle and scope series were continually developed through out production. The rifle was re-designated Karabiner 43 in mid 1944. At least 400,000 of this weapon were produced, of which approximately 50,000 were sniper rifles.

Year Built: 1940
Caliber: 9mm
Load: 32 rounds / Magazine fed
Action: Ful Automatic sub machine gun- Operated, Air Cooled
Weight: 3.97 kg (8.7 lb)
Price: $9,000 to $15,000 for a transferable full Automatic mp40. www.ssroom.com sells Mp40 blank guns for $2500 or a semi auto mp40 for $2400.....

The MP40 is descended from the MP38, a select-fire prototype made of machined steel, of which few examples remain. The MP36 prototype was developed independently by Erma prior to the 1938 request from the German government for a new submachinegun which led to the MP38. The MP38 was a simplification of the MP36, as the MP40 was later a simplification of the MP38, the differences being in cost-saving alterations, especially the use of more pressed rather than machined parts and an improved safety.

The changes resulted from experiences with the several thousand MP38s (in service since 1939) used during the invasion of Poland. The changes were incorporated into an intermediate version (MP38/40), and then used in the initial MP40 production version. Just over 1 million would be made of all versions in the course of the war. The designer of the MP38/40 was Heinrich Vollmer.

The MP40 was often called the Schmeisser by the Allies, after weapons designer Hugo Schmeisser. Although the name was evocative, Hugo Schmeisser himself did not design the MP40, but helped with the design of the MP41 which was effectively a MP40 with an old-fashioned wooden rifle stock. It is impossible to reconstruct how Schmeisser was honored with this legend, but it must have been inspiring for the soldiers: the German slang-word "Schmeisser" describes someone who throws something inaccurately, but with high force. Schmeisser did produce the MP40 magazines and his name was engraved on them, which may explain the confusion.

Year Built: 1934-1945
Caliber: 7.92mm
Load: continuous belt feed / 75-round beltless saddle drum
Action: Semi / Fully-Automatic, Air Cooled
Rate of Fire: 800-900rpm
Weight: 26.7 lbs
Price: $14000-$18000

Introduced in 1935 and seeing extended service in the Spanish Civil War, the MG34 provided the German Soldier the world's first machine gun that was fully capable of providing a high volume of sustained firepower without sacrificing speed of movement or tactical flexibility. Today, every military power in the world employs machine guns that have evolved from the basic configuration and principles of the MG34.

Year Built: 1942-1945
Caliber: 7.92mm
Load: continuous belt feed
Action: Fully-Automatic, Air Cooled
Rate of Fire: approx. 1200rpm / 20rps
Weight: 25.5lbs
Price: $30,000-$40,000

Perhaps the finest weapon produced in WWII, and with a rate of fire unmatched by any weapon on the battlefield, the MG42's 1200rpm and distinctive "ripping" sound while firing, made it the most feared weapon of its time. More than 400,000 were manufactured by Wars end.

Year Built: 1908-1942
Caliber: 9mm/7.65mm
Load: 8 rounds / Clip fed
Action: Semi-Auto
Weight: 2 lbs
Price: $350-$800

Named the Luger after its designer, this was the German service pistol from before WWI until 1938, and many were used during WWII. The Luger was manufactured in two calibers - the 9mm Parabellum model 1908, and the 7.65mm. It served as a
sidearm to many Officers of the Wehrmacht, as well as many machine gun crews.

Name: P38
Year Built: 1938-1945
Caliber: 9mm
Load: 8 rounds / Clip fed
Action: Semi-Auto
Weight: 2 lbs
Load: 8 rounds / Clip fed
Price: $300-$600

The Walther P38 replaced the Luger as the German service pistol in 1938. It's reliable double-action design meant that it could be safely carried with a round in the chamber.