The “trench warfare” modified Gewehr 98,During World War I the Mauser designed Gewehr 98

The “trench warfare” modified Gewehr 98,During World War I the Mauser designed Gewehr 98 bolt action rifle served as the primary service arm of the German military.  However the experiences of trench warfare showed that the Gew 98 needed some improvements in order fit in with WWI combat.   One issue with Gew 98 was its magazine capacity.  At five rounds it was on par with the rifles used by many of its enemies, however it was outclassed by the ten round magazine sported by the British Lee Enfield.  To improve the Gew 98, special kits were made to modify existing rifles in service.  The most important modification was the addition of a 25 round magazine.  To install the user simply removed the existing floorplate on the rifle and replace it with the extended magazine.  The magazine was a fixed magazine that could not be removed, rather it was loaded from the action using 5 round stripper clips.  Another improvement to the Gew 98 was the creation of a stamped sheet steel breech cover which was intended to protect the action from dirt, mud, and dust. The idea was inspired by the Japanese Arisaka, which utilized a similar device. While a good idea in theory, the cover had a tendency to rattle, creating noises which could give away a soldiers position to the enemy.  Often German soldiers who received the trench modifications did not attach the breech cover to their rifles.  The top picture shows a Gew 98 with the cover, the middle shows one without. The rarest model of the Gew 98 tench modification was a variant that came with a 2.5X magnification low light scope, which was made for use in marginal light (it did not work during night).Despite the improvements the modifications saw mixed results with the average German infantryman.  Some liked the 25 round extended magazine.  Others, however, complained the magazine was too difficult to load.  As a result many who used the system only loaded the magazine with 10 rounds.  Yet others complained that the large magazine was too unwieldy in the tight confines of a trench.  Very few trench modification kits were produced or issued and once again the mainstay of the German Army remained the five shot Gew 98.Source: Mauser Bolt Rifles by Ludwig Olson -- source link

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