Karabiner 98k ZF39
| Factions | Weapon | Icon | Classes | Ammo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 VC |
 Karabiner 98k ZF39 |
 |
 Assault |
5 / 20 |
| Damage Base | Headshot × | Chest × | Stomach × | Leg × | Arm × | Bayonet | Rifle Grenades | Reload Speed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Partial | Empty | ||||||||
| 65 | ×2.4 = 156 | ×2.15 = 139.75 | ×1.95 = 126.75 | ×1.15 = 74.75 | ×1.15 = 74.75 | YES | NO | 2.633 Seconds | 4.233 Seconds |
| Designation | Weapon Type | Fire Modes | Fire Rate | Bullet Spread ° | Range Modifier | Muzzle Velocity | Projectile weight | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kar98k ZF39 | Sniper Rifle Carbine |
Single Shot | 45 RPM | 7.7° & 0.05° ADS | 0.985 | 760 m/s | 12.8 g (197.53 gr) | 3.7 kg (8.16 lbs) |
| Full name | Caliber | Place of Origin | Date | Manufacturer | Barrel Length | Total Length | Weapon Script Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karabiner 98k ZF39 | 7.92x57mm | Nazi Germany | 1939 | Mauser (augmented by several other makers) | 23.62 in (600 mm) | 43.70 in (1,110 mm) | weapon_kar98ks |
Karabiner 98k ZF39 is a scoped sniper configuration of the German Karabiner 98k bolt-action rifle, chambered for the 7.92×57mm Mauser cartridge. It pairs a selected Kar98k with the Zielfernrohr 39 (ZF39) telescopic sight, typically a 4× optic fitted using dedicated mounting systems. It is best known as one of the standard German WWII sniper setups, offering improved target identification and precision compared to iron sights.
HISTORY
The Kar98k was Nazi Germany’s standard infantry rifle, and specially selected examples were adapted for sniping with optical sights and purpose-built mounts. The ZF39 system emerged as part of Germany’s effort to field standardized sniper rifles, combining a 4× scope with mounting solutions (including turret-style mounts) intended for military issue rather than purely commercial hunting installations. Scoped Kar98k rifles equipped with ZF39 optics were issued in comparatively small numbers relative to overall Kar98k production, but they became a recognizable late-1939 through late-war sniper configuration.
After World War II, very large numbers of Kar98k rifles were captured—especially by the Soviet Union—and redistributed through Cold War military aid networks. In the Vietnam War era, WWII-era bolt-action rifles from captured stocks were among the many older small arms that could appear in the arsenals of North Vietnam and the Việt Cộng, particularly early on or in secondary roles. A true ZF39-equipped sniper rifle would be less common than standard, unscoped Kar98k rifles, and scopes and mounts could be removed or separated during refurbishment and redistribution.
Sources
- Karabiner 98k | Imperial War Museums
- Centrefire bolt-action military rifle - Mauser Kar 98k - 1942 | Royal Armouries
- World War II German Sniper Systems: Rifles, Optics & Ammo | American Rifleman
- Sources of Military Equipment to Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Forces | CIA Reading Room
-
German soldier on the Eastern Front with a Kar98k.
