The Mauser Standard Modell,First produced in 1933, the Mauser Standard Modell was a short version of

The Mauser Standard Modell,First produced in 1933, the Mauser Standard Modell was a short version of the GEW 98 which was used by Germany during World War I.  At the time, the Versailles Treaty restricted Germany from producing standard size rifles, so only short rifles and carbines could be manufactured.  Of course, carbines and short rifles would become the standard of World War II, with long rifles becoming quaint in terms of military technology.  The Standard Modell featured a GEW 98 action with a barrel shortened 23.62 inches.  A carbine version 21.65 inch barrel.  It was called the “Standard Modell” because due to its length it was proper to be issued to both infantry and cavalry soldiers.  The top of the receiver featured the Mauser logo, while the side of the receiver was stamped “Standard Modell”.The Mauser Standard Modell was not intended for domestic sale or military use, rather it was produced primarily as an export good.  Most customers were private security forces, guards, and police forces.  While primarily chambered for 8x57 Mauser, they were also produced in 7mm and 7.65mm for sale in Spain and Latin American countries.  By far the largest buyer of the Standard Modell was China, either purchased by the Chinese National Army or the many warlords that dominated the country.  The Chinese also produced their own copies called the Type 24 Chiang Kai-Shek rifle.  If the Mauser Standard Modell looks a lot like the Karabiner 98k rifle used by the German Army during World War II, that’s because the Standard Modell was almost identical to the K98k, and considered its direct forerunner.  While the Standard Modell was mostly exported, it allowed the rapidly growing German arms industry to gain production experience, and little needed to be done to retool German factories to produce the K98k. -- source link

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