Karabinek wz. 29
| Karabinek wz.29 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Type | Service rifle |
| Place of origin | Poland |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1930–1945 |
| Used by |
Poland Nazi Germany Second Spanish Republic |
| Wars | Spanish Civil War, World War II |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1929 |
| Manufacturer | Państwowa Fabryka Karabinów, Fabryka Broni |
| Produced | 1930–1939 |
| No. built | 264,000 |
| Variants | none |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 4.0 kg (8.8 lb) |
| Length | 1,100 mm (43 in) |
| Barrel length | 600 mm (24 in) |
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|
|
| Cartridge | 8×57 mm IS |
| Caliber | 7.9 mm |
| Action | Bolt action |
| Rate of fire | approx 15 round/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 745 m/s (2,440 ft/s) |
| Feed system | 5-round internal box magazine |
The Karabinek wz.29 (Kbk wz.29; Polish: carbine model 29) was a Polish bolt-action short rifle based on the German Kar98AZ. Identifying attributes include a 98/05 style mast bayonet lug ending directly beneath the front sight and winged protective ears to either side of the front sight blade. Cavalry models featured a turned-down bolt handle, and early versions had a stacking hook near the end of the stock on the right side.
After regaining independence, the Polish Army was armed with weapons left over from the nations that occupied Poland during the Partition Era, including Russian M91 Mosin–Nagants, Austrian Steyr-Mannlichers, and German Gewehr 98s. French Berthiers and Lebels from the soldiers of the Blue Army were also on hand, as well as guns from Great Britain such as the Lee–Enfield and Japanese Arisaka.
As a result, at the end of Polish-Soviet War in 1921, the Polish army was armed with approximately 24 types of guns and 22 rifles firing different ammunition. Since no armies ever have desired multiple types of firearms in multiple calibers for the same role due to the training, maintenance, and logistical nightmares involved, the Polish Army sought to adopt a single type of rifle. Conveniently, the Treaty of Versailles, having established the Free City of Danzig, gave the Polish access to the tooling and machinery at the Danzig Arsenal, facilitating the choice of the Mauser 98 action as the basis for any new Polish military rifle. The Mauser was also arguably one of the best bolt-action rifles at the time and the best available to Poland, Production of the wz.98 began in July 1922, after the Danzig machinery was moved to Warsaw to create the National Rifle Factory in Radom.
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Wikipedia