Boker 98k-Damascus

'The Boker 98k-Damascus revives a significant chapter of German military history. The famous Karabiner 98k was adopted as the Wehrmacht’s standard service rifle in 1935 and remained the primary infantry rifle used by German forces until the end of World War II in 1945. Its bolt-action design traces back to the Mauser System 98, which had been chosen as the standard infantry rifle mechanism by the Prussian Army in 1898. The adoption followed earlier German efforts to develop a new cartridge after France introduced low-smoke powder; the Mauser brothers Franz‑Andreas and Peter‑Paul were selected by the Prussian Rifle Testing Commission for their proven design and workmanship. The System 98 introduced pioneering features— a three-position wing safety, a large non-rotating extractor with controlled-feed, and two vertically locking lugs on the bolt head—qualities that made it exceptionally reliable, robust, and safe to handle. Those attributes have led the Mauser system to become the most widely produced and copied bolt-action repeater mechanism in history and it is still manufactured worldwide for civilian use.\n\nThe Boker 98k-Damascus echoes several design elements of the original 98k bayonet and is fitted with a unique Damascus blade forged from Mauser carbine barrel steel. The 80-layer Damascus, hand-forged by Chad Nichols in a Ripple pattern, yields a distinctive blade with a pronounced ricasso. The blade is opened by a nail nick and secured by a strong backlock. The scales are crafted from locally sourced walnut and reproduce the diagonal grooving of the bayonet grips for a secure hold. Beneath the steel bolster, a transverse groove for lateral cleaning of the cleaning-rod shaft has been retained as a historical detail. Each knife is handmade at the Boker Knife Manufactory in Solingen and comes with an elegant floating display, a certificate of authenticity, and an individual serial number.'