Mauser model carbine. The stock almost completely encloses the barrel and incorporates the upper sling attachment. A bayonet bar is attached beneath the stock at the rear end of the cap. The stock is cut beneath the bolt knob as a relief and pierced behind the wrist to secure a sling (missing). The lock is bolt operated. The barrel is rifled with four grooves and right hand twist. Fitted with tangent rearsight graduated from 300 to 2,000 metres. Blade foresight with curved protective wings. The calibre is 7.9mm. Inscribed on the breech is the Prussian crown over 'ERFURT' over '1916'; 'KAR 98', '7965' (serial number) and an Eagle mark. This short rifle was developed from the Karbine 1898 and is distinguished by its longer barrel. It was taken from the minesweeper R89 by HMS Tactician. There was a submarine of this name launched in 1942 and also a Harrison liner called Tactician requisitioned by the Admiralty in 1939. R89 was a German minesweeper launched 6 December 1941 and sunk 10 August 1944 at Lepsoe in the vicinity of Aalesund by a munitions explosion during an air raid.