German Military Rifles and Machine Pistols 1871-1945, Hans Dieter Gotz, Schiffer publishing 1990, Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart, , page 148 The new features were a small diameter ( 33 mm ) receiver ring, tapered rather than stepped barrel contour, an L-shaped stacking rod attached to the stock near the muzzle, a turned-down bolt handle and recess in the stock in the same fashion as sniper Gewehr 98s.