Infantry Weapons and Equipment of the World Our comprehensive and ever-growing list of infantrymen hand-held weaponry throughout history.
1
.577 Enfield Musket The 577 Enfield rifle musket utilized the standard Minie ball and paper cartridge, an ammunition type shared by the American-made .58 Springfield rifle musket. Already a proven weapon for the British, the 577 Enfield also bec...
1853
2
5-cm leichte Granatwerfer 36 The 5-cm Granatwerfer 36 (abbreviated as "leGrW 36") was the standard light mortar utilized by the German Army in the early years of World War 2. Engineers tried to complete a useful portable 50mm system that could benefit sq...
AAT-52 (AAT M.1952) / AA 7.62 NF-1 The AAT52 was the standard general purpose machine gun fielded by French and colony forces beginning in the early 1950s. Though not well thought of in its 7.5mm form, the system underwent a transformation with the inclusion o...
1950
5
Accuracy International L96A1 The L96A1 is an Accuracy International-produced sniper rifle and currently the sniper rifle of choice for the British Army. The L96 features an adjustable butt, integrated adjustable bipod and static iron sights (though a 6x...
1982
6
Allen & Thurber Single-Shot The Allen & Thurber single-shot pistol was developed form competition shooting. It was a single-shot pistol based on the percussion firing principle set in the .41 caliber. Design was of wood and metal with the barrel being m...
1848
7
Al-Qadissiya Tabuk Designated Marksman The Iraqi Tabuk, produced by Al-Qadissiya Establishments, is classified as a Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR). Unlike its Soviet-based contemporaries chambered to fire the 7.62x54R cartridge, the Tabuk makes use of the 7.62x39...
1989
8
AN/TPQ-36 Firefinding Radar The AN/TPQ-36 Fire finder radar system is used to locate the origin of enemy fire - be it artillery or mortar. The system is a relatively light-weight battlefield component that can detect enemy launches from within a pre-sel...
9
Anschutz Model 64 MP-R Multi-Purpose The bolt-action repeating Anchutz 64 MP-R features an adjustable match two-stage (single stage adjustable) trigger, a heavy barrel, the superlative Anschutz 64 mechanism and the universal "beavertail" style ergonomically-shap...
10
Ares FMG (Folding Machine Gun) The Ares folding submachine gun was an attempt by a gun manufacturer to create a completely compact submachine gun weapon system. Eugene Stoner, the developer of the M16 rifle and M63 Stoner light machine gun (the latter a Vi...
1986
11
Ares Shrike 5.56 Advanced Weapons System Ares Defense of the United States produces the impressive Shrike 5.56 "Advanced Weapon System" (AWS). The Shrike 5.56 shares a high percentage of commonality in parts with the M16A4 model of the M16 family as well as its shor...
2002
12
Armalite AR-18 With Eugene Stoner's AR-15 rifle design firmly entrenched as the M16 under production by Colt, his Armalite firm turned to the design and production of a similar yet simplified version of their AR-15 design, moreso to license...
1963
13
ASG-17 'Plamya' (Flame) The ASG-17 "Plamya" (or "Flame") is a Soviet-produced automatic grenade launcher similar in scope to the American Mk 19 series. The weapon system can be vehicle mounted or used by infantry in the field via a tripod assembly. ...
AT-4 (Spigot) / 9M111 Fagot The AT-4 Spigot anti-tank wire-guided missile system is similar to the French-made MILAN system, though smaller in size. It fires the wire-guided SACLOS (Semi-Automatic Command to Line-of-Sight) anti-tank missile. The system ...
Ballester-Molina The Ballester-Molina (also known as the "HAFDASA" after the manufacturer - Hispano Argentine Fabrica de Automotives SA of Buenos Aires) is an Argentine-produced copy of the American Colt M1911 .45 caliber pistol. The Balleste...
1927
18
Barrett M107 The Barrett M107 began life as the Barrett M95 bolt-action operated sniper rifle (under the US Army designation of XM107) and placed into competition for review by the US Army. During competition, the US Army reviewed its hea...
2008
19
Barrett M82 Barrett Model 82 A1 currently known as the M107 was introduced in 1982 by the American Barrett Firearms Company was designed as a heavy scoped rifle called the “Light Fifty”. It fires a 0.50in browning 12.7 x 99mm round and ...
1989
20
Bazooka The American Bazooka was a successful - albeit simplistic - anti-armor developed as early as 1933, though not fielded until 1942. The system consisted of a basic tube, wiring and a pistol grip, fore grip and shoulder rest (al...
1942
21
Benelli M4 (Super 90) / M1014 Joint-Service Combat Shotgun The Italian Benelli semi-automatic 12 guage shotgun was accepted into US service after extensive trials in which the US Army was seeking to upgrade its shotgun line in the late 1990's. In 1999, the system was accepted for ser...
1999
22
Beretta M9 In 1980, the United States Army began to look for the eventual successor of the famed - but aged - Colt M1911A1 series of pistol as the standard and primary sidearm to it's forces. The Italian firm of Beretta already had deve...
1990
23
Beretta Model 38/42 The Beretta Model 38/42 tried to build upon the Beretta Model 38A, which proved to be too expensive to produce in a wartime environment. The Model 38/42 was an attempt to fix a few minor defects and still create a high qualit...
1942
24
Beretta RS-200 The Beretta RS-200 series are an Italian short-barreled, pump-action shotgun utilized by military and security forces. Its versatility and relative light weight allow for the use of a variety of conventional shotgun rounds to...
25
Beretta SC70/90 The Beretta-produced SC70/90 is the carbine version of the AR70/90 rifle. The SC70/90 features a folding tubular metal butt and is also featured in another form known as the SCS70/90, that form accepting the mounting of an un...
1985
26
Bernardelli B4 The Bernardelli B4 series of gas-operated, tactical combat shotguns was a semi-automatic system utilizing 12-gauge ammunition and designed exclusively for operations by military and security forces. The B4 came about as an an...
27
Besa Mk 3 The Besa Mk 3 was a tank and armored vehicle-mounted machine gun originally based on a Czechoslovakian vz. 37 (ZB53) tank machine gun design. Often considered quite accurate thanks to a modified recoil system, the Besa Mk 3 w...
1938
28
Boys Anti-Tank Rifle (Stanchion) In 1934 the British Army issued a requirement for a light anti tank weapon. The designer of the heavy rifle was Captain Boys, a designer at the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield. For security reasons it was initially given a ...
1937
29
Bren Light Machine Gun The Bren Light Machine Gun was the standard light machine gun of the Second World War. Developed in the early 1930's in an effort to replace the aging Lewis machine guns that the British Army relied on, the Bren actually had ...
1935
30
Bridesburg Model 1861 The Bridesburg Model 1861 rifle-musket was produced for the US government during the American Civil War. Production was handled by a subcontractor of the famous Springfield Armory - the Bridesburg Machine Works of Pennsylvani...
1861
31
Bridesburg Model 1863 The Bridesburg Model 1863 was a follow-up to the Bridesburg Model 1861. The rifle-musket was produced by the Bridesburg Machine Works out of Bridesburg, Pennsylvania and owned by Alfred Jenks and his son Barton. The family ha...
Browning High-Power / Fabrique Nationale FN GP35 The Browning High-Power (or FN GP35 - "GP" standing for "Grande Puissance" in French) is based on the American Colt M1911, which incidentally was also designed by famed American gunsmith John Browning. The High-Power became B...
1935
35
Browning M1917 (Model 1917) The Browning M1917 machine gun became one of those rare weapons in American military history that went on to fight in most all of the major conflicts of the 20th Century. Developed during the latter stages of World War 1, it ...
1917
36
Browning M1918 BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle) The M1918 BAR ("Browning Automatic Rifle") was born out of the World War One idea of a single soldier armed with the power of a machine gun. Pushing the theory behind this concept were the French, whose own experience with th...
1940
37
Browning M1919A4 Like many of the infantry weapons made available to US servicemen in the Second World War, the M1919 shared the common history of having been developed - or having stemmed from a development - originally conceived of or produ...
1919
38
Browning M2HB (Heavy Barrel) With the limitations inherent in the air-cooled version of the base M2 heavy machine gun - itself an evolution of the water-cooled derivative before it - the M2 was developed into the M2HB with the "HB" in the designation use...
Brugger & Thomet MP9 The Brugger & Thomet MP9 is a further development of the Steyr TMP or "Tactical Machine Pistol" designed by the Austrian-based Steyr Mannlicher firm. Manufacturing rights to the weapon system were purchased by Brugger & Thome...
2004
42
Burnside Carbine The Burnside Carbine was a popular carbine rifle fielded across all of the major battlefronts of the American Civil War. The weapon was developed by Ambrose E. Burnside from whence the carbine received its name. Burnside was ...
1856
43
Carl Gustav The global reach of the Carl Gustav recoilless rifle emphasizes the popularity of the weapon, appearing in three major variants and in use by standard military and special forces alike for some sixty years. The system has bee...
1948
44
Ceska Zbrojovka CZ2000 The CZ2000 assault rifle follows the distinct designs of the Soviet-made Kalashnikov brand of rifles but is a Czech weapon altogether. Initially a 5.45mm design known as the "Lada" the system was remarketed as the CZ2000 and ...
Colt / AAI M203 The M203 40mm grenade launcher is a single-shot system that was designed to be attached under the barrel of an assault rifle or carbine. The addition of the M203 to any rifle system expands the capability of the standard infa...
1969
48
Colt 1860 New Model Army The Model 1860 New Army Colt is regarded as the most popular pistol of the war. So popular in fact that the Confederate arms industry copied the design for its own armies. The Model 1860 was rivaled only by the Union's other ...
1860
49
Colt Commando (XM177E2) Despite it's caliber, the Colt Commando is classified as a submachine gun and was developed from the successful AR-15. The AR-15 proved to be of some use by US Army forces in the Vietnam conflict, leading to the development o...
50
Colt Dragoon The Colt "Dragoon" (meaning "Dragon" in French) was the brainchild of Samuel Colt himself and went on to become one of his most successful revolver creations in the history of firearms. Colt originally designed the revolver t...
1848
51
Colt M16A2 The M16A2 is a follow up design to the much-maligned M16 that debuted in the Vietnam War. The M16A2 version features minor but much-needed improvements to the basic system and has spawned a whole slew of look-alike variants t...
1983
52
Colt M16A4 MWS (Modular Weapon System) The M16A4 is the fourth generation model of the successful M16 series of automatic assault rifles. The M16A4 system, and all the drawbacks contained therein, that debuted in the Vietnam War is now a more refined and consequen...
53
Colt M1911 The Colt model M1911 series of pistols is one of the most successful small arms designs of the 20th Century, and in all history of warfare for that matter. The handgun has been produced in quantity in the United States, Argen...
1911
54
Colt M4 / M4A Carbine The M4/M4A Carbine is a 5.56 mm lightweight, gas operated, air cooled, magazine fed with a selective firing rate that can be sighted from the shoulder. The M4/M4A Carbine is the latest weapon in a family of firearms dating b...
1997
55
Colt M4A1 SOPMOD SOPMOD stands for Special Operation Peculiar MODification and is used by various levels of US Special Forces. The SOPMOD upgrade is nothing more than an accessory system for the standard M4A1 carbine version of the M16A2 auto...
1993
56
Colt MEU(SOC) The MEU(SOC) represents the ultimate evolution of the M1911 Colt system which appeared in the early 1900's and developed into a much-liked and well-respected weapon for countless security and military forces the world over. T...
1986
57
Colt Model 1855 Revolving Rifle The Colt Revolving Rifle of 1855 - aptly named the "Model 1855" - was an attempt to provide the repeating action of a revolving within a shortened rifle form known as a "carbine". Carbines were typically shortened-barrel form...
1855
58
Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless The Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless (or M1903) was a semi-automatic pistol from the long line of firearms developed by fabled American gunsmith John Browning. This particular pistol found its way into the homes of civilian ...
Diemaco C7 The C7 assault rifle stemmed from the Canadian decision to go with the NATO 5.56mm round as the standard ammunition round for the Canadian armed forces. The Colt-produced American-made M16 rifle became the base weapon of choi...
1984
66
DIO KH2002 / Khaybar The KH2002 / Khaybar is an indigenously-produced assault rifle of Iranian origin. Based on the American M16A1 series of automatic rifles, the KH-2002 utilizes the same internal system though obvious modifications are made po...
2004
67
Dragunov SVD The Dragunov SVD sniper rifle is an automatic rifle based on the Kalashnikov rifle series. The weapon system was the standard sniper rifle issued to the Red Army and most Warsaw Pact nations during the cold war.
The SVD u...
1963
68
Dynamit-Nobel Panzerfaust 3 The Panzerfaust 3 is a single-shot disposable anti-tank rocket launcher (only the sight and firing systems are reusable). It is designed to be a close range system to defeat heavy armor and to be used primarily in an urban wa...
1992
69
Enfield L1A1 The L1A1 was the standard British Army assault rifle from the mid-1950's on through the late 1980's, ultimately being replaced by the bullpup-configured L85A1. The L1A1 stemmed from a British military need to arm it's troops ...
1954
70
Enfield L4A1 The L4A1 is nothing more than a modified World War Two-era Bren Gun, .303 Series chambered to fire the NATO-standard 7.62x51mm cartridge. The success of the original Bren series in the worldwide conflict solidified the Bren a...
1957
71
Enfield L7 GPMG (General Purpose Machine Gun) NOTE: Specifications on this page reflect the L7A2 in the L7 GPMG series.
The British L7 GPMG (General Purpose Machine Gun - though sometimes called 'Gimpy' or 'Jimpy') series is based on the hugely successful Belgium-desi...
1963
72
Enfield L85A1 Individual Weapon (SA80) The Enfield L85A1 Individual Weapon entered service with the British Army in 1985. The rifle first appeared in NATO assault rifle trials held in the late 1970's which saw this base form firing a 4.85mm cartridge. The weapon w...
1985
73
Enfield L86A1 LSW (Light Support Weapon) The British Army's choice for squad automatic fire became the L86A1 'Light Support Weapon' in its 5.56x45mm NATO form, thus bringing to an end to the era of the popular World War Two-era Bren Light Machine Gun series (detaile...
74
Fabrique Nationale Five-seveN The Fabrique Nationale FN Five-seveN is a self-cocking, semi-automatic pistol that has seen service in military, security and civilian markets. The system lays claim to be able to counter the protective effects of Kevlar armo...
Fabrique Nationale FN Barracuda The FN Barracuda was a security service pistol proposed by the Belgium firm of Fabrique Nationale and accepted into service with a few forces worldwide. The system represented FN's only foray into the world of revolvers but a...
77
Fabrique Nationale FN Browning M2 HB-QCB The FN Browning M2 HB-QCB is basically a Fabrique Nationale copy of the American design with slight alterations made to suit European production practices. In all actuality, the system - especially the early production models...
78
Fabrique Nationale FN F2000 The FN F2000 is a next-generation weapon developed by the Belgium firm of Fabrique Nationale. It utilizes the proven bullpup configuration in the operation of both an assault rifle and grenade launcher elements and can be amb...
2000
79
Fabrique Nationale FN FAL The FN FAL (Fusil Automatique Legere) is regarded as the best of the FN automatic rifle designs to date. The FN FAL became the weapon of choice for NATO countries when the 7.62mm NATO round was accepted as the standard ammuni...
1950
80
Fabrique Nationale FN MAG GPMG (General Purpose Machine Gun) The FN MAG is the most successful of post-war (1945) machine gun designs. Over 150,000 units have been sold to various nations around the globe. Britain, Sweden and the United States maintain their licenses for production of ...
1958
81
Fabrique Nationale FN Minimi The Fabrique National FN Minimi has quickly evolved into the light-support gun of choice by several key nations including Britain and the United States of America. The system, designed to be fielded in conjunction with the ot...
82
Fabrique Nationale FN Model 1903 The Fabrique Nationale FN Model 1903 was a solid, well-traveled pistol used in both World Wars. The gun was produced to the tune of some 153,173 examples and utilized by the likes of Belgium, Estonia, Paraguay, Russia, Sweden...
Fabrique Nationale FN P90 The FN P90 is billed as a 'personal defense weapon' and is thusly classified as a submachine gun and not an assault rifle. The FN P90 was originally intended to arm auxiliary units (drivers, messengers, clerk-type elements) w...
1994
85
Fabrique Nationale M240 GPMG The M240 series of general purpose machine guns (classified by the US as a medium machine gun) has proven to be of a highly-reliable nature since being fitted to several classes of American vehicles. The weapon has also prove...
1976
86
Fabrique Nationale M249 SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon) The M249 SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon) is nothing more than a locally produced version (FN Manufacturing in South Carolina) of the Belgium firm of Fabrique Nationale's FN Minimi light machine gun. A small subtle difference in ...
1992
87
FA-MAS The FA-MAS (nicknamed 'le clairon' or 'the Bugle' because of its shape) was designed and accepted to replace the MAS Modele 49 rifle. The FA-MAS system implements a plethora of modern engineering practices that have gone on t...
1980
88
FFV / Alliant TechSystems M136 AT4 Light Anti-Armor Weapon The M136 AT4 is billed as the United States Army's primary light anti-tank weapon system available to infantry squads and is based on the original AT4 anti-tank shoulder-launched munition system. The system can be used by a s...
1985
89
FG42 / FjG42 (Fallschirmjagergewehr 42) The Fallschirmjagergewhr FG42 (sometimes FjG42) was a meshing of old-world ammunition with new world small arms engineering. Regarded as one of the best designs of small arms during the Second World War, the FG42 served well ...
1942
90
FR F2 The FR F2 remains the standard sniper rifle of the French Army. It is a bolt-action operated system built upon the strengths of the FR-F1 before it.
After the FR F1 sniper rifle was put into practical use, some improvement...
1990
91
Franchi SPAS-12 The SPAS-12 is a semi-automatic shotgun produced by the Italian firm of Franchi S.p.A. It entered production in the late 1970's as a police and military combat shotgun with two settings - an automatic mode featuring a self-lo...
1979
92
Franchi SPAS-15 Shotgun The Franchi SPAS-15 shotgun is an automatic shotgun capable of firing multiple rounds without a pump action system. The shotgun is one of the few to be considered automatic in the sense that the user need not cock the weapon ...
Gasser Model 1870 Army Service The Gasser Model 1870 Army Service pistol became the standard sidearm of cavalry units in service to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Its inception into use was noted by the year in its model number (1870) though design began som...
1870
97
Gatling Gun 1861 Richard Gatling patented his ferocious weapon in the early 1860s and the type was subsequently used in the American Civil War to deadly effect. The basic principle revolved around a steady feed of ammunition supplied to ten r...
1861
98
General Dynamics / Raytheon FIM-92 Stinger The FIM-92 Stinger is a portable, lightweight anti-aircraft defense system currently in service with the United States military and other foreign forces. It has proven successful across several different types of platforms (l...
1981
99
General Dynamics FIM-43 Redeye The FIM-43 "Redeye" was a man-portable anti-aircraft missile launcher requiring only a single crewmember to operate it. Design began as early as 1959 with production handled by General Dynamics. The missile system debuted in ...
1968
100
General Electric GAU-17/A Minigun The General Electric GAU-17/A "minigun" represents the crew-served version of the Vietnam-era General Electric M134 helicopter-mounted weapon system. The GAU-17 operation follows the Gatling rotary-style munitions delivery de...
1965
101
General Electric M134 Minigun The US Army General Electric M134 minigun six-barrel 7.62mm gatling gun was a derivative of the original General Electric M61 20mm gatling system technology. The M134 was designed to fire 7.62x51mm NATO standard ammunition fr...
1965
102
Glock 17 The Glock 17 has gone on to see extensive in both military and police roles with a plethora of nations around the globe. In its most base form, the Model 17 was a simple weapon to operate and breakdown, consisting of just ov...
1983
103
Glock 19 The Glock 19 is a smaller pistol (defined as "compact") based on the original Glock 17 with the new gun made easier to conceal for use by military and police forces. The pistol was debuted by Glock GmbH of Austria in 1988. Wh...
1988
104
Glock 20 The powerful Glock 20 was designed specifically to take advantage of the large 10mm Auto (10x25mm) pistol cartridge, a round developed by Jeff Cooper and introduced in 1983 for use in the "Bren 10" handgun, this itself design...
1990
105
Glock 21 The Glock 21 (Glock GmbH of Austria) was essentially the Glock 20 model modified for the US market to fire the .45 ACP. The .45 ACP (or ".45 Auto") cartridge was a rimless cartridge developed by American gunsmith John Brownin...
1990
106
Glock 22 The Glock 22 appeared in 1990 and went on to become one of the most popular pistols in use by 2006. The pistol bridged the gap between the .45 caliber and the 9x19mm Parabellum cartridge by providing the operator access to th...
1990
107
Glock 23 The Glock 23 was another "bridging" pistol attempting to combine the in-between .40 S&W caliber cartridge with a slightly modified frame designed specifically for improved concealment while retaining lightweight operating qua...
1990
108
Glock 24 The Glock 24 was a limited-run pistol developed by Glock GmbH of Austria. The Model 24 was an off-shoot of the Glock 17 and chambered to fire the larger .40 S&W cartridge while featuring a new long slide as well as a composit...
1992
109
Glock 25 The Glock 25 was introduced sometime in 1995 and made use of the .380 ACP cartridge - a low-recoil, rimless cartridge developed by John Browning. The Glock 25 followed much of the design of the existing Glock 19 family but de...
1995
110
Glock 26 The Glock 26 was designed with the thought of creating a Glock handgun that was easily concealable and chambered to fire the popular 9x19mm Parabellum cartridge. The end-product was small enough to fit in the palm of the aver...
1996
111
Glock 27 The subcompact Glock 27 was similar in respects to the Glock 26, designed for ease of concealment while retaining the accuracy and firepower of their bigger Glock cousins. What differentiated the G27 from the G26 was its cham...
1996
112
Glock 28 The Glock 28 was similar in respects to the subcompact Glock 26 and Glock 27 models though chambered to fire the .380 ACP cartridge ala the Glock 25. Also similar to the previous subcompact offerings was its use of a blowback...
Glock 30 Based in many ways on the preceding Glock 29 design, the Glock 30 is another fine example of pistol handiwork from Gaston Glock's Austrian firm. The system is chambered to fire the .45 ACP caliber round which remains popular ...
Harpers Ferry Model 1805 The Harpers Ferry Model 1805 was a flintlock pistol produced out of Harpers Ferry Armory in West Virginia. The firm was set up by the United States government in 1799 and would eventually provide hundreds of thousands of fire...
1805
118
Harris / McMillan M86 Harris GunWorks operated as part of the McMillan Brothers production brand, delivering the excellent bolt-action repeating M86 sniper rifle weapons system. The M86 was designed with military and security forces in mind, allow...
119
Heckler & Koch HK 11 By all accounts, the HK 11 system can be viewed as a modified HK G3 rifle. With origins of the HK delayed-blowback system dating back to the closing years of the Second World War (in the form of experimental MG 45 and StG 45 ...
1971
120
Heckler & Koch HK 21 HK (or Heckler & Koch) is a small arms weapons designer and manufacturer owned by the British company, BAE Systems, though the company itself is located in Oberndorf Neckar, Germany. HK is one of the world’s finest small arm...
1970
121
Heckler & Koch HK 32KA1 The Heckler & Koch HK 32KA1 carbine was designed for the military market that revolved around the firing of the Soviet 7.62x39mm M1943 "short" cartridge - most notably any Soviet-supported or satellite state at the time. The ...
1962
122
Heckler & Koch HK 33E NOTE: Specifications shown below cover the HK33E with fixed butt.
The HK33E series was a direct replacement of the earlier HK33 automatic rifles and is basiclaly the 5.56mm equivalent of the HK G3 rifle (detailed elsewhere...
1985
123
Heckler & Koch HK 416 Heckler & Koch unveiled the HK416 automatic rifle family in 2005 as a potential replacement for the M4 family series of carbines. The HK416 was a joint effort by the United States and Germany to produce a more reliable and mo...
Heckler & Koch HK CAWS The CAWS (Close Assault Weapon System) was a joint project for the United Military led by the German firearm firm of Heckler & Koch and the American firm of Winchester / Olin. The design idea behind the CAWS system was to pro...
1983
126
Heckler & Koch HK G11 Caseless The Heckler & Koch HK G11 Caseless rifle design was in every way a revolutionary weapon departing from several traditional design forms. Chief among these was the idea of “caseless” ammunition fired from a 50-round box and of...
1969
127
Heckler & Koch HK G3 The HK G3 (or Gewehr 3) is a successful assault rifle design produced by the German firm of Heckler & Koch with the Federal Republic of Germany in 1961. The G3 itself was based on the Spanish CETME rifle which in turn was bas...
1959
128
Heckler & Koch HK G36 The Heckler & Koch-produced HK G36 is the official frontline assault rifle of the German Army and is also featured in a shorter-barrel version as the HK G36K to German special forces elements. The G36 development stemmed dire...
1995
129
Heckler & Koch HK G41 The HK G41 was based on the pre-existing HK G33E system but fitted with a three-round burst capability to compliment the full automatic fire mode. Nearly replacing the aging G3 in German Army service, the G41 was instead drop...
1987
130
Heckler & Koch HK MP5 The Heckler & Koch-produced series of MP (Maschinenpistole or 'Machine Pistol') is by far the most popular post-war submachine gun. It is featured by a multitude of special forces, police and army units the world over and is ...
131
Heckler & Koch HK MP5K The HK MP5K is based on the successful HK MP5-series of submachine gun produced by the German-based firm of Heckler & Koch. The HK MP5K is a specialized shortened version of the base submachine gun featuring a short barrel an...
132
Heckler & Koch HK MP5N The HK MP5N is another variant of the highly successful HK MP5 series of submachine guns. The 'N' designation is reserved for 'Navy' and stands as the Navy Model of the MP5 series which was designed specifically for use by th...
133
Heckler & Koch HK MP5SD The HK MP5SD series of submachine guns produced by the firm of Heckler & Koch features at least six silenced versions of the highly successful HK MP5 submachine gun. The 'SD' in the designation indicates it's 'silenced' funct...
134
Heckler & Koch HK PSG-1 The PSG in the designation of the PSG-1 stands for 'Prazisionsschutzengewehr' which roughly translates to 'Precision Rifle'. The PSG-1 Sniping Rifle was put into production 1985, and primarily developed for police and militar...
1985
135
Heckler & Koch HK SL8 The HK SL8 (SL8-1) is nothing more than the HK G36 assault rifle in civilian guise with semi-automatic fire. Both weapons are the product of Heckler & Koch, with the HK SL8 series entering the market in 1998 and continuing pr...
1998
136
Heckler & Koch HK XM25 IAWS The futuristic Heckler & Koch HK XM25 IAWS (Individual Airburst Weapon System) is a semi-automatic, multiple-shot, shoulder-fired 25mm grenade launcher categorized as an "airburst weapon" system designed to neutralize out-of...
2012
137
Heckler & Koch HK XM29 OICW The XM-29 OICW (Objective Individual Combat Weapon) was a proposed replacement for the aging M-16 Assault Rifle for the United States Army. The system was designed and jointly developed by Alliant Techsystems and Heckler & K...
1995
138
Heckler & Koch HK XM8 The XM-8 is an experimental assault rifle currently undergoing trials with the US Military. It was designed and built by the German weapons firm of Heckler & Koch to replace the aging M-16 assault rifle and M-4 carbine. Altho...
2006
139
Heckler & Koch SOCOM (Mk 23 Mod 0) The Mk 23 Mod 0 is popularly known as the "SOCOM" pistol due to it's relationship with the United States Special Operations COMmand department that first requested a pistol to replace their aging M1911A1 Colt handguns. The re...
1996
140
Helenius RK-97 APH The Helenius RK-97 APH is a heavy caliber anti-materiel rifle coming out of Finland. The system can make use out of the NATO 12.7x99mm NATO or the Soviet 12.7x107mm cartridge as needed and is a single-shot weapon. The use of ...
1996
141
Henry Model 1860 While not the "perfect" lever-action repeating rifle, the Henry Rifle was the revolutionary culmination of two previous major lever-action repeater attempts and forged the way for the successful line of Winchester arms to fol...
Howa Type 89 The Japanese Type 89 was developed by the Howa Machinery Company of Japan for the Japanese Defense Agency and first fielded in 1989.
The Type 89 features a variety of unique design elements, which promote a smooth motion o...
IMI B-300 The B-300 is an Israeli Military Industries product and is a man-portable anti-tank weapon system. It is designed to engage enemy tanks or fortified structures depending on the chosen warhead type (HEAT - High Explosive Anti-...
1980
151
IMI Desert Eagle The Desert Eagle handgun is a powerful gas-operated, semi-automatic handgun capable of firing the .50 AE (Action Express) caliber round, though minor field adjustments can allow the latest production model of the Desert Eagle...
1980
152
IMI Galil ARM The Galil-series of assault rifle began development in 1967, with the goal of replacing the solid (if unspectacular but heavier) Fabrique Nationale-produced FN FAL assault rifle (detailed elsewhere on this site). The Israelis...
1968
153
IMI M141 Bunker Defeat Munition (BDM) / SMAW-D The M141 (SMAW-D) was developed for the United States Army to fill the role of "bunker buster", though the system itself has proven to be most multi-purpose in nature, particularly in urban the urban warfare setting. The syst...
IMI Negev The Negev is an Israeli 5.56mm light machine gun, developed by Israel Military Industries Ltd (now Israel Weapon Industry), as a replacement for the 5.56mm Galil light machine gun which had a propensity to overheat. This newe...
1990
157
IMI UZI The UZI 9 mm was created soon after Israel became a nation state in 1948. The UZI used a revolutionary design in which the pistol grip housed the ammunition clip which perfectly balanced the weapon in one hand. This made it a...
1950
158
Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Improvised Explosive Devices are 'home-made' devices made to injure, harrass or kill. They typically are thrown or laid on the sides of roads or on the roads themselves (unseen by a passing vehicle occupant).
Improvised Ex...
1975
159
Individual Water Purifier (IWP) The individual water purification system provides the infantryman the ability to remove or destroy contaminants from all water sources....
160
Ingram MAC-10 The Ingram Mac 10 is a direct copy of the Israeli made UZI 9mm weapon. The Mac 10 earned its stripes through primary use by special forces groups, presumably the Navy SEALs. Its 30 round clip of .45 caliber ACP ammunition can...
161
Ithaca Model 37 Featherlight Famed gunsmith John Browning first patented the Model 37 pump action shotgun as early as 1917. Heralded as one of the longest running shotgun systems still in existence, the Model 37 rights were first owned by the Remington A...
1937
162
Ithaca Model 37 Stakeout The Ithaca Model 37 Stakeout is the law enforcement version of the civilian game / home defense Model 37 pump action shotgun. The Model 37 shotgun system itself is nearly a century old, though the Stakeout variant is a newer ...
1946
163
Izhmash AN-94 (Abakan) The Izhmash AN-94 is the latest in the long line of Russian assault rifles and is intended to replace the long-lasting Kalashnikov series of rifle (including the fabled AK-47). Outwardly, the system maintains some similaritie...
1997
164
Izhmash Saiga-12 The Russian firm Izhmash produces the impressive Saiga-12, a semi-automatic fire-capable combat shotgun that has earned a high level of respect for both its lethality and its reliability since its introduction in the 1990's. ...
1995
165
J.F. Brown Target/Sniper Rifle J.F. Brown of Haverhill, Massachusetts produced a line of high-quality target/sniper rifles during the Civil War. Sights were developed by L.M. Amadon of Bellows Falls, Vermont. Together, the two men unveiled their excellent ...
166
Johnson Model 1836 The Johnson Model 1836 was a high-quality flintlock pistol produced for the US government in a batch of 3,000 examples. The pistols were sold for nine dollars a system and proved to be one of the last flintlock-based pistols ...
1836
167
Johnson Model 1941 (Rifle) The Johnson Model 1941 faced off against the M1 Garand rifle before the start of hostilities that became World War 2. The rifle was designed by Melvin Maynard Johnson, Jr. (1909 - 1965) in 1939, a Boston, Massachusetts native...
1941
168
Johnson Model 1941 LMG The Johnson Model 1941 Light Machine Gun was a product of the Cranston Arms Company from Providence, Rhode Island, and classified as a support light machine gun. In functionality, the system could be thought about in the same...
Kalashnikov AK-103 The AK-103 represents the latest - and modernized - incarnation of the legendary Ak-47 assault rifle introduced in the Soviet Union following World War Two. Visually, the AK-103 retains many of the elements that have made the...
1994
171
Kalashnikov AK47 (AK-47) The Kalashnikov AK series of assault rifles has been the Soviet / Russian standard assault rifle since the early 1950's whose design is rooted in the German MP44 submachine gun of the Second World War. The rifle seems to have...
1950
172
Kalashnikov AK74 (AK-74) / M1974 The Kalashnikov AK74 was a derivative of the AK47 series assault rifle, but more closely associated with the AKM, and was a smaller caliber system utilizing the Soviet 5.45x39.5mm round. Basically retaining the major features...
1977
173
Kalashnikov AKM (AK-M) The AKM was a modified version of the original AK-47 assault rifle, incorporating new steel stampings instead of a machined receiver, making it more economical to produce in large numbers. The "M" in the designation dictated ...
1959
174
Kalashnikov AKMS (AKM-S) The AKMS was nothing more than a direct copy of the AKM, a "modernized" version of the base AK47 system which re-incorporated steel stamping into the production process, effectively making the system more economical to produc...
175
Kalashnikov AKS (AK-S) The AKS was derived from the base AK47 assault rifle though produced with a folding steel butt instead of the fixed wood stock found in the original. Despite this change, the AKS was a visual mirror of it's predecessor. The f...
1950
176
Kalashnikov AKSU-74 (AKS-74U) The AKSU-74 represents a submachine gun derivative of the AKS assault rifle, both operating with the 5.45mm Soviet cartridge. The AKSU-74 is a shortened version of the assault rifle and features a compact overall design, fold...
1983
177
Kbk wz. 1988 (Tantal) Though appearing as nothing more than a Polish copy of the Russian-made Kalashnikov AK-74S rifle, the wz/88 sports some features that differentiate it from its Russian-inspired heritage. Foremost, the system is generally prod...
Knights Armament M4 MWS (Modular Weapon System) The M4 MWS (Modular Weapon System) is based on the M16A4, which in itself represents a newer incarnation of the base M16A2 currently in service with forces around the globe. The M4 utilizes the strengths and internal working ...
Lahti L-39 The Lahti L-39 was an indigenous Finnish 20mm anti-tank rifle design used during the "Winter War" of World War 2. The system was designed in 1939 and produced in some 1,900 examples by the end of her run, expanding to includ...
1939
182
Lebel Model 1886 The Lebel Model 1886 (more formally as the "Fusil Modele 1886 ") was the standard infantry rifle of the French Army before and throughout World War 1. The weapon lived a production life that was long enough to see action in W...
1887
183
Lee-Enfield (Series) The Lee-Enfield series of rifles is one of the most successful bolt-action rifles of all time. First debuted in November 1895 as the .303 calibre, Rifle, Magazine, Lee-Enfield, the rifle has still found use today in military,...
1895
184
Lefaucheux 20-Round The Lefaucheux 20-Round was one of the notable attempts at designing a revolver that offered the operator a pistol with more than a standard cartridge cylinder housing five- or six-rounds of ammunition. This French handgun in...
LeMat (Grape Shot Revolver) The LeMat revolver was a Civil War handgun carried by Confederate Officers. It was designed by Confederate Colonel Jean LeMat, and consisted of a 9-shot .40 caliber cylinder system with a 16-gauge buckshot barrel underneath t...
Lithgow F89, Standard Light Pattern The Australian F89 light support machine gun is a derivative of the successful Belgium FN Minimi system, which has since been adopted into service by the United States of America, Italy, Belgium and Australia. This particular...
191
LRAC 89 The LRAC 89 is capable of firing both armor piercing, smoke, anti-vehicle and illumination rounds. The system is comprised of fiberglass tubing and plastic. Rudimentary sights are provided on the body of the tube along with t...
192
M1 Carbine The M1 Carbine series is often regarded as one of the most prolific American firearms developed during and for the Second World War. Designed primarily for light duty in the hands of logistical military participants such as c...
1942
193
M1 Garand Little discussion can be had on the subject of American infantrymen in World War Two without the mention of the highly-acclaimed M1 Garand rifle. As the standard infantry rifle of the Second World War GI, the Garand saw comba...
1936
194
M1 Thompson (Tommy Gun) The Thompson series of submachine guns (not quite a pistol yet not a full-fledged machine gun) began life in 1919 following World War 1. It was the creation of one General John Taliaferro Thompson (December 31st, 1860 - June ...
1938
195
M110 SASS (Semi-Automatic Sniper System) The M110 SASS (Semi-Automatic Sniper System) is billed as an anti-material and anti-personnel sniper rifle firing the 7.62x51mm NATO standard cartridge. At the moment, it is being heralded as the best sniper rifle of its clas...
M1917 Enfield (American Enfield) Britain had already begun the task of replacing their Short Magazine Lee Enfield (SMLE) infantry rifles in the years preceding the First World War. The Royal Arms Factory at Enfield was charged with finding a solution to this...
M1A1 Pack Howitzer The M1A1 Pack Howitzer was the standard howitzer for American forces in World War 2. The Pack design actually traced it's roots back to the howitzer development of World War One, standardized in the American Army post-war as ...
1927
200
M224, 60mm The M224 is the current portable mortar system in service with the United States Army and Marine Corps. The system provides a high-angle attack weapon that can be used in close proximity to friendly troops. Its indirect fire ...
1978
201
M252, 81mm The smoothbore, muzzle-loading M252 medium weight mortar system offers up accurate long-range indirect fire support to American ground forces. It is an 81mm high-angle-of-fire system that is crew-served, entering US Army ser...
M32 MGL (Multiple Grenade Launcher) The M32 MGL (Multiple Grenade Launcher) is currently in trials with the United States Marine Corps in Iraq. The system is a hand-held grenade launcher that operated from a spring-driven non-removable six-shot cylinder capable...
M3A1 (Grease Gun) The M3A1 "Grease Gun" was a further development of the base M3 submachine gun. Entering service in 1944, the M3A1 looked to simplify the weapon's production process and practices in order to streamline the result and ship the...
1942
206
M60 GPMG (General Purpose Machine Gun) The M60 served as the primary American general purpose machine gun for a good part of the 20th Century, being fielded in the squad support and vehicle mounted roles during its tenure. The M60 appeared following the close of t...
1957
207
M60E3 The M60E3 was a further improved version of the M60 and M60E1 general purpose machine gun. Developed by the Saco Defense company of Maine, the M60E3 incorporated a forward pistol grip for improved stability. Barrel changing w...
1986
208
M67 Hand Grenade The M67 is a fragmentation-based hand-grenade utilized to supplement infantry actions in the field. The hand grenade concept is an ancient one, with roots dating back centuries. The principle behind the device is to inflict a...
M79 Grenade Launcher The M79 was a standard single-shot, squad-support weapon that made its initial appearance with American troops during the Vietnam War. The system could lob a grenade projectile several hundred meters away and stop light-armor...
M9 Bayonet In 1984 the United States adopted a multipurpose knife, the M9 bayonet. The M9 was designed to be used in conjunction with the Armalite AR-15, the Colt M-16 service rifle and the Colt M- carbine weapons with a reserve role as...
Madsen-Saetter SFMG Mark 4 The SFMG Mark 4 was a general purpose machine in every sense of the word, generating only modest interest and light sale overall. Becoming the company's last attempt at a small arms design, the SFMG was an unspectacular up ad...
Mannlicher Model 1901 / 1905 The Mannlicher Model 1901 / Model 1905 series of pistols was an excellent design and production small arm that saw little in the way of profitability. Usage was limited to the forces of Austria/Austria-Hungary and Argentina. ...
MAS Service Revolver Modele 1873 Manufacture Nationale d'Armes de St. Etienne (MAS) of the arsenal based at St. Etienne in France was the proud sponsor of the first centerfire-based pistol to be accepted for service in the French Army. The product in questio...
Maschinenpistole 40 (MP40) Whereas the MP43 submachine gun, though proving a success, was too much for war time production, the MP40 was offered up as a redesigned model featuring more in the way of welded construction and pressed components. Modificat...
223
Maschinenpistole 44 (MP44) / Sturmgewehr 44 (StG44) The Maschinenpistole 44, or MP44, or still further the StG 44, is more commonly associated as being the father of the modern assault rifle design. This was, in truth, a revolutionary weapon developed by a Germany facing defea...
1943
224
MAT-49 (Manufacture Nationale d'Armes de Tulle 49) The MAT-49 is a submachine gun developed in France by Manufacture Nationale d'Armes de Tulle (MAT) and accepted into service in 1949 - hence its designation "MAT-49". Production lasted from 1949 until 1979 and the weapon was ...
1949
225
Mauser Gewehr 98 (G98 / Gew 98) The Mauser Gewehr 98 (formally as the "Infantry Rifle Model 1898") was a manually operated, magazine fed, bolt-action rifle and became one of the most successful military and sport firearms ever produced (numbering over 5,000...
1898
226
Mauser Karabiner Kar 98k With origins as far back as the First World War, the Kar 98k (with "Kar" being short for "karabiner" or "carbine") was a direct descendent of the Mauser-produced Gew 98 rifle, appearing basically as a short stock version of t...
1935
227
Maxim MG08 (Maschinengewehr 08) The Maxim MG08 (or "Maschinengewehr 08") was a copy of the original machine gun as developed by Sir Hiram S. Maxim in 1884. Hiram was born in Sangerville, Maine in 1840 and emigrated to England. There, he focused in on the wi...
1908
228
McMillan TAC-308 (McMillan Tactical Rifle) The McMillan TAC-308 (McMillan Tactical Rifle) was developed for military and security forces operating in an urban setting. The system is chambered to fire the proven .308 Winchester cartridge from its heavy match-grade free...
229
MG34 (Maschinengewehr Modell 34) Before the MG42 became the principle machine gun of the German Army in World War Two, the MG34 was enjoying all the attention as the squad support weapon of choice. Based on an earlier Swiss-German design in the form of the S...
1936
230
MG42 (Maschinengewehr Modell 42) The MG 42 (full designation of Maschinengewehr Modell 42) was a direct result of the small arms shortages that plagued Germany through the middle and later years of the war. The system was designed from the outset to be easy ...
1942
231
MIC Uirapuru Originally rejected by the Brazilian Army, the Uirapuru received a second life in 1976 after refinements were imposed. The weapon was an initial design as put together by members of the Brazilian Army's engineering institute ...
Mortar, 60mm M2 The M2 60mm light mortar served US Army and Marine forces in World War 2 and through the Korean and the Vietnam wars, becoming the standard light company mortar beginning in 1940. The weapon was a license-production copy of t...
1940
236
Mortar, 81mm M1 The American M1 81mm Mortar, like the upcoming M2 60mm Mortar, was based on a French design by Edgar William Brandt (1880-1960). The M1 was a derivative of the French mle 27/31 system (itself an improved form of the Stokes Tr...
