Could World War II Have Been Won Without These Guns?

The world seemed in constant flux and struggle in the years leading up to World War II. World War I had been an extremely destabilizing force in Europe. As Adolf Hitler rose to power in the early 1930s, he violated the Treaty of Versailles while espousing beliefs about the purity of the “Aryan” race. World War II officially began after Hitler invaded Poland, leading to France and Britain declaring war against Germany. Although American-made weapons played a role in arming Allied forces, the United States did not officially enter into World War II until 1941, following Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor. Americans soon entered into battle. Though the United States also had powerful air and naval forces at the time, ground forces had to rely on their guns for protection. (Check out the Battle of Pearl Harbor’s most heroic military members.)

Many troops used several different guns in war, depending on their specific role. As American gun manufacturers took note of these changing needs, they began innovating new gun technology that provided more versatility and precision in battle. Altogether, eighty-nine gun types are thought to have been used by the U.S. alone during World War II. But which guns most supported the goals of U.S. forces? 24/7 Wall St. used a WW2 U.S. Infantry Database from Military Factory to identify, specifically, American-made military firearms that changed the trajectory of U.S. military power. While our list is not a comprehensive list of all American-made military guns used during World War II, we focused on which guns were the most impactful. The guns are listed in alphabetical order based on which company developed the gun (i.e. Browning, Colt). Supplemental information on gun type, year of introduction, firing action, and caliber and feed was also sourced from Military Factory.

This previously published article was updated in March 2025 to reflect new memorialization efforts from the Minnesota & Military Veterans Museum regarding the gun that shot the first American shots of World War II. 

Why This Matters Today

World War II may seem far out of memory — but the war was actually fought less than 100 years ago. This war, considered the deadlist conflict in our world’s history, has shaped today’s world and geopolitical relationships. World War II also influenced many aspects of our modern military and technological innovations: think radar and mass-produced penicillin. The war also saw significant advancements in weaponry, with more effective assault and semi-automatic rifles that changed the way current small arms are developed. It’s important that we continue to memorialize those who died during World War II and the changes that they brought to our society. In late February 2025, the Minnesota & Military Veterans Museum made an effort to do so by giving a new home to Gun No. 3, which fired the first American shots of World War II from the USS Ward. By providing you with an overview of American-made military guns used in World War II, 24/7 Wall St. hopes to provide you with insight into how these guns developed over time — but also to encourage you to think about those who served with these weapons.

These American-made military guns helped fight World War II:

Browning Auto-5

• Type: Semi-automatic shotgun
• Year introduced: 1902
• Manufacturer: Browning Arms
• Firing action: Semi-automatic, recoil-operated, self-loading, repeat fire
• Caliber and feed: 12-, 16- or 20-gauge; 3- or 5-round tubular magazine

Browning M1917 (Model 1917)

• Type: Belt-fed, water-cooled heavy machine gun
• Year introduced: 1917
• Manufacturer: Browning Arms / Remington Arms
• Firing action: Recoil-operated, automatic
• Caliber and feed: 30-06 Springfield; 250-round fabric belt

Browning M1919 GPMG

• Type: Medium machine gun
• Year introduced: 1919
• Manufacturer: Rock Island Arsenal / General Motors
• Firing action: Gas operated, belt-fed, air cooled
• Caliber and feed: 30-06 Springfield, 7.62x51mm NATO, 7.92x57mm Mauser, .303 British; 250-round fabric belt

Browning M2

• Type: Multi-role heavy machine gun
• Year introduced: 1921
• Manufacturer: Saco Defense Industries
• Firing action: Automatic short recoil-operated, air-cooled
• Caliber and feed: .50 BMG, 12.7x99mm NATO; 110-round metallic link belt

Colt Browning M1895 (Potato Digger)

• Type: Belf-fed machine gun
• Year introduced: 1895
• Manufacturer: Colt Firearms
• Firing action: Gas operated, closed-bolt, lever-actuated
• Caliber and feed: 30-06 Springfield, 7x57mm, 6.5x52mm; 240-round fabric belt

Colt M1911

• Type: Semi-automatic service pistol
• Year introduced: 1911
• Manufacturer: Colt Firearms
• Firing action: Single-action, short-recoil-operated
• Caliber and feed: .45 ACP; 7-round detachable box magazine

Ithaca Model 37

• Type: Combat shotgun
• Year introduced: 1937
• Manufacturer: Ithaca Gun Company
• Firing action: Manually-actuated pump-action slide, repeat fire
• Caliber and feed: 12-, 16-, 20- or 28-gauge; 4-, 5- or 8-round tubular magazine

Johnson LMG

• Type: Light machine gun / squad support weapon
• Year introduced: 1941
• Manufacturer: Cranston Arms Company
• Firing action: Short recoil-operated, single-shot / full automatic
• Caliber and feed: 30-06 Springfield; 25-round detachable box magazine

Johnson Model 1941

• Type: Semi-automatic rifle
• Year introduced: 1941
• Manufacturer: Iver Johnson
• Firing action: Semi-automatic, short-recoil, rotating bolt
• Caliber and feed: 30-06 Springfield; 10-round cylindrical magazine

Lewis Gun

• Type: Light machine gun
• Year introduced: 1914
• Manufacturer: Birmingham Small Arms Company
• Firing action: Gas-operated
• Caliber and feed: .303 British, 30-06 Springfield, 7.92x57mm Mauser; 47- or 97-round detachable pan

M1 Bazooka

• Type: Shoulder-fired anti-tank rocket launcher
• Year introduced: 1942
• Manufacturer: General Electric
• Firing action: Electrically-actuated, single-shot, reusable tube
• Caliber and feed: 60mm; Single-shot

M1 Carbine

• Type: Semi-automatic / full-automatic carbine
• Year introduced: 1942
• Manufacturer: State Factories
• Firing action: Gas operated, short-stroke piston, semi-automatic
• Caliber and feed: 30 Carbine; 15- or 30-round detachable box magazine

M1 Thompson (Tommy Gun)

• Type: Submachine gun
• Year introduced: 1938
• Manufacturer: Savage Arms
• Firing action: Blow-back system
• Caliber and feed: .45 ACP; 20- or 30-round box, 50-round drum

M18 RR

• Type: Anti-tank / anti-personnel recoilless rifle
• Year introduced: 1945
• Manufacturer: State Factories
• Firing action: Recoilless
• Caliber and feed: 57x303mmR; Single-shot

M1917 Enfield (American Enfield)

• Type: Bolt-action service rifle
• Year introduced: 1917
• Manufacturer: Winchester / Remington
• Firing action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
• Caliber and feed: 7.62x63mm, 30-06 Springfield; 6-round magazine

M1A1 Flamethrower

• Type: Portable infantry flamethrower
• Year introduced: 1941
• Manufacturer: State Factories
• Firing action: Electrical ignition flame jet
• Caliber and feed: 4.7-gallon Nitrogen fuel canister; 5-flamethrows possible

M2 Carbine

• Type: Select-fire automatic carbine
• Year introduced: 1944
• Manufacturer: General Motors
• Firing action: Selective-fire, gas-operated, short-stroke piston
• Caliber and feed: 30 Carbine; 15- or 30-round detachable box magazine

M2-2 / M9A1-7

• Type: Portable infantry flamethrower
• Year introduced: 1943
• Manufacturer: State Factories
• Firing action: Rotary cartridge ignition flame jet
• Caliber and feed: 4.7-gallon Nitrogen fuel container; 7-flamethrows possible

M3 (Grease Gun)

• Type: Submachine gun
• Year introduced: 1943
• Manufacturer: Ithaca Gun Company
• Firing action: Open bolt, blowback
• Caliber and feed: .45 ACP, 9x19mm Parabellum; 30-round detachable box magazine

M3 Carbine

• Type: Sniper carbine rifle
• Year introduced: 1944
• Manufacturer: General Motors
• Firing action: Selective-fire, gas-operated, short-stroke piston
• Caliber and feed: 30 Carbine; 15- or 30-round detachable box magazine

M720

• Type: Semi-automatic shotgun
• Year introduced: 1935
• Manufacturer: Savage Arms
• Firing action: Semi-automatic
• Caliber and feed: 12-gauge; 5-round tubular magazine

M9 Bazooka

• Type: Shoulder-fired rocket launcher
• Year introduced: 1943
• Manufacturer: Conduction Corporation
• Firing action: Magneto trigger
• Caliber and feed: 60mm; Single-shot

Marlin Model 1894

• Type: Carbine rifle
• Year introduced: 1894
• Manufacturer: Marlin Firearms
• Firing action: Manually-actuated lever-action system
• Caliber and feed: 32-20 Win, .38 Spc, .357 Mag, .44 Spc, .44 Mag; 6-, 9- or 10-round tubular magazine

Marlin Model 1914

• Type: Belt-fed machine gun
• Year introduced: 1914
• Manufacturer: Marlin Firearms
• Firing action: Gas-operated closed bolt, lever actuated
• Caliber and feed: 30-06 Springfield, 7.62x54mm; 240-round fabric belt

Model 10

• Type: Six-shot revolver
• Year introduced: 1899
• Manufacturer: Smith & Wesson
• Firing action: Single-action, double-action, revolving cylinder
• Caliber and feed: .38 Long Colt, .38 Special; 6-round cylinder

Model 1898

• Type: Six-shot revolver
• Year introduced: 1989
• Manufacturer: Colt Firearms
• Firing action: Rotating cylinder, double-action
• Caliber and feed: .45 Colt, .45 ACP, .44 Special, .38 Special; Six-shot rotating cylinder

Model 1903

• Type: Semi-automatic pistol
• Year introduced: 1903
• Manufacturer: Colt Firearms
• Firing action: Single-action, blowback
• Caliber and feed: .32 ACP; 8-round detachable box magazine

Model 1917

• Type: Service revolver
• Year introduced: 1917
• Manufacturer: Colt Firearms / Smith & Wesson
• Firing action: Double-action, rotating cylinder
• Caliber and feed: .45 ACP; Six-shot rotating cylinder

Reising Model 50

• Type: Submachine gun
• Year introduced: 1941
• Manufacturer: Harrington and Richardson
• Firing action: Delayed blowback, closed-bolt
• Caliber and feed: .45 ACP, .30 Carbine; 12- or 20-round detachable box magazine

Remington Model 10

• Type: Pump-action slide shotgun
• Year introduced: 1908
• Manufacturer: Remington Arms
• Firing action: Manually-actuated pump-action slide
• Caliber and feed: 12-gauge; 5-round tubular magazine

Remington Model 1903

• Type: Sniper rifle
• Year introduced: 1941
• Manufacturer: Remington Arms
• Firing action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
• Caliber and feed: 30-06 Springfield; 5-round stripper clip

Winchester Model 70

• Type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
• Year introduced: 1936
• Manufacturer: Winchester
• Firing action: Manually actuated bolt-action system
• Caliber and feed: 30-06 Springfield; 3-, 4- or 5-round capacity

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