World War II Saw Tons of Advancement, Starting with These Rifles

Interested in discussing the power of U.S. Special Forces during World War II? Fascinated by how Jedburgh teams used weapons like the M1 Carbine and M1 Garand to support the French resistance? If these topics tickle your brain and spark your interest, you should consider registering for the National World War II Museum’s 18th International […] The post World War II Saw Tons of Advancement, Starting with These Rifles appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..

Apr 10, 2025 - 16:14

World War II Saw Tons of Advancement, Starting with These Rifles

Interested in discussing the power of U.S. Special Forces during World War II? Fascinated by how Jedburgh teams used weapons like the M1 Carbine and M1 Garand to support the French resistance? If these topics tickle your brain and spark your interest, you should consider registering for the National World War II Museum’s 18th International Conference on World War II. The recently announced conference will take place from November 20-22, 2025 in New Orleans and will bring together scholars, historians, witnesses, and other World War II enthusiasts to discuss “the war that changed the world.” The pre-conference symposium aims to focus on WWII special forces and special operations, while conference sessions will focus on special agents, Stalin and Soviet leadership, and the development of amphibious operations. (Only 100,000 U.S. World War II vets are left. This is what we’ll lose when they’re gone.)

Considering the breadth of World War II, it’s no surprise why people across the globe remain so attracted to learning more about it. Upwards of 60-80 million people died during the war, and some of that impact and legacy is still felt today. Outside of discussions about morality versus evil — as some people equate these to the different forces at the time — many people also find themselves curous about the weapons that troops used to both attack enemies and defend their own forces. Here, 24/7 Wall St. used a list of service rifles from Military Firepower to identify the 70 rifles that troops fought with during World War II. These are not specific to American troops as some were manufactured in and by other nations. We listed these in order from earliest introduced to latest introduced. Additional information on type, action, caliber, and feed were also sourced from Military Firepower.

This previously published article was updated in April 2025 to highlight the upcoming International Conference and provide additional background on WWII, as well as to add a previously missing rifle to the list.

Why Was World War II Fought?

Poland World War II | Photograph of German soldiers advancing on Poland during World War II

World War II is known as the deadliest war in human history. There were several interconnected reasons why World War II began, including:

Unresolved global tensions following World War I
Increasing fascism in Europe
Aggressive expansionism from Germany and Japan

Eventually, this led Nazi Germany to invade Poland in 1939, which kickstarted the war.

When Did the U.S. Enter World War II?

World War II fighter airplanes in flight

The United States originally stayed out of World War II. However, the nation could no longer avoid the war after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. America declared war against Japan the next day and officially entered the war.

Some of World War II’s Big Events

USS California lists after aerial blows taken during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. In distance the USS Neosho, cautiously backs away from berth, avoiding capsized USS Oklahoma. Dec. 7, 1941.

World War II was a deadly and long-lasting conflict that encompassed many different terrifying events. The Holocaust happened during this period, with millions of people dying. But World War II also saw the Battle of Pearl Harbor, D-Day, the Battle of Iwo Jima, the Seige of Leningrad, and the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

What Weapons Were Used During World War II?

American troops storming the beaches during World War II

During World War II, troops from across the world used a diverse collection of weapons, many of which had become more advanced since World War I. These included guns, mortars, artillery, bombs, ships, and aircraft. Some of the changes in these weapons included:

Better propulsion
Stronger power and accuracy
Improved guidance systems

How Did Guns Change During World War II?

World War II: Victory Cheer After Storming Bunker

Small arms development definitely shifted during World War II. While the United States, which supplied weapons and ammunition for allied forces, had dozens of different ammunition sizes in prior wars, it had distilled down to three small arm calibers for World War II. This era also saw the development of more reliable semi-automatic rifles like the M1 Garand.

Why We’re Covering WWII Weapons in 2025

Yugoslavia+World+War+II | Hungarian soldiers in WWII

The outcome of World War II had lasting, global effects on the world we know today. While military weaponry has advanced since the end of the war, progress was made during the conflict in the race for military superiority. Many of the rifles mentioned below set the groundwork for today’s weaponry. The U.S. entered the war as a mid-level global power. Still, by the end of the fighting, it had established itself as a formidable global presence with a much higher involvement in international affairs than ever before.

Even beyond the United States, people are still learning more about World War II weapons. In fact, in April 2025, two young metal detectorists in Belgium stumbled upon a cache of hand grenades, mortars, and ammunition thought to be from World War II. While these were safely destroyed, learning more about the ammunition could’ve provided insights into the weapons used by troops in that area.

Check out 70 rifles used by global military forces during World War II:

70. Modello 1870 Italian Vetterli

Year entered service: 1870
Type: Bolt-action service rifle
Country of origin: Italy
Action: Single-shot; manual-pull bolt-action
Caliber & feed: 10.4x47mmR; 6.5mm & Single shot; 4-round integral magazine

69. Lebel Model 1886

Year entered service: 1887
Type: Bolt-action service rifle
Country of origin: France
Action: Bolt-action lever
Caliber & feed: 8mm Lebel & 8-round tube magazine

68. Mannlicher Model 1888

World War II Soldiers Looking for the Enemy

Year entered service: 1888
Type: Bolt-action service rifle
Country of origin: Austria-Hungary
Action: Manually-actuated straight-pull bolt; repeating
Caliber & feed: 8mm Mannlicher & 5-round integral magazine

67. Mauser Model 1888 (Gew 88)

Year entered service: 1888
Type: Bolt-action service rifle
Country of origin: Germany
Action: Manually-actuated bolt mechanism
Caliber & feed: 7.92x57mm Mauser & 5-round clip with fixed integral magazine

66. Infantry Model 1889 (Belgian Mauser)

Year entered service: 1889
Type: Bolt-action service rifle
Country of origin: Belgium
Action: Manually-actuated straight-pull bolt; repeating
Caliber & feed: 7.65x53mm Belgian Mauser & 5-round integral magazine

65. Berthier Rifle

Year entered service: 1890
Type: Bolt-action service rifle
Country of origin: France
Action: Manual-pull bolt-action
Caliber & feed: 8x50mmR Lebel; 7.5x54mm French & 3- or 5-round magazine

64. Model 1889 Schmidt-Rubin

Year entered service: 1890
Type: Bolt-action service rifle
Country of origin: Switzerland
Action: Manually-actuated straight-pull bolt-action system
Caliber & feed: 7.5×53.5mm Swiss & 5-,6-, or 12-round detachable box magazine

63. Rifle Model 1890 (Turkish Mauser)

Year entered service: 1890
Type: Bolt-action service rifle
Country of origin: Turkey
Action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
Caliber & feed: 7.65x53mm Turkish Mauser; 8x57mm & 5-round internal magazine

62. Mosin-Nagant Model 1891

Year entered service: 1891
Type: Bolt-action service rifle
Country of origin: Russia
Action: Manual bolt-action
Caliber & feed: 7.62x54mmR; 7.62x53mmR; 7.92x57mm Mauser & 5-round integral magazine

61. Carcano Modello 1891 (M91)

Year entered service: 1892
Type: Bolt-action service rifle / infantry carbine
Country of origin: Italy
Action: Manually-operated bolt-action system
Caliber & feed: 6.5x52mm Mannlicher-Carcano; 7.35x51mm Carcano; 7.92x57mm Mauser & 6-round internal magazine

60. Krag-Jorgensen Model 1894

Year entered service: 1894
Type: Bolt-action service rifle
Country of origin: Norway
Action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
Caliber & feed: 6.5x55mm M94 Norwegian Krag & 5-round integral magazine

59. Marlin Model 1894

Year entered service: 1894
Type: Carbine rifle
Country of origin: United States
Action: Manually-actuated lever-action system
Caliber & feed: .32-20 Winchester; .32 HR Magnum; .38 Spc & 6-,9-, or 10-round tubular magazine

58. Winchester Model 1894

Year entered service: 1894
Type: Lever-action rifle
Country of origin: United States
Action: Manually-actuated lever-action
Caliber & feed: .30-30 Winchester & 6- or 8-round tubular magazine

57. Lee-Enfield

Year entered service: 1895
Type: Bolt-action service rifle
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Action: Manually-operated bolt-action system
Caliber & feed: .303 MK VII SAA Ball & 10-round detachable box magazine

56. Mannlicher Model 1895

Year entered service: 1895
Type: Bolt-action service rifle
Country of origin: Austria-Hungary
Action: Manually-actuated straight-pull bolt; repeating
Caliber & feed: 8x50R Mannlicher & 5-round integral magazine

55. Mauser Model 1898 (Gew 98)

Year entered service: 1898
Type: Bolt-action service rifle
Country of origin: Germany
Action: Manually-actuated bolt mechanism
Caliber & feed: 7.92x57mm Mauser & 5-round clip with fixed integral magazine

54. Arisaka Type 30

Year entered service: 1899
Type: Bolt-action service rifle / infantry carbine
Country of origin: Japan
Action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
Caliber & feed: 6.5x50mm Arisaka; .303 British & 5-round internal magazine

53. Mondragon Rifle (Fusil Mondragon)

Year entered service: 1900
Type: Semi-automatic service rifle
Country of origin: Mexico
Action: Gas-operated; rotating bolt; also manual bolt-action
Caliber & feed: 7x57mm Mauser & 8-,10-, or 20-round box; or 100-round drum magazine

52. Mannlicher-Schonauer Model 1903

Year entered service: 1903
Type: Bolt-action service rifle
Country of origin: Greece
Action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
Caliber & feed: 6.5x54mm Mannlicher-Schonauer & 5-round rotating magazine

51. Springfield Model 1903 (M1903)

Year entered service: 1903
Type: Bolt-action service rifle / sniper rifle
Country of origin: United States
Action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
Caliber & feed: .30-03; .30-06 Springfield & 5-round internal magazine

50. Model 1904 Vergueiro-Mauser (Portuguese Mauser)

Year entered service: 1904
Type: Bolt-action service rifle
Country of origin: Portugal
Action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
Caliber & feed: 6.5x58mm Vergueiro; 7x57mm Mauser & 5-round internal magazine

49. Arisaka Type 38

Year entered service: 1905
Type: Bolt-action service rifle/infantry carbine
Country of origin: Japan
Action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
Caliber & feed: 6.5x50mm Arisaka; .303 British & 5-round internal magazine

48. Ross Rifle

Year entered service: 1905
Type: Straight-pull bolt-action service rifle
Country of origin: Canada
Action: Manual pull, bolt-action system
Caliber & feed: .303 British & 5-round magazine

47. Arisaka Type 44 Cavalry Rifle

Year entered service: 1912
Type: Carbine service weapon
Country of origin: Japan
Action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
Caliber & feed: 6.5x50mm Arisaka; .303 British & 5-round internal magazine

46. Enfield Pattern 1914

Year entered service: 1914
Type: Bolt-action service rifle/sniper rifle
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
Caliber & feed: .303 British & 5-round stripper clips

45. Fedorov Avtomat M1916

Year entered service: 1915
Type: Automatic rifle
Country of origin: Russia
Action: Short-recoil; locked breech; closed bolt; select-fire
Caliber & feed: 6.5x50mmSR Arisaka & 25-round detachable box magazine

44. Winchester Model 1915

Year entered service: 1915
Type: Lever-action rifle
Country of origin: United States
Action: Lever-action; repeat fire
Caliber & feed: 7.62x54mmR & 5-round internal magazine

43. Fusil Automatique Modele 1817 (Model 1917 RSC)

Year entered service: 1917
Type: Semi-automatic rifle/bolt-action service rifle
Country of origin: France
Action: Gas-operated; rotating belt
Caliber & feed: 8x50mmR Lebel & 5-round internal magazine

42. M1917 Enfield

Year entered service: 1917
Type: Bolt-action service rifle
Country of origin: United States
Action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
Caliber & feed: 7.62x63mm (.30-06 Springfield) & 6-round magazine

41. Browning M1918 BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle)

Year entered service: 1918
Type: Light machine gun
Country of origin: United States
Action: Gas-operated piston; open-bolt; selective fire
Caliber & feed: .30-06 Springfield & 20-round detachable box magazine

40. Carl-Gustav m/21-m37

Year entered service: 1921
Type: Light machine gun
Country of origin: Sweden
Action: Gas-operated; tilting breach block
Caliber & feed: 6.5x55mm Swedish Mauser & 20-round detachable box magazine

39. Springfield Model 1922

Year entered service: 1922
Type: Bolt-action training rifle
Country of origin: United States
Action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
Caliber & feed: .22LR & 5-round internal magazine

38. Ceska Zbrojovka vz. 24

Year entered service: 1924
Type: Bolt-action service rifle
Country of origin: Czechoslovakia
Action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
Caliber & feed: 7.92x57mm Mauser; 7.57mm Mauser; 7.65x53mm Argentine & 5-round integral magazine

37. CZ Model 1924 (Mauser) Short Rifle

Year entered service: 1924
Type: Bolt-action service rifle
Country of origin: Guatemala
Action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
Caliber & feed: 7x57mm Mauser & 5-round internal magazine

36. ZH-29

Year entered service: 1929
Type: Semi-automatic service rifle
Country of origin: Czechoslovakia
Action: Semi-automatic; gas-operated
Caliber & feed: 7.92x57mm Mauser & 5-,10-, or 20-round detachable box magazine

35. Fabrique Nationale FN M1930 (BAR)

Year entered service: 1930
Type: Light machine gun
Country of origin: Belgium
Action: Gas-operated; tilting breach block
Caliber & feed: 7.65x53mm Belgian Mauser & 20-round detachable box magazine

34. Fabrique Nationale FN Mle D (BAR)

Year entered service: 1932
Type: Light machine gun
Country of origin: Belgium
Action: Gas-operated; tilting breech block
Caliber & feed: 7.92x57mm Belgian Mauser; .30-06 Springfield; 7.62x51mm NATO & 20-round detachable box magazine

33. Winchester Model 69

Year entered service: 1935
Type: Bolt-action hunting/sporting rifle
Country of origin: United States
Action: Manually-actuated, bolt-action system
Caliber & feed: .22 long rifle; .22 long; .22 short rimfire & single-Shot (Adapter); 5- or 10-round detachable box magazine

32. FEG 35M (Mannlicher M1935)

Year entered service: 1935
Type: Bolt-action service rifle
Country of origin: Hungary
Action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
Caliber & feed: 8x56mmR Hungarian Mannlicher; 7.92x57mm Mauser & 5-round internal magazine

31. Kb wz.35 (Marosczek)

Year entered service: 1935
Type: Anti-tank rifle / anti-material rifle
Country of origin: Poland
Action: Manually-operated bolt-action system
Caliber & feed: 7.92x107mm DS & 4-round detachable box magazine

30. Mauser Karabiner Kar 98k

Year entered service: 1935
Type: Bolt-action service rifle
Country of origin: Germany
Action: Bolt-action
Caliber & feed: 7.92x57mm Mauser & 5-round internal magazine

29. Type 24 (Chiang Kai-Shek Rifle)

Year entered service: 1935
Type: Bolt-action service rifle
Country of origin: Taiwan
Action: Manually-actuated bolt-action; repeat-fire
Caliber & feed: 8x57mm IS (7.92x57mm Mauser) & 5-round internal magazine

28. M1 Garand

Year entered service: 1936
Type: Battle rifle
Country of origin: United States
Action: Self-loading; gas-action piston
Caliber & feed: .30-06 Springfield & 8-round internal clip

27. MAS 36 (modele 36 / mle 36)

Year entered service: 1936
Type: Bolt-action service rifle
Country of origin: France
Action: Manually-operated bolt-action system
Caliber & feed: 7.5x54mm & 5-round internal magazine

26. Winchester Model 70

Year entered service: 1936
Type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
Country of origin: United States
Action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
Caliber & feed: .30-06 Springfield & 3-,4-, or 5-round box magazine

25. Arisaka Type 97

Year entered service: 1937
Type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
Country of origin: Japan
Action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
Caliber & feed: 6.5x50mm Arisaka; .303 British & 5-round internal magazine

24. Boys 0.55in

Year entered service: 1937
Type: Anti-tank rifle / anti-material rifle
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Action: Manually-operated bolt-action system
Caliber & feed: 13.9mm (0.55 in) & 5-round detachable box magazine

23. Panzerbuchse 38 (PzB 38)

Year entered service: 1938
Type: Anti-tank rifle / anti-material rifle
Country of origin: Germany
Action: Single-shot; manually-actuated bolt-action
Caliber & feed: 7.92x94mm Patronen & Single shot

22. Solothurn S18-100

Year entered service: 1938
Type: Bullpup anti-tank rifle / anti-material rifle
Country of origin: Switzerland
Action: Semi-automatic
Caliber & feed: 20x105mmB; 20x138mmB Long & 5- or 10-round detachable box magazine

21. Tokarev SVT-38

Year entered service: 1938
Type: Semi-automatic service rifle
Country of origin: Soviet Union
Action: Self-loading; semi-automatic
Caliber & feed: 7.62x54mmR Russian & 10-round detachable box magazine

20. Arisaka Type 99

Year entered service: 1939
Type: Bolt-action service rifle/infantry carbine
Country of origin: Japan
Action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
Caliber & feed: 7.7x58mm Arisaka & 5-round internal magazine

19. Panzerbuchse 39 (PzB 39)

Year entered service: 1939
Type: Anti-tank rifle / anti-material rifle
Country of origin: Germany
Action: Single-shot; manually-actuated bolt-action
Caliber & feed: 7.92x94mm Patronen & Single shot

18. Tokarev SVT-40

Year entered service: 1940
Type: Semi-automatic service rifle
Country of origin: Soviet Union
Action: Gas-operated, semi-automatic
Caliber & feed: 7.62x54mmR & 10-round detachable box magazine

17. Degtyarev PTRD 1941

Year entered service: 1941
Type: Anti-tank rifle / anti-material rifle
Country of origin: Soviet Union
Action: Manually-operated bolt; semi-automatic breach
Caliber & feed: 14.5x114mm & Single shot

16. Johnson Model 1941

Year entered service: 1941
Type: Semi-automatic rifle
Country of origin: United States
Action: Semi-automatic; short-recoil; rotating bolt
Caliber & feed: .30-06 Springfield; 7x57mm Mauser & 10-round cylindrical magazine

15. Remington Model 1903 (Springfield)

Year entered service: 1941
Type: Bolt-action service rifle
Country of origin: United States
Action: Manually-actuated bolt-action system
Caliber & feed: .30-06 Springfield & 5-round stripper clips

14. Walther Gewehr 41 (G41 / Gew 41)

Year entered service: 1941
Type: Semi-automatic service rifle
Country of origin: Germany
Action: Gas-operated; semi-automatic
Caliber & feed: 7.92x57mm Mauser & 10-round integral box magazine

13. Carl-Gustav m/42

Year entered service: 1942
Type: Semi-automatic service rifle
Country of origin: Sweden
Action: Gas-operated; direct impingement
Caliber & feed: 6.5x55mm Swedish Mauser; 7.92x57mm; 7.62x39mm Soviet’ & 10-round detachable box magazine; 5-round stripper clips

12. Charlton Automatic Rifle

Year entered service: 1942
Type: Semi-automatic rifle / light machine gun
Country of origin: New Zealand
Action: Gas-operated; semi/full-automatic fire
Caliber & feed: .303 British & 10- or 30-round detachable box magazine

11. Fallschirmjagergewehr 42 (FG42 / FjG42)

Year entered service: 1942
Type: Automatic rifle / light machine gun
Country of origin: Germany
Action: Gas-operated; select fire
Caliber & feed: 7.92x57mm Mauser & 10- or 20-round detachable box

10. M1 Carbine

Year entered service: 1942
Type: Semi-automatic / full-automatic carbine
Country of origin: United States
Action: Gas-operated, short-stroke piston; semi-automatic
Caliber & feed: 30 M1 Carbine & 15- or 30-round detachable box magazine

9. Sturmgewehr 44 (StG44) / Maschinenpistole 44 (MP44)

Year entered service: 1942
Type: Assault rifle
Country of origin: Germany
Action: Gas-operated; locked-breech; tilting bolt; select-fire
Caliber & feed: 7.92x33mm Kurz & 30-round detachable box magazine

8. Walther Gewehr 43 (G43 / Gew 43)

Year entered service: 1943
Type: Semi-automatic service rifle
Country of origin: Germany
Action: Gas-operated; semi-automatic
Caliber & feed: 7.92x57mm Mauser & 10-round integral box magazine

7. Arisaka Type 4 / Type 5

Year entered service: 1944
Type: Semi-automatic service rifle
Country of origin: Japan
Action: Self-loading; gas-operated; rotating belt
Caliber & feed: 7.7x58mm Arisaka & 10-round integral magazine

6. M2 Carbine

Year entered service: 1944
Type: Select-fire automatic carbine
Country of origin: United States
Action: Selective-fire (semi/full-automatic) capability; gas-operated, short-stroke piston
Caliber & feed: 30 M1 Carbine & 15- or 30-round detachable box magazine

5. M3 Carbine

Year entered service: 1944
Type: Sniper carbine rifle
Country of origin: United States
Action: Selective-fire (semi/full-automatic) capability; gas-operated, short-stroke piston
Caliber & feed: 30 M1 Carbine & 15- or 30-round detachable box magazine