These WWII Rifles Actually Changed History

During World War II, Arthur Hibray piloted PBY Catalina “Dumbos” to help aviators and seamen in need of assistance. Following the war’s conclusion, Hibray purchased an Arisaka Japanese military rifle with a bayonet — a reminder of his experience. The rifle was unfortunately stolen from him once he returned from service; Hibray passed away in 2020 with no idea as to what happened. For Blake Hibray, Arthur’s son, figuring out this military mystery was more than worth his while. A chance finding — a note with the gun’s serial number — helped Blake find his father’s missing gun at auction, and the bolt-action World War II rifle has now been returned to the Hibray family. (This is the most popular bolt action-action rifle in America.)

While fighting WWII, soldiers used a variety of weaponry ranging from handguns and grenades to rifles. To understand the spectrum of rifles used by troops, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a catalog of rifles from Military Factory, an online database of arms, vehicles, and aircraft. This extensive list is ordered by when a rifle entered service. We also included additional details from Military Factory about the type, country of origin, manufacturer, action, range, caliber, and feed.

Why We’re Covering This

Kierkegaard said it best: “Life can only be understood backward, but it must be lived forwards.” Military weaponry has morphed and advanced at top speeds since World War II. Understanding how these firearms perform helps manufacturers and engineers build upon what they have to make them better and more efficient. Many of the rifles mentioned below set the groundwork for today’s weaponry. The business of war includes manufacturers who provide the weapons, ammo, and other supplies that troops carry with them. It’s just another cog in how our world operates and performs.

Here are the rifles used in World War II:

69. 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

68. 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

67. Mannlicher Model 1888

• 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

66. 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

65. 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

64. 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

63. 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

62. 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

61. 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

60. 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

59. 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

58. 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

57. 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

56. 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

55. 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

54. 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

53. 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

52. 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

51. 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

50. 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

49. Model 1904 Vergueiro-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

48. 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

47. 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

46. 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

45. 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

44. 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

43. 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

42. 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

41. 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

40. 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

39. 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

38. 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

37. 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

36. 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

35. 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

34. 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

33. 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

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

4. Gustloff Volkssturmgewehr

• Year entered service: 1945
• Type: Semi-automatic rifle
• Country of origin: Germany
• Action: Semi-automatic; gas-delayed blowback
• Caliber & feed: 7.92x33mm Kurz & 30-round detachable box magazine

3. Simonov SKS

• Year entered service: 1945
• Type: Semi-automatic carbine
• Country of origin: Soviet Union
• Action: Self-loading short-stroke gas piston
• Caliber & feed: 7.62x39mm M1943 & 10-round internal box magazine

2. Sturmgewehr 45 (StG45) / Maschinenpistole 45 (MP45)

• Year entered service: 1945
• Type: Assault rifle
• Country of origin: Germany
• Action: Gas-operated; locked-breech; tilting bolt; select-fire
• Caliber & feed: 7.92x33mm Kurz & 10- or 30-round detachable box magazine

1. Volkssturmgewehr VG

• Year entered service: 1945
• Type: Bolt-action service rifle
• Country of origin: Germany
• Action: Manually-operated bolt-action system
• Caliber & feed: 7.92x57mm Kurz & 10-round detachable box magazine