Guns | War History

Bootlegger David Marshall Williams Helped Invent the M1 Carbine

Todd Neikirk
David Marshall Williams standing + A U.S. Marine holding an M1 Carbine

Great ideas can come from a variety of places. Take the M1 Carbine, for example. Prominently used in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, it…

The 7 Most Produced Modern Firearms in the World

A Royal Marine tests a Glock 17 Pistol

In the 9th Century, gunpowder was first invented in China. Since then, firearms have been a part of warfare. And the technology of these weapons…

Mauser C96: One of Germany’s Most Iconic Firearms

Austro-Hungarian pilot sitting in the cockpit with 10 Mauser C96s + Mauser C96 on a white table

The Mauser C96 is an iconic firearm that is one of three extremely famous pistols to come out of Germany, with the others being the…

The Uzi was One of the World’s Most Popular Submachine Guns

Uzi on a white blanket + Israeli infantry soldier holding an Uzi

The Uzi submachine gun is a weapon famous the world over. An icon of cinema, it’s of choice for gangsters, policemen and, of course, the…

FG-42: The ‘Fallschirmjäger 42’ German Paratrooper Rifle

FG 42 Automatic Rifle

The FG 42 was a powerful automatic rifle developed by the Germans during WWII and served in a similar role to the Browning Automatic Rifle…

The M60 Machine Gun Has Withstood the Test of Time, Here’s Why

M-60 Machine Gun and Julie Andrews

The M60 machine gun is as much a symbol of the Vietnam War as the peace sign. This weapon was loved and loathed – it…

The Iconic Colt Single Action Army Certainly Earned Its ‘Peacemaker’ Name

The Colt Peacemaker

The Colt Single Action Army, also known as the Peacemaker, was a handgun that has been seen everywhere from the gunfight at O.K. Corral to…

The Shotguns of WWII: Model 1897 and Model 1912

Model 12 during Okinawa

Aside from a flame thrower, there are few close-range weapons as deadly as a shotgun. Shotguns are terrifyingly effective at short ranges, as their shot…

Smith & Wesson Model 29: Dirty Harry’s Go-To Pistol

The .44 Magnum, the most … famous handgun in the world. The original quote is about the Smith & Wesson Model 29, a double-action revolver…

The Bofors 40MM Revolutionized Anti-Aircraft Combat

Boros 40mm Anti-Aircraft Gun

The job of an anti-aircraft gun is surprisingly demanding. It must be able to destroy or deter a fast-moving target by aiming not where it…

The Japanese Knee Mortar That Terrified Enemies

Japanese Knee Mortar

During the United States’ war against the Japanese, they often enjoyed a technical advantage in terms of equipment and weapons. US flamethrowers, semi-automatic rifles, shotguns,…

The Colt Walker 1847: The Most Powerful Sidearm Ever Issued By the US Military

Colt Walker 1847

In 1846 the United States Army brought the Colt Walker 1847 into service – a revolver that is the most powerful sidearm ever issued by…