Weapons | War History

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,…

This Marine General’s Sword Somehow Wound Up In A Pawnshop

Military portrait of Homer Litzenberg

Various types of items can be purchased on eBay, with some auctions bringing in thousands of dollars. When Marine veteran Chris Anderson logged onto the…

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…

Why WWII’s M1 Carbine was Ahead of Its Time

M1 Carbine Worn By Soldier

The M1 Carbine was a small, lightweight weapon that found itself in the hands of many Allied soldiers during WWII. Its relatively small cartridge led…

These 4 Weapons Created For Combat Were Cheap But Ingenious Game Changers

Sometimes, no matter how tactically adept a military force may be, if an opponent suddenly shows up with a particularly advanced or capable weapon, it…

Only the Best of the Best Graduate from the US Army Sniper School

Clare Fitzgerald
US Army Sniper School trainee in the ghillie wash

There are few soldiers who can say they’ve graduated from the US Army’s prestigious Sniper School. The seven-week course is one of the most grueling…