List of infantry weapons of World War I

This is a list of World War I infantry weapons.

Austro-Hungarian Empire

The Austro-Hungarian Army used a wide variety of weapons during the First World War (1914–1918). Most of its standard infantry weapons were produced by the Österreichische Waffenfabriks-Gesellschaft (Steyr), while artillery and specialized weapons were largely manufactured by Škoda Works. The empire also used captured weapons from Russia, Italy, Serbia, and other Allied countries during the war.

The Austro-Hungarian military relied heavily on the Mannlicher straight-pull rifle system, Schwarzlose machine guns, Škoda artillery, and locally produced pistols. Due to shortages of equipment during the later years of the war, captured enemy weapons were often repaired and issued to frontline units.

Edged weapons

  • M1858/61 Kavalleriesäbel — Cavalry sabre used by Austro-Hungarian cavalry units.
  • M1862 Infanteriesäbel — Infantry sabre issued to line infantry and non-mounted troops.
  • M1873 Artilleriesäbel — Artillery sabre used by artillery personnel.
  • M1904 Kavalleriesäbel — Modern cavalry sabre introduced before the First World War.
  • M1915 Pioneer sword — Short sword issued to combat engineers and pioneer troops, mainly for cutting obstacles and close combat.

Flare guns

  • Hebel M1894 — German-designed flare pistol used by Austro-Hungarian forces for battlefield signaling, illumination, and communication.

Sidearms

Austro-Hungarian officers, cavalrymen, artillery crews, and specialized troops used a large number of pistols and revolvers. The army adopted several domestic designs, especially from Steyr and Rast & Gasser.

Submachine guns

The Austro-Hungarian Empire experimented with early automatic weapons during the later stages of the war. These weapons were mainly issued to assault troops and aircraft crews.

  • Anschlagspistole M.12 — Stock-equipped automatic pistol developed from the Steyr M1912 design.
  • FIAT Mod.1915 (captured) — Italian twin-barrel aircraft machine pistol captured during fighting with Italy.
  • Sturmpistole M.18 — Austro-Hungarian conversion of the Villar-Perosa for infantry use.

Rifles

The Austro-Hungarian infantry was primarily armed with Mannlicher rifles. The M1895 Mannlicher remained the standard service rifle throughout World War I.

Machine guns

Machine guns became increasingly important during World War I. The Austro-Hungarian Army relied mainly on the Schwarzlose machine gun, supported by imported and captured designs.

Grenades

Hand grenades were widely used in trench warfare, especially on the Italian and Eastern Fronts.

Flamethrowers

Flamethrowers were introduced for assault operations against fortified positions and trenches.

Mortars

The Austro-Hungarian Army developed and deployed numerous Minenwerfer and Luftminenwerfer systems for trench warfare.

Support guns

First Brazilian Republic

The First Brazilian Republic (1889–1930) maintained a diverse collection of small arms acquired from domestic production, European manufacturers, and military contracts. The Brazilian Army gradually modernized during this period, replacing older single-shot rifles with modern Mauser bolt-action rifles and adopting machine guns for infantry support.

Brazilian forces used these weapons during several internal conflicts and military operations, including the Federalist Revolution, the Canudos War, the Contestado War, and various border security operations. The army relied heavily on German Mauser designs, while older Belgian Comblain rifles remained in reserve and secondary service.

Sidearms

Brazilian officers, cavalrymen, artillery crews, and specialized troops were equipped with revolvers and semi-automatic pistols. The adoption of modern self-loading pistols increased during the early 20th century.

  • Luger P08 — German semi-automatic pistol used in limited quantities by Brazilian officers and military personnel. Chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum, it was one of the most advanced service pistols of its era.
  • Brazilian 1883 Nagant — Belgian-designed Nagant revolver adopted by Brazil. It served as a standard sidearm for some army units before being gradually replaced by newer pistols.

Rifles

The Brazilian Army used a combination of older black-powder rifles and modern smokeless-powder bolt-action rifles. The Mauser 1908 became the principal service rifle of the army during the early 20th century.

  • Mauser 1908 — Standard service rifle of the Brazilian Army. Manufactured by DWM (Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken), it was based on the Mauser Gewehr 98 design and chambered for 7×57mm Mauser ammunition.
  • Mauser-Vergueiro M1904 — Portuguese-designed Mauser rifle adopted by Brazil and produced under license. Known for its Mannlicher-style straight-pull bolt system and 6.5×58mm Vergueiro cartridge.
  • M1873 Brazilian Comblain — Belgian-designed single-shot rifle adopted by Brazil. Used by infantry units before the introduction of repeating rifles.
  • Brazilian Comblain Carbine Model 92 — Short cavalry carbine version of the Comblain rifle, issued to mounted troops and support personnel.

Machine guns

Machine guns were introduced into Brazilian service during the early 20th century. They were primarily used for defensive positions, cavalry support, and suppression of enemy infantry during internal conflicts.

  • Hotchkiss M1909 — French-designed light machine gun adopted by Brazil. It was a portable automatic weapon used by infantry and cavalry units.
  • Hotchkiss M1914 — French heavy machine gun chambered in 8mm Lebel. Used for defensive operations and fixed positions.
  • Madsen M1907 — Danish light machine gun purchased by Brazil. Its compact design allowed it to be used by infantry, cavalry, and mobile units.

Kingdom of Belgium

The Kingdom of Belgium entered the First World War with a relatively small but well-equipped army. Belgian forces relied heavily on domestically produced firearms, particularly Fabrique Nationale (FN) and Nagant designs, as well as the Belgian Mauser Model 1889 rifle.

During the German invasion of Belgium in 1914, much of the Belgian Army was forced to retreat and continue fighting from the fortified positions of Liège, Namur, and later the Yser Front. Due to wartime shortages, Belgium received large quantities of Allied weapons, especially from France and the United Kingdom. Belgian colonial forces and the Garde Civique also used a mixture of older and foreign weapons.

Sidearms

Belgian officers, cavalry troops, artillery personnel, and specialized units used a variety of revolvers and semi-automatic pistols. The country's firearms industry, especially FN, became internationally recognized for producing Browning-designed pistols.

  • Browning FN M1900 — Belgian semi-automatic pistol designed by John Browning and produced by Fabrique Nationale. Widely used by Belgian officers and police forces.
  • Browning FN M1903 — Larger military pistol chambered in 9×20mm Browning Long. Used by Belgian military and government personnel.
  • Browning FN M1910 — Compact semi-automatic pistol adopted by Belgium and used by officers and auxiliary personnel.
  • Colt M1903 Pocket Hammerless — American semi-automatic pistol used in limited numbers.
  • Nagant M1895 — Belgian-designed revolver manufactured by the Nagant brothers and used by Belgian military forces.
  • Ruby M1914 — French-made semi-automatic pistol supplied to Belgian troops during World War I.

Shotguns

Shotguns were mainly used by auxiliary formations and civilian defense organizations rather than frontline infantry.

  • Browning Auto-5 — Semi-automatic shotgun used by the Garde Civique, Belgium's civilian militia organization responsible for internal security and local defense.

Rifles

The standard rifle of the Belgian Army before and during the First World War was the Mauser Model 1889. Belgium also used older single-shot rifles and imported Allied weapons due to wartime shortages.

  • Gewehr M1898 — German bolt-action rifle used in limited numbers, mainly obtained through capture or supply sources.
  • Berthier M1907 — French military rifle used by Belgian forces after receiving Allied assistance.
  • Comblain M1882, M1883 and M1888 — Belgian single-shot rifles used by reserve and colonial units.
  • Gras M1874 — French single-shot rifle used by Belgian colonial forces and reserve formations.
  • Lebel M1886/93 — French service rifle supplied to Belgian units during the war.
  • Mauser M1889 — Standard issue rifle of the Belgian Army. Also known as the Belgian Mauser, it was chambered in 7.65×53mm Belgian Mauser and formed the backbone of Belgian infantry armament during World War I.
  • Mauser M1893 — Improved Mauser rifle used by some Belgian units.
  • Albini-Braendlin rifle — Older breech-loading rifle used mainly by Belgian colonial troops in the Congo Free State and later Belgian Congo.

Machine guns

Belgium adopted several machine gun designs before and during World War I. These weapons played an important role in defending Belgian fortifications and the later trench warfare on the Yser Front.

  • Chauchat M1915 — French automatic rifle supplied to Belgian forces during World War I.
  • Colt–Browning M1895/14 — American-designed machine gun used by Belgian troops.
  • Hotchkiss M1909 — French light machine gun used by infantry and cavalry units.
  • Hotchkiss M1914 — French heavy machine gun chambered in 8mm Lebel, used in defensive positions.
  • Lewis M1914 — British-designed light machine gun used by Belgian infantry.
  • Maxim M1911 — Heavy machine gun used for fortress defense and infantry support.
  • Madsen M1905 — Danish light machine gun used in limited quantities.

Grenades

Hand grenades became increasingly important during trench warfare after the stabilization of the Western Front.

Mortars

Belgian forces employed various trench mortars for attacking fortified positions and enemy trenches.

  • Saint Chamond 142mm M1915 Delattre — French-designed heavy trench mortar used by Belgian forces.
  • Schneider 75mm M1915 — French mortar system used for infantry support.
  • Van Deuren 70mm M1915 — Belgian-designed light trench mortar developed by Captain Van Deuren for use against enemy fortifications.

British Empire

Lee-Enfield Magazine Mark I* rifle ("long Tom")

Edged weapons

Flare guns

  • Webley & Scott Mark III

Sidearms

Rifles

Machine guns

Grenades

Obstacle clearing explosive charges

Flamethrowers

  • Hay portable flamethrower
  • Morriss portable flamethrower

Mortars

Projectile weapons

Anti-aircraft weapons

Kingdom of Bulgaria

Sidearms

Rifles

Machine guns

Flamethrowers

Infantry mortar

Republic of China

Edged weapons

Sidearms

Rifle

Machine Gun

Grenade

French Republic

Lebel M1886 rifle

Edged weapons

Sidearms

Rifles

Machine guns

Grenades

Obstacle clearing explosive charges

  • Barbed wire destruction rod grenade[3]

Flamethrowers

Mortars

Projectile weapons

Support guns

Kingdom of Hejaz (and Arab tribes)

Edged weapons

Sidearms

Rifles

Machine guns

German Empire

Mauser Gewehr 98 rifle and bayonet

Edged weapons

  • M1889 Infanteriesäbel (Sword)
  • Seitengewehr 84/98 III (Bayonet)
  • Seitengewehr 98/05 (Bayonet)

Gases

Flare guns

Sidearms

Submachine guns

Rifles

Machine guns

Grenades

Anti-tank mines

Flamethrowers

Mortars

Support guns

Anti-tank weapons

Anti-aircraft weapons

Kingdom of Greece

Edged weapons

Sidearms

Rifles

Machine guns

Grenades

Mortars

Kingdom of Italy

Carcano M1891

Edged weapons

  • M1891 sciabola baionetta (Sword bayonet)

Sidearms

Submachine guns

Rifles

Machine guns

Grenades

Flamethrowers

Mortars

Kingdom of Siam

Sidearms

Rifles

Machine gun

Field guns

Naval artillery

Empire of Japan

Murata rifle

Edged weapons

Sidearms

Rifles

Machine guns

Kingdom of Montenegro

Sidearms

Rifles

Machine guns

Ottoman Empire

Mauser M 1903

Edged weapons

Sidearms

Submachine guns

Rifles

Machine guns

Grenades

Flamethrowers

Infantry mortar

Portuguese Republic

Sidearms

Rifles

Machine guns

Mortars

Kingdom of Romania

Edged weapons

  • Sabie de artilerie Model 1890
  • Sabie de cavalerie Model 1906
  • Sabie de ofițer Model 1893
  • Sabie de ofițer cavalerie Model 1909
  • Cavalry lance Model 1908

Sidearms

Rifles

Machine guns

Grenades

Mortars

Support guns

Russian Empire

Mosin-Nagant M1891 rifle

Edged weapons

Sidearms

Rifles

Machine guns

Grenades

Flamethrowers

  • Tovarnitski portable flamethrower

Mortars

Support guns

Russian SFSR (until March 8, 1918)

Sidearms

Rifles

Machine Guns

Sublime State of Persia

Sidearms

Rifles

Machine guns

Kingdom of Serbia

Sidearms

Rifles

Machine guns

Grenades

Flamethrowers

Mortars

United States of America

Springfield M1903 rifle

Edged weapons

Sidearms

Shotguns

Rifles

Machine guns

Grenades

Mortars

Support guns

Weapons used in trench raids

Concepts and prototypes

Sidearms

Submachine guns

Rifles

Machine guns

Grenade launchers

  • Blanch-Chevallier grenade launcher

Guided explosive weapons

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Some WWI British grenades". Passion & Compassion 1914-1918.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Chinn 1951, Part III: Full automatic machine gun development.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Some WWI French grenades". Passion & Compassion 1914-1918.
  4. ↑ "Van Deuren 70mm M1915". Passion & Compassion 1914–1918.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Some WWI German grenades". Passion & Compassion 1914-1918.
  6. ↑ "Turkish Revolver".
  7. ↑ The Great War (2017-01-02). Ottoman Uniforms of World War 1 I THE GREAT WAR Special. Retrieved 2025-04-06 – via YouTube.
  8. ↑ "Andrews M1917 submachine gun"
  9. ↑ S. P. Korneev, A. N. Fufaev, N. P. Korneeva (2016). "Some design features of the Schwarzlose submachine gun" [Некоторые конструктивные особенности пистолета-пулемёта системы Шварцлозе]. Tula: Tula State Museum of Weapons. — P. 159—164. — 519 p. — ISBN 978-5-9631-0551-1.
  10. 1 2 Popenker, Maxim (2014). "Is there such a thing as an Assault or Battle Rifle?". Modern Firearms.
  11. 1 2 Chinn 1951, Part IV: Aircraft and airborne weapons.
  12. ↑ McCollum, Ian. "Johnston Model D1918". Forgotten Weapons.

Bibliography

  • Ball, Robert W.D. (2011). Mauser Military Rifles of the World. Iola, Wisconsin; New York City, New York: F+W Media, Inc. ISBN 9781440215445.
  • Chinn, George M. (1951). The Machine Gun: History, Evolution and Development of Manually Operated, Full Automatic, and Power Driven Aircraft Machine Guns. Vol. 1. Department of the Navy, Bureau of Ordnance.
  • Kinard, Jeff. (2004). Pistols: An Illustrated History of Their Impact. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 1851094709.
  • Miller, David. (2003). The Illustrated Directory of 20th Century Guns. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Zenith imprint. ISBN 9780760315606.
  • Nicolle, David. (1989). Lawrence and the Arab Revolts. Cumnor Hill, Oxford: Osprey publishing. ISBN 0850458889.
  • Walter, John. (2006). The Rifle Story: An Illustrated History from 1756 to the Present Day. Norwalk, Connecticut: MBI Publishing company. ISBN 9781853676901.
  • Willbanks, James H. (2004). Machine Guns: An Illustrated History of Their Impact. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 1851094806.
  • Zwoll, Wayne. (2003). Bolt action rifles. Iola, Wisconsin: Krause publications. ISBN 9780873496605.
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