List of 20th-century weapons

This is a list of small arms used during the 20th century.

Sidearms

Submachine guns

Thompson submachine gun, commonly associated with American gangsters

Owen gun (1942–1960s) – Australian submachine gun used in World War II and subsequent conflicts until the 60s
F1 submachine gun (1962–1991) – Australian submachine gun intended to replace the Owen gun
Steyr AUG 9 mm (1977)
FN P90 (1990–present) – Belgian personal defense weapon, a submachine gun but with a scaled down intermediate rifle cartridge
MP 18 (1918–1945) – German submachine gun, world's first widely used and successful
MP 28 (1928–early 1940s) – An improvement of the MP 18
Steyr-Solothurn MP 34 (1930–1970s) – Often called "The Rolls-Royce of submachine guns", the Steyr-Solothurn MP 34 is based on the MP 28 made from the best quality materials available at the time
MP 35 (1935–1945) – An improved submachine gun based on the MP 28
MP40 (1940–1945 in Germany) – The MP 40 is a simplified MP 38, intended to replace older, more expensive submachine guns. This particular submachine gun is widely used by Germany in World War II
Walther MP (1963–present) – Intended to rearm military and police forces positioned in West Germany, also used by the German Intelligence Service and some American troops stationed in the region
HK MP5 (1966–present) – the most widely used submachine gun of the later half of the 20th century
UZI (1954–present) – Israeli submachine gun, one of the first designs to implement a system to accommodate the magazine in the pistol grip
PM-63 Rak (1965–present)
Sten (1941–1960s in UK) – British submachine gun used extensively throughout World War II
Sterling submachine gun (1944–present) – Designed as a replacement for the Sten in 1945 but only started its process in the 50s
PPD-40 (1935–45) – The submachine gun used by the Russians before the implementation of the PPSh-41
PPSh-41 (1941–1960s in USSR) – Russian submachine gun distinctive for its high rate of fire
PPS (1942–1960s in USSR) – Family of submachine guns used alongside the PPSh family
Thompson submachine gun (1938–1971 in USA) – Family of submachine guns designed in 1910 and onwards, The Thompson is a famous submachine gun commonly associated with American gangsters
M3 submachine gun (1943–present) – A cheaper and lighter alternative to the Thompson submachine gun
MAC 10 (1970–present) – Family of submachine guns, famous among media for their association with gangs
American 180 (Designed in the 1960s, never implemented) – Chambered in 22 LR. It was described as being a "swarm of angry bees" shooting 1200 rounds per minute, it relied on shattering enemy armor through consistent and repetitive fire

Automatic rifles

An AK-74, a typical assault rifle

StG 44 – The first widely issued assault rifle in the world
AK-47 – a famous Soviet automatic rifle whose derivatives have been used in almost every conflict since its invention in 1947
AKM- an upgraded version AK-47. The stamped receiver drastically cut down production times, which allowed just about any country to manufacture it. The most common variant of this weapon; most rifles that are referred to as AK-47s are in fact AKMs.
AKMS – a Paratroop model of the AKM with a folding stock
AK-74 – a newer model of the AK series; it fired a newer and smaller round, the 5.45mm
AKS-74 – a model of AK-74 designed for paratroopers
AK-74M – updated version of AK-74
FARA 83 – Argentinian automatic rifle
Steyr AUG – an Austrian bullpup rifle
Steyr ACR
FN FNC
IMBEL MD -Brazilian 5.56 rifle based on the FN FAL
Diemaco C7 – a Canadian copy of the M16
Type 56 – Chinese AK-47 clone
Type 68
Chinese Type 81 Assault Rifle
Type 86
Type 95
Daewoo K1 – Korean automatic rifle
Daewoo K2 – standard rifle of the South Korean army
APS-95
GIAT FAMAS – bullpup rifle, standard issue of France
Heckler & Koch HK33
Heckler & Koch HK41
Heckler & Koch G36- standard rifle of the German Army
Heckler & Koch G11
Enfield EM2 – prototype British automatic rifle that was never adopted
L85 – standard bullpup of the British Army
IMI Galil
Howa Type 89
AR-10
M16 rifle – standard-issue automatic rifle of the US
CAR-15
M4 carbine – standard carbine of the US
Stoner 63
Mini-14
AR-18
AN-94
Ak 4
Ak 5
Rk 62
INSAS
SAR-21
A-91
AAI ACR
XM29 OICW
AAI SBR
AAA Leader Dynamics SAC
AAI XM70
AEK-971
AL-7
AMD 65
AMP-68
AN11 TISS
AN-94
APS underwater rifle
AR-11
AR-16
Arms-Tech COMPAK-16
Arsenal AKSU
Arsenal SLR-95
Bernardelli VB-SR
FN FAL

Battle rifles

Scoped M1 Garand, a common battle rifle

M1 Garand (1936–1958) – The standard rifle of the United States during the Second World War
M1941 Johnson rifle (1941–1961 Worldwide) – A rare rifle issued to marine raiders early during the war
M1903 Springfield rifle (1903–1975) – The standard-issue rifle of the U.S. in World War I it became a sniper weapon in the next world war
M1917 Enfield rifle (1917–present worldwide) – A supplement for the M1903 during World War I
MAS 36 (1936–present worldwide) – Standard rifle of the French in World War II
Ross rifle (1905–1945)
Gewehr 98 (1898–1935) – Standard rifle of Germany in World War I
Karabiner 98k (1935–present) – Standard rifle of Germany in World War II, the smaller version of the Gewehrkarabiner98 (Gewehr 98)
Lee–Enfield SMLE (MLE: 1895–1926/SMLE: 1904–present) – The standard rifle of the British Empire during the first half of the 20th century
Carcano M91 (1981–present Worldwide)
Arisaka type 38 (1906–1945)
Arisaka type 99 (1939–1945)
Mosin–Nagant (1891–present) – The standard Issue Russian/Soviet rifle for almost the entire first half of the 20th century
K31 (1933–1958) – Standard Swiss rifle from 1933 to 1958
SAFN 49 (1948–1982)
ZH-29 (Uncertain time frame between its adoption and last use in military, presumably between early 1930s to mid 1950s)
Hakim Rifle (1950s–early 1960s) – A slightly modified Ag m/42 rifle used by the Egyptian military
Rasheed Carbine (1950s–early 1960s) – Egyptian carbine derived from the Hakim Rifle
RSC M1917 (1917–1926) – Officially named Fusil Automatique Modèle 1917 by the French army
MAS 49 (1951–1979)
FG 42 (1943–1970s) – An automatic rifle built for German paratroopers
Gewehr 43 (1943–1945) – Fairly successful semi-automatic German gun compared to the others, was designed from captured SVT-40
SVT-40 (1940–present) – Widely issued Soviet semi-automatic rifle
SVT-38 – (Subsection of article SVT-40)
FN FAL (1953–present) – Designed in Belgium, widely adopted by NATO countries during the cold war
Heckler & Koch G3 (1959–present Worldwide) – Used by the German military before the adoption of the G36
M14 rifle (1959–present) – An upgrade from the M1, its use was limited since 1964
SKS (1945–present)

Sniper rifles

M40 rifle

Machine guns

RPK-74

Explosive devices

M79 grenade launcher