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A firearm design where a sliding charger is positioned under the barrel, allowing for faster reloading times.

Fire Arm

A firearm design where a sliding charger is positioned under the barrel, allowing for faster reloading…

"Parts shown are handle, A; sleeve, B; safety lock, C; cocking peice, D; safety lug, E; extractor, F; extractor collar, G; locking lugs, H; extractor tongue groove, I, and gas escape hole, J." — Moss, 1914

Bolt Mechanism

"Parts shown are handle, A; sleeve, B; safety lock, C; cocking peice, D; safety lug, E; extractor, F;…

"Place the cutoff at the center notch; cock the arm and turn the safety lock to a vertical position, raise the bolt handle and draw out the bolt." — Moss, 1914

Bolt mechanism dismounting

"Place the cutoff at the center notch; cock the arm and turn the safety lock to a vertical position,…

The buffer consists of a tube in which are placed successively from front to rear, the buffer head, a brass friction cup with concave interior and split to allow it to spring; a steel cone to fit into the cup. For of these ups and cones are placed one after the other. Next is the buffer spring and finally the buffer nut which is screwed into the end of the tube and forms a seat for the spring.

Buffer Mechanism

The buffer consists of a tube in which are placed successively from front to rear, the buffer head,…

An illustration of a cannon.

Cannon

An illustration of a cannon.

"U.S. Carbine, CAL. .30, M1." -War, 1944 A carbine is a firearm similar to a rifle or musket, but generally shorter and of lesser power. Many carbines, especially modern designs, were developed from rifles, being essentially shortened versions of full rifles firing the same ammunition, although often at a lower velocity.

Carbine

"U.S. Carbine, CAL. .30, M1." -War, 1944 A carbine is a firearm similar to a rifle or musket, but generally…

Two soldiers firing their weapons. One is standing behind a tree, while the other is in the crouching position.

Firing from the Crouched and Standing Positions

Two soldiers firing their weapons. One is standing behind a tree, while the other is in the crouching…

A device which projects either single or multiple projectiles at high velocity through a controlled explosion. The firing is achieved by the gases produced through rapid, confined burning of a propellant.

Handheld Firearm

A device which projects either single or multiple projectiles at high velocity through a controlled…

Firearm is a device which projects either single or multiple projectiles at high velocity through a controlled explosion. The firing is achieved by the gases produced through rapid, confined burning of a propellant.0

Military Firearm

Firearm is a device which projects either single or multiple projectiles at high velocity through a…

A weapon that fires a projectile.

Portable Firearm

A weapon that fires a projectile.

A man firing his rifle from a doorway.

A Man Firing from a Doorway

A man firing his rifle from a doorway.

Flintlock is the general term for any firearm based on the flintlock mechanism. Introduced about 1630, the flintlock rapidly replaced earlier firearm-ignition technologies.

Moorish Flint-lock

Flintlock is the general term for any firearm based on the flintlock mechanism. Introduced about 1630,…

"Gun-lock. a, hammer or cock; b, tumbler; c, bridle; d, bridle-screw; e, sear; f, sear-screw; g, sear-spring; h, sear spring screw; i, main-spring; k, swivel; l, l, side-screws." -Whitney, 1911

Gun Lock

"Gun-lock. a, hammer or cock; b, tumbler; c, bridle; d, bridle-screw; e, sear; f, sear-screw; g, sear-spring;…

The Browning M1919 is a .30 caliber medium machine gun family widely used during the 20th century. It was used as a light infantry, coaxial, mounted, aircraft, and anti-aircraft machine gun by the U.S. and many other countries, especially during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Although it began to be superseded by newer designs in the later half of the century (such as by the M60 machine gun), it remained in use in many North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries and elsewhere for much longer. It is very similar in design to the larger .50-caliber M2 Machine Gun, which is also a Browning-designed weapon and is still in NATO service.

Browning Machine Gun

The Browning M1919 is a .30 caliber medium machine gun family widely used during the 20th century. It…

An illustration of an early field gun.

Early Field Gun

An illustration of an early field gun.

A field gun is an artillery piece. Originally the term referred to smaller guns that could accompany a field army on the march and when in combat could be moved about the battlefield in response to changing circumstances. This was as opposed to siege cannon or mortars which were too large to be moved quickly, and would be used only in a prolonged siege.

Field Gun

A field gun is an artillery piece. Originally the term referred to smaller guns that could accompany…

A young Eliphalet Remington working on his rifle. Eliphalet Remington (1793-1861) was a blacksmith and made the revolutionary Remington sporting rifle.

Gunsmith: Eliphalet Remington

A young Eliphalet Remington working on his rifle. Eliphalet Remington (1793-1861) was a blacksmith and…

The Matchlock was the first mechanism or "lock" invented to uncomplicate the firing of a hand-held firearm.

Indian Matchlock

The Matchlock was the first mechanism or "lock" invented to uncomplicate the firing of a hand-held firearm.

An illustration of a mortar and mount.

Mortar & Mount

An illustration of a mortar and mount.

An illustration of a 12 inch B.L. mortar.

12 Inch Mortar

An illustration of a 12 inch B.L. mortar.

A parrot gun.

Parrot Gun

A parrot gun.

A firearm designed to be held and operated by one hand, with the other hand optionally supporting the shooting hand.

Automatic Pistol

A firearm designed to be held and operated by one hand, with the other hand optionally supporting the…

A man laying prone, preparing to fire his rifle.

Firing from the Prone Position

A man laying prone, preparing to fire his rifle.

The Colt Police Positive was a revolver manufactured in 1907. "Police-Positive Revolver. Adopted by the Police Departments of the principal cities of the United States and Canada." -Hill, 1921

Colt Police Positive Revolver

The Colt Police Positive was a revolver manufactured in 1907. "Police-Positive Revolver. Adopted by…

A rifle resting on the bayonet.

Rifle

A rifle resting on the bayonet.

A sight is an optical device used to assist aim by guiding the eye and aligning it with a weapon or other item to be pointed.

Rifle Sight

A sight is an optical device used to assist aim by guiding the eye and aligning it with a weapon or…

The M1 Garand (officially the United States Rifle, Caliber .30, M1) was the first semi-automatic rifle to be generally issued to the infantry of any nation. In 1936, it officially replaced the bolt-action M1903 Springfield as the standard service rifle of the United States Armed Forces and was subsequently replaced by the selective-fire M14 in 1957. However, the M1 continued to be used in large numbers until 1963 and to a lesser degree until 1966.

Browning Automatic Rifle

The M1 Garand (officially the United States Rifle, Caliber .30, M1) was the first semi-automatic rifle…

Diagram of a rifle.

Diagram of a rifle

Diagram of a rifle.

The M1 Garand (officially the United States Rifle, Caliber .30, M1) was the first semi-automatic rifle to be generally issued to the infantry of any nation. In 1936, it officially replaced the bolt-action M1903 Springfield as the standard service rifle of the United States Armed Forces and was subsequently replaced by the selective-fire M14 in 1957. However, the M1 continued to be used in large numbers until 1963 and to a lesser degree until 1966.

M1 Garand Rifle

The M1 Garand (officially the United States Rifle, Caliber .30, M1) was the first semi-automatic rifle…

The first rifle from Remington Arms, an American manufacturer of guns and ammunition.

Remington Rifle

The first rifle from Remington Arms, an American manufacturer of guns and ammunition.

"U.S. Rifle, CAL .30 M1903 (Springfield)." -War, 1944 The Springfield M1903, formally the United States Rifle, Caliber .30, Model 1903, is an American magazine-fed, bolt-action rifle used primarily during the first half of the 20th century. It was officially adopted as a United States military service rifle on June 19 1903, and saw service in World War I. It was officially replaced as the standard infantry rifle by the faster-firing, semi-automatic M1 Garand, starting in 1936.

Springfield M1903 Rifle

"U.S. Rifle, CAL .30 M1903 (Springfield)." -War, 1944 The Springfield M1903, formally the United States…

"A cartridge containing shot instead of a bullet, and intended to serve various purposes. a, paper case to which is fitted the brass base b, with a reinforcement of layers of paper, c, cemented together; d, cloth or felt wads; e, powder; f, shot; g, paper shot-wad, half as thick as one of the wads d; h, primer." —Whitney, 1889

Short Cartridge - Paper Case

"A cartridge containing shot instead of a bullet, and intended to serve various purposes. a, paper case…

A smoothbore gun that fires shot over short ranges. Also called scattergun.

Military Shotgun

A smoothbore gun that fires shot over short ranges. Also called scattergun.

"The parts are the butt, A; small, B; magazine well, C; barrel bed, D; air chamber, E, which reduces the charring effect og a heater barrel on the stock; small butt plate screw hole and seat for the butt plate tang, F; butt swivel plate seat, G; mortise for receiver tang lug and hole for rear guard screw, H; mortise for sear and slot for trigger, I; cut-off thumb-piece recess, J; mortise for recoil on the receiver, K; bed for fixed base, L; grasping grooves, N; shoulder for lower band, O; bed for band spring, P; shoulder for upper band, Q; channels for decreasing weight, R; upper band screw hole, S; and the stock screw hole, T. The large hole in butt is for decreasing weight, and the smaller one is a pocket for the combination oiler and thong case." — Moss, 1914

Stock, right side view

"The parts are the butt, A; small, B; magazine well, C; barrel bed, D; air chamber, E, which reduces…

"The parts are the butt, A; small, B; magazine well, C; barrel bed, D; air chamber, E, which reduces the charring effect og a heater barrel on the stock; small butt plate screw hole and seat for the butt plate tang, F; butt swivel plate seat, G; mortise for receiver tang lug and hole for rear guard screw, H; mortise for sear and slot for trigger, I; cut-off thumb-piece recess, J; mortise for recoil on the receiver, K; bed for fixed base, L; grasping grooves, N; shoulder for lower band, O; bed for band spring, P; shoulder for upper band, Q; channels for decreasing weight, R; upper band screw hole, S; and the stock screw hole, T. The large hole in butt is for decreasing weight, and the smaller one is a pocket for the combination oiler and thong case." — Moss, 1914

Stock, top view

"The parts are the butt, A; small, B; magazine well, C; barrel bed, D; air chamber, E, which reduces…