COMPLETE WW2 battle rifle list?

[Avenger]

Is there a website out there that lists all of the rifles fielded by ALL of the combatants in World War 2? A friend of mine has started a collection of surplus rifles, with a stated goal of "getting ALL of them". I got to thinking about that, and I'm curious as to just how many different ones there actually are. I get 4 for the USA (Garand, 1903, Johnson, M1 carbine), 6 for the USSR (M-38, M-44, M-91/30, SVT-38, SVT-40, AVP), Germany had to be 10 or so.....You get the idea!
I'm kind of limiting it to full and mid-size cartridges, since letting SMGs into the list would just get crazy.

 

[brentn]

I remember doing searches on wikipedia on weapons for different countries, or standard loadouts for american soldier. I can't remember the exact phrases but I know that wiki has an equipment list and weapon list for countries involved in ww2. Try searching around there.
Sorry I can't be of more help

 

[sharkhunter2018]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ww2_weapons

 

[Ash]

Ah, that list was incomplete. It listed only the Finnish M28/30, yet many more were used. Gotta fix that.

There, fixed that. Now the Finnish rifle area is more complete, plus added the Finnish Luger and M95 Nagant (but dropped the Nagant) and the Maxim machine gun.

I didn't include the Finnish 91/30 because it may or may not have actually been issued.

Ash

 

[Jim Watson]

Older editions of Small Arms of the World by W.H.B. Smith have information on WW II weapons. I doubt it is 100% but it covers a lot of ground. I don't know about the current editions.

 

[Avenger]

Thanks guys, that's a pretty good start, and I can take it from here. I'm noticing QUITE a few countries missing from the Wiki, but most of the ones I can think of are Mauser variations.
I'm gonna have to see about making as complete a list as I can. My friend, who I showed this thread to, was initially discouraged by the sheer number of models, let alone all the variations, but now......LOL!

 

[kragluver]

You need to add the M1917 to the US list. It was used in North Africa early in the war and possibly in Sicily; perhaps the Phillipines as well (in 1942). Several of the Allied nations were issued 1917s as well. The Thompson wouldn't really fall under "battle rifle" classification, but perhaps you could include it as well.

 

[Jim Watson]

Well, they didn't last long, but...

Belgium: Mausers 1889 and 1936 7.65x53
(Not '98 pattern Mausers, the 1936 was an 1889 faked up to look like one, though.)
Holland: Dutch Mannlicher 1895 6.5x53R
Greece: Mannlicher Schoenauer 1903 6.5x54

France surely recycled Lebels and Mannlicher Berthiers, 8x50R.

Probably a few other non-Mauser rifles like the Hungarian 98/40 faked up to look like a Mauser when the Germans took over.

Was Austria still using Steyr straight pulls until after the Anschluss?
(Looks like they were.)

 

[strangelittleman]

The Norwegain resistance were carrying the Krag-Jorgensen in 6.5 x55 and I think there may have been some U.S. Krag-Jorgensen .30-40 "hand-me-down" rifles used by the Phillippine police that would later be used by the Fillipino resistance against the Japanese.
The Marines had both the M1903 and M1903A3 at the onset of the war, both at Wake Island and on the assault on Guadalcanal.

 

[Arcticfox]

SKS was used by the Russians in Berlin at the end of the war.

 

[Avenger]

I definitely should have remembered the M1917, at least one member of my Grandad's company was carrying one at the time of a photo taken shortly after the Anzio landings.

I've kind of drawn the line against SMGs, so the Tommy is out, so is anything else that uses a pistol round. Good grief, this is snowballing quickly, I've got almost 70 already, and that's without counting VARIATIONS, just models.

 

[transformerguru]

I would say good luck on compiling this list. Models are one thing but variations... good luck

 

[tkendrick]

Don't forget the Jap rifles, at least two: the type 38 and the type 99 and that doesn't count the carbine versions. They also had a copy of the Garand, but I don't recall if it ever saw any action, and I think you can be pretty sure the Siamese Mauser saw some action as well.

Were the Canadians still issuing the Ross at the beginning of the war?

 

[confed sailor]

Ross's were used for drill rifles in the US. the old 1895 steyrs were used in the balkans extensively, mausers of all flavours even the ancient 71's and 71/84 were seen in the balkans again.
HEY you guys forgot the BAR too! and dont try and call it a LMG.
also there was the charlton, a SMLE converted to a automatic rifle by the NZ

It would be cool if a K31 was ever snuck over the border for a lil trigger time, who knows?

In england, Long lee's Martini-henry's Martini Enfield's.

 

[mejeepnut]

Great project!If you guys find the time could you maybe let us know what rifles you already have on your list?My father-inlaw was in the southpacific and could be of some help.It could also be a good winter day for us when he starts telling storys about some of the guns on your list.He has already told stories about hunting pigs with a BAR.His worst story was at the end of the war when they were throwing stuff over the side,everyone wanted a Colt 1911 to take home.He claims he personaly threw a singer overboard because nobody wanted it.I have an 03 action he brought home,in mint perfect condition.He took it apart and threw the rest overboard.He was considered a gun nut back then and I am not sure what else he brought home but I know there are a few other actions someplace round here.Then there are things like the 1917 artillery Luger that he swapped for on the ride home.Hard to get him talking but when he does he can't stop and your list may help.

 

[Float Pilot]

The list of rifles used in Finland is missing all of the weapons used by the Swedish Volunteer Battalions during the winter war and later during the continuation war. (basically the rest of WWII). I have seen photos of M-96 rifles, M-94 carbines and the Swede version of the BAR, the KG-37. All being used in Finland by the Swede troops.
The Swedes also supplied rifles to the Norwegians who fled into Sweden during the German invasion. They were organized into Military Police type units and they went back into Norway as the Germans were collapsing.

 

[Ash]

There were a tremendous number of arms used by the Finns. I was including all those that I knew of that were purchased by or captured by the Finns and placed into general issue. The Swedish Mauser was certainly placed into substitute standard use based on the number of them encountered with Finnish acceptance marks. Did the Finns buy these or were they left behind by the Swedes as "gifts"?

I did not include the C96 Mauser, the M95 Nagant, nor the TT30/33 because they were captured arms as a rule and were not issued in large numbers (though soldiers carried them in large numbers). Adding the to the list seemed to make things cumbersome. Sure, the Soviet-made arms need to be on the list because the Finns captured so many that they were pressed into regular service and a very large number of Finns carried them.

However, we do not include the Luger or P38 or other arms captured by US GI's during the war, though such arms, including the K98k, were used by our troops.

Ash

 

[daniel (australia)]

I had a look at that Wikipedia list and I'd be very surprised if it was correct in relation to the claim that Australian Forces used No. 4 Mk 1 Lee Enfields. We stuck with the No 1 Mk III* right through until after Korea, though there was a bit of experimentation with shortened and lightened versions for Jungle service. Also missed was the No. 1 Mk III* HT, the Heavy barrel/Telescoic sight version for snipers.

Another to add, though only in VDC (home defence) service was the Martini Cadet .310. These were pressed into service to free up .303s for the front line at a time when Australian soil was under actual attack and things were looking grim. A special FMJ version of the .310 ammunition was made too, to satisy the Hague convention.

 

[Avenger]

I do know of a few infantry actions between the Swiss and the Germans, so the K31 is on the list. Apparently there were some fairly extensive cross-border incursions by small groups of Germans, mostly they seem to be cases of patrols getting "lost" (reading that as scouting and testing the Swiss preparedness).
I'm gonna count the BAR as well. If JMB, himself himself, calls it a rifle, who am I to argue? I'm not so sure about the Johnson LMG though, I'm not sure where the line is there, but to my thinking it exhibits more MG features than rifle features.....Holy crud, did I just introduce an EBR debate into a thread about World War 2?

 

[kragluver]

The Japanese also used quite a few captured US weapons after the Phillipines -- Krags (captured from the Filipino's), M1917s, '03s and Garands. Read "Shots Fired in Anger" by John George.

 

[Float Pilot]

The Swedish Mauser was certainly placed into substitute standard use based on the number of them encountered with Finnish acceptance marks. Did the Finns buy these or were they left behind by the Swedes as "gifts"?

Swede weapons got into Finland two different ways.
1. As issued weapons to the few thousand Swede volunteer troops. They wore Swede uniforms and had all of their issue gear from the photos I have seen.

2. Weapons given to Finland under a lend lease type arraignment. Those were issued to Finnish units. Most of those were later returned to Sweden. Those are the [SA] marked weapons.

Here is a Swede volunteer unit in Finland circa 1944

 

[Z71]

That list would incude just about any rifle used in WWI and earlier!

Probably even include such single-shots as the Martini Henry, and Berdans' too.

The British even called up sporting rifles for home defense use.

Be a helluva collection!