Throughout World War I, the German military relied heavily on bolt-action rifles like the Mauser Gewehr 98. This weapon was a 5-round internal magazine 7.92x57mm Mauser submachine gun that was both dependable and accurate. Snipers often used the Gewehr 98 because of its large, hefty barrel and its easy-to-operate bolt action. The German soldiers also relied heavily on it because of its reliability and effectiveness throughout the war. There were various rifles that took design cues from the Gewehr 98 in the decades after World War I.

During World War I, the Mauser C96 semi-automatic pistol was commonly utilized and was nicknamed the "Broomhandle" because to its grip. The C96, created by the German arms producer Mauser, stood out for its unique design, its ability to employ the powerful 7.63x25mm Mauser ammunition it was chambered for, and its detachable 10-round box magazine. German officials, pilots, and trench raiders were among the many wartime users who found the C96's dependability and accuracy to be indispensable. Several other countries bought it, and it was employed in wars all across the world. The Mauser C96 was a groundbreaking gun that continues to have an impact on contemporary guns.

In World War I, German soldiers and police officers utilized the Luger P08 semi-automatic pistol extensively. The P08, created by Georg Luger, was a semiautomatic pistol known for its slim profile, 9x19mm Parabellum ammo, and toggle-lock operation. It could hold 8 bullets in its magazine and was widely regarded as both accurate and dependable. The P08 was a favorite among snipers due to its high rate of accuracy and was employed by officers, pilots, and trench raiders. The Luger P08 was a standard issue weapon for the German troops throughout WWII, and its legacy may be observed in the evolution of contemporary weapons.

The German MP18 submachine gun was one of the first functional submachine guns in history, but it saw only limited action during World War I. A lightweight, portable weapon that could offer fast firepower for assault forces in trench combat inspired its creation. The MP18 could shoot around 500 rounds per minute with its 9x19mm Parabellum ammo from its 32-round detachable box magazine. It was a major design inspiration for future submachine guns since it was sturdy, precise, and simple to use. The MP18 had an important part in the development of weapons technology and a lasting impact on the evolution of small arms, despite its limited deployment during World War I.

During World War I, the Mannlicher M1895 bolt-action rifle was issued to all members of the Austro-Hungarian army as standard issue. The M1895, created by Ferdinand von Mannlicher, used a straight-pull bolt action and a five-round en-bloc clip magazine to fire 8x50mmR ammunition. Soldiers had high praise for the weapon's accuracy and dependability, but production was constrained by the high cost of making en-bloc clips. The M1895 saw widespread usage by Austro-Hungarian forces and was sold to several other countries during the conflict. The Mannlicher M1895 was an innovative and influential firearm design that played a significant role in the battle on the Eastern Front but was not as widely employed as other rifles during the war.

Throughout World War I, the Austro-Hungarian army relied heavily on the semi-automatic Steyr-Mannlicher M1912 pistol. It was a sturdy firearm that shot accurately with 9x23mm Steyr ammo from an eight-round box magazine that could be removed. The M1912 was praised for its ease of use and dependability, thanks in part to its innovative design features including the grip safety and the internal hammer. Throughout World War I, the M1912 was used by officers and other people in the Austro-Hungarian army and was also exported. Although the Steyr-Mannlicher M1912 was not as popular as other pistols of the war, its design was influential enough that it is now considered a classic.

The Austrian Schwarzlose machine gun was a common weapon during the First World War. The gun, designed by Andreas Schwarzlose, stood out for its innovative toggle-lock mechanism and its use of water to keep the firing chamber cold. Depending on the variant, it could fire anywhere from 400 to 580 rounds per minute of 8x50mmR Mannlicher ammo from a fabric belt. Both sides of the fight found great value in the Schwarzlose machine gun due to its dependability and accuracy. A number of countries, including Germany, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire, made use of it, notably the Austro-Hungarian army. The Schwarzlose machine gun was crucial in the warfare on the Eastern Front, and its legacy lives on in contemporary machine gun development.

During World War One, the Ottoman Empire purchased thousands of Mauser Gewehr 98 bolt-action rifles, which they employed heavily throughout the war. Ottoman infantry battalions employed the rifles on all fronts of the conflict, as did snipers and other specialist soldiers. Ottoman troops employed the Gewehr 98 effectively in conflicts like Gallipoli and the Sinai and Palestine Campaign because it was well-suited to the harsh terrain and long-range fighting of the Middle Eastern theater. Yet, the Ottomans were frequently outgunned by the better-equipped Allied forces due to supply and logistical difficulties in maintaining their weapons and ammunition. Notwithstanding these setbacks, the Mauser Gewehr 98 is widely regarded as a creative and revolutionary handgun design that played a significant role in the Ottoman war effort.

The Ottoman cavalry units made extensive use of the Mondragon rifles that the empire received during World War I. The Mondragon was a semiautomatic rifle that used 7x57mm Mauser ammunition and came with a ten-round internal box magazine. Because to its ingenious construction, it could fire rapidly, making it ideal for cavalry strategies. While effective, the Mondragon rifles presented a logistical headache for the Ottomans due to the need for unique ammunition and replacement parts. Despite these setbacks, the Mondragon rifle was used extensively by Ottoman cavalry regiments throughout the war, and it was a factor in key pivotal battles and the Gallipoli campaign. Many later rifles take inspiration from the Mondragon, which was widely regarded as an inventive design at the time.

During World War I, Ottoman forces made use of German-made Bergmann MP18 submachine guns. The Ottoman Shock Troops and other special military formations made extensive use of the German-supplied weapons. The 9x19mm Parabellum ammo in the MP18's 32-round detachable box magazine made it a dependable and effective weapon. In the trenches, it proved particularly useful because to its suitability for close quarters fighting. The Ottomans were frequently defeated by the better-equipped Allied forces, but they had difficulty sustaining their supply of ammunition and spare components. In spite of these setbacks, the Bergmann MP18 was a vital part of the Ottoman war effort and is credited as an inventive firearm design that impacted succeeding submachine gun designs.

During World War One, Ottoman forces utilized American-made Lewis light machine guns. The German Empire, which had obtained the rights to produce the Lewis gun, sold a number of them to the Ottoman Empire. The Lewis gun was an efficient and dependable weapon that could fire.303 British ammunition from a 47-round pan magazine. It was especially useful in the Middle Eastern theater, when Ottoman infantry troops utilized it extensively. The Ottomans were frequently defeated by the better-equipped Allied forces, but they had difficulty sustaining their supply of ammunition and spare components. Despite these obstacles, the Lewis gun is widely regarded as an ingenious firearm design that influenced succeeding light machine gun designs and played a significant part in the Ottoman war effort.

During World War I, the standard issue rifle for the French Army was the Lebel Model 1886 bolt-action rifle. In comparison to prior black powder rifles, the Lebel rifle was a huge improvement thanks to its use of smokeless powder, which was invented in the late 19th century. The Lebel rifle used a unique 8mm Lebel cartridge and had a box magazine that held five rounds. French infantry units utilized the rifle on all fronts of the war, and it was a major factor in several major battles such as the Battle of the Marne and the Battle of Verdun. Although it was criticized for its weight and length, the Lebel rifle was well-known for its accuracy and dependability. While it has had its fair share of criticism, the Lebel rifle has endured as a classic firearm and a symbol of France's military heritage.

The French Army employed a variety of weaponry designed by Berthier during World War One, including the Berthier carbine and Berthier rifle. Unlike the Berthier rifle, which was employed by infantry groups, the Berthier carbine was largely utilized by cavalry regiments because to its shorter length and lighter weight. Both guns used the 8mm Lebel cartridge and had a capacity for five rounds. The Berthier rifles were well-suited to the fast-paced nature of trench combat due to their reputation for reliability and accuracy as well as their design that allowed for rapid-fire and easy reloading. It was said that the Berthier weapons were underpowered and had short ranges. Yet, the Berthier carbine and rifle were crucial to the French war effort and are today regarded as inventive firearm designs that influenced succeeding rifle designs.

During World War I, the French Army relied heavily on the Chauchat light machine gun, a weapon developed in France. The recoil of the Chauchat was significantly reduced thanks to its novel design, which featured a lengthy recoil mechanism. The Chauchat used a detachable 20-round box magazine and shot 8mm Lebel cartridges. French infantry units employed it extensively across all fronts because of its light weight and suitability for trench fighting. On the other hand, the Chauchat's reputation as an unreliable weapon was mostly due to complaints about its poor reliability and frequent jamming. Despite its detractors, the Chauchat was an essential part of the French war effort and is often credited as a design inspiration for succeeding light machine gun generations.

During World War I, the Ruby semi-automatic handgun was issued to all French soldiers. Based on the design of the successful Browning 1910 pistol, the Spanish company Gabilondo y Urresti created the Ruby. The Ruby was a.32 ACP pistol with a seven-round magazine. The French officers and other people who needed a reliable and effective sidearm found this handgun to be ideally suited to their demands. Although the Ruby pistol saw widespread use among French forces, it was often criticized for its lackluster firepower and poor accuracy at longer ranges. In spite of this, the Ruby pistol was an essential part of the French war effort and is often regarded as a technological breakthrough in the history of semiautomatic handguns.

During the majority of World War I, the British Army relied on the Lee-Enfield bolt-action rifle. The Lee-Enfield was well-suited to the fast-paced nature of trench combat due to its reputation for toughness, reliability, and accuracy, as well as its design that allowed for rapid-fire and easy reloading. The Lee-Enfield used the.303 British cartridge and featured a 10-round magazine. It saw widespread use among British infantry forces throughout all theaters of conflict, and it proved especially effective in the hands of trained marksmen. Similarly, British snipers relied on the Lee-Enfield, which was adapted with a telescopic sight for use at great distances. The Lee-Enfield was an efficient weapon, but it was criticized for being too cumbersome and having too slow a firing rate compared to other weapons of the day. Even so, the Lee-Enfield was an essential part of the British war effort, and it is now considered a pioneering and classic bolt-action rifle.

During World War I, British forces commonly carried the Webley revolver, a pistol created and manufactured in Britain. Webley revolvers were double-action weapons that used the.455 Webley cartridge and held six rounds. Its reputation for dependability and effectiveness in close quarters made it a popular option among British officers and other personnel. British pilots and other air crew also utilized the Webley revolver because to its small size and simplicity of use in confined locations like the cockpit. Although the Webley revolver was frequently employed by British military, it was often criticized for its small magazine and poor accuracy at longer ranges. The Webley revolver was an important part of the British war effort and is now considered a groundbreaking innovation in firearms.

During World War I, the Vickers machine gun became the de facto standard issue machine gun for British and Commonwealth forces. The Vickers was a versatile weapon that served as a fixed defensive weapon, a mounted machine gun on vehicles and aircraft, and in a number of other roles due to its durability, dependability, and accuracy. The Vickers used the British.303 cartridge and its water-cooled barrel enabled for sustained firing without overheating. Tripods and different kinds of ammunition belts were among the many accessories it came with. In the hands of experienced gunners, the Vickers proved devastating to enemy forces during major battles like the Somme and Passchendaele. The Vickers was a highly effective machine gun, but it received some negative reviews due to its bulky design and lack of portability compared to other wartime machine guns. Nonetheless, the Vickers was an essential part of the British war effort and is still considered a pioneering machine gun to this day.

During World War I, the British and Commonwealth forces issued every soldier a Lewis light machine gun, a weapon designed and manufactured in Britain. Because of its light weight and simple design, the Lewis was ideal for mobile combat situations like trench attacks and patrols. The Lewis used the British.303 round and had a unique pan magazine that could hold 47 bullets. It had a cooling jacket and a bipod so it could fire continuously without getting too hot. The Lewis was instrumental in inflicting massive fatalities on the opposing forces in engagements like the Somme and Passchendaele, especially when combined with other weapons like the Lee-Enfield bolt-action rifle. While the British military made extensive use of the Lewis, the weapon was criticized for its slow firing rate and poor accuracy at greater distances. Despite this, the Lewis was an essential part of the British war effort and is currently considered a landmark in the history of light machine guns.

During World War One, the Springfield M1903 bolt-action rifle was the primary firearm issued to American troops. The Springfield Armory created the weapon, which was inspired by the German Mauser Gewehr 98. It utilized a magazine capable of holding 5 rounds and used.30-06 Springfield ammunition. The M1903 became a common issue infantry rifle and sniper rifle for American troops due to its high accuracy and dependability. There was a bayonet attached to the rifle, making it effective in close quarters. The M1903 was crucial to the American war effort and was responsible for inflicting massive casualties on German forces at key battles like Belleau Wood and Chateau-Thierry. The M1903's accuracy was lauded, but its bulk and maintenance issues were seen as drawbacks in the tough environment of trench warfare. Even so, the M1903 was a crucial part of the American armament that ultimately swung the war in the Allies' favor.

During World War I, the M1911 semi-automatic pistol was issued to all members of the United States Armed Services. The M1911 was a powerful and durable pistol that John Browning designed to use the.45 ACP cartridge. Apart from its primary function as a personal defense weapon, American soldiers and officers also frequently relied on pistols as a secondary armament in a variety of other situations. The M1911's stopping power and precision earned it high marks, and it proved invaluable in close-quarters battle. The handgun was simple to disassemble and clean in the field and required little effort to keep functioning properly. The M1911 was criticized for its efficacy as well as its size and weight, which made it cumbersome to carry for extended periods of time. Despite this, the M1911 was a crucial part of the American war effort and is still considered a legendary and highly effective handgun.

Throughout World War I, American forces, especially the American Expeditionary Forces, relied heavily on the Chauchat light machine gun (AEF). The French-made Chauchat was a detachable 20-round magazine gun that used the 8mm Lebel cartridge. It was especially well-suited for use by infantrymen because to its light weight and portability. While the Chauchat had a lot of potential, it often had problems firing properly or not jamming. Despite these problems, the weapon saw widespread deployment by American forces throughout the war, especially in its last stages. The infantry's support weapon of choice, the Chauchat was also utilized by the trench-dwelling troops as a defensive weapon. Nonetheless, despite its shortcomings, the weapon was crucial to the success of the American war effort and paved the way for the creation of even better light machine guns in the years that followed.

U.S. infantry tactics relied heavily on the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) during World War One. John Browning created the BAR, which used a detachable box magazine holding 20 rounds and fired the.30-06 Springfield cartridge. It was the first automatic rifle employed by the United States military, and it proved to be a useful weapon for its ability to deliver steady, precise fire in support of infantry operations. The BAR served as both a light machine gun and a rifle for individual soldiers in the US Army and US Marine Corps. Particularly useful were teams of two or three troops who could lay down suppressive fire as the rest of the group advanced. American soldiers appreciated the BAR for its dependability and accuracy, but it was criticized for being cumbersome and heating up after prolonged use. In the end, the BAR was a crucial tool for the American war effort, and its use influenced US army tactics for decades after the war ended.

During World War I, the Mannlicher-Carcano bolt-action rifle was Italy's primary infantry weapon. Austrian Ferdinand von Mannlicher created the rifle in 1891, and the Italian military has been using it since since. This Italian-made rifle's Carcano variant used the 6.5mm Carcano cartridge. The rifle was highly respected by Italian soldiers due to its precision and dependability. Bolt-action mechanisms are known for being relatively slow, which was another point of criticism. Even so, the Mannlicher-Carcano rifle was pivotal in 1917's Battle of Caporetto for the Italian troops. After being linked to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914, which contributed significantly to the commencement of World War I, the rifle remained in service with the Italian armed forces until the war's conclusion in 1945.

The Italian forces of World War I employed Glisenti Model 1910 semiautomatic pistols. Bethel Abiel Revelli, an Italian firearms designer, created the pistol, and Societa Siderugica Glisenti made it. It used a 9mm Glisenti cartridge and was based on the Glisenti Model 1906. The pistol was novel for its time, but it had a number of reliability problems, such as a propensity to jam and trouble ejecting expended cartridges. Yet, Italian troops made heavy use of the handgun throughout the war, especially in the rugged terrain of the Italian front. The handgun was provided not just to infantrymen, but also to officers and other non-combat personnel. The Italian military continued to use the Glisenti Model 1910 pistol far into the 1930s, when it was finally phased out in favor of newer models.

Italian engineers created the Villar-Perosa aircraft machine gun in 1915; it had a lightweight, dual-barreled design. It was developed originally for use by ground soldiers but was afterwards converted for use in airplanes. The machine gun could pump out 1,200 rounds per minute, but its effective range was just about 100 meters. In 1916, the Villar-Perosa was one of the first weapons of its sort to be utilized in aerial warfare, thanks to the Italian military placing it aboard airplanes. The biplane's machine gunner would sit in the back cockpit and fire the weapon from the top wing. Although it had several drawbacks, the Villar-Perosa proved to be a useful weapon in air-to-air combat, and it was widely deployed by Italian planes during the war.

During World War One, the Italian military deployed the Fiat-Revelli Modello 1914, a heavy machine gun. Engineers from Fiat and Revelli, both based in Italy, began working on the project in 1910, and it finally went into production in 1914. This gas-powered weapon used the standard 6.5mm Italian cartridge. The Fiat-Revelli Modello 1914 machine gun was a dependable and long-lasting weapon, capable of firing 600 rounds per minute and having an effective range of up to 2,000 meters. The cannon was efficient against both opposing machine guns and artillery, and it was used both defensively and offensively. The Italian army relied heavily on the Fiat-Revelli Modello 1914 throughout the war, despite the weapon's unreliability at the start.

Bolt-action rifles like the Mosin-Nagant were widely utilized by the Soviet army in World War I. The Mosin-Nagant rifle, developed by Russian and Belgian engineers in the late 19th century, was chambered for the 7.62x54mmR cartridge and featured a five-round internal magazine. The rifle was well-suited to the arduous conditions of trench combat due to its reputation for reliability, accuracy, and robustness. Soviet soldiers utilized it on both the Eastern and Western fronts, and it earned a reputation for precision and potency even at great distances. As a result of its dependability and efficacy, the Mosin-Nagant rifle stayed in service with the Russian army after World War I and was employed extensively in later battles, including World War II.

Russia did not employ the semi-automatic Tokarev TT-30 handgun until the late 1920s, hence it was not in service during World War I. Other handguns, such as the Nagant M1895 revolver and the Mauser C96 semi-automatic pistol, were also used by the Russian military during the conflict. The Nagant M1895 was a seven-round revolver used by Russian soldiers, especially those in the cavalry, that fired 7.62mm rounds. The Mauser C96, on the other hand, was a semi-automatic pistol used by officers and other people who could afford the rather pricey weapon due to its ability to fire a 7.63mm bullet. The C96's enormous magazine capacity and pinpoint precision made it an invaluable tool in urban fighting.

The Russian army utilized the Maxim machine gun, which was a popular weapon amongst Allied forces during World War I. The gun, the first of its kind to use recoil to fire, was invented by Sir Hiram Maxim. During World War I, the Maxim cannon was utilized by the Russian military in several key engagements, such as the Battle of Tannenberg and the Battle of Galicia. The Maxim cannon was a good weapon for suppressing enemy fire and providing covering fire for advancing forces since it was dependable and strong and could fire 500 to 600 rounds per minute. Two to four troops manned the gun, which was typically mounted on a tripod or wheeled carriage for portability. The Maxim gun was a major factor in the victories of the Russian army in World War I, despite being a large and awkward weapon.

Light machine gun developed by the Russian Empire, the Degtyaryov saw service in the Great War. Invented by Vasily Degtyaryov, it made its debut in 1928. Although it was not used until after the war, its precursor, the DP-27, was deployed in World War One. It was a trusted firearm that saw widespread usage in the Russian Civil War that broke out in the wake of World War One, thanks to its rapid-fire rate of up to 500 rounds per minute. Among machine guns, the Degtyaryov was revered for its longevity and adaptability. Despite its introduction occurring after WWI, it was vital to Soviet military operations throughout WWII.