Single Shot Rifles
RIA: Warner Carbine
The Warner carbine was another of the weapons used in small numbers by the Union cavalry during the Civil War. It is a pivoting breechblock action built on a brass frame. These carbines were made […]
Single Shot Rifles
Anti-Tank Rifles
RIA: Granatbuchse GrB-39 Antitank Rifle
Like most countries, Germany had a standard-issue antitank rifle when World War II began – the Panzerbuchse 39. It fired an 8x94mm cartridge with a small very high velocity armor-piercing bullet. And like the other […]
Anti-Tank Rifles
RIA: 1918 German Tank Gewehr
Germany was the first country to produce a purpose-built antitank rifle, in response to the major Entente tank attack at Cambrai. The design was pretty simple, basically a scaled-up Mauser 98 with 4 locking lugs […]
Paper cartridge
RIA: Lindner Carbine
The Lindner carbine was an early US cavalry carbine used during the Civil War. Unlike the many metallic cartridge firing carbines that would follow, it was a breechloader that used .58 caliber paper cartridges. An […]
Bolt Action Rifles
Vintage Saturday: Father and Son
One day the boy will inherit the SMLE, and probably go on fighting whichever country has decided to occupy Afghanistan by that time. Maybe it will be China? They haven’t taken a turn yet. Having […]
Single Shot Rifles
Ethan Allen Brass Falling Block Rifle at RIA
Ethan Allen was a very prolific gun manufacturer in the US, being involved with a series of different companies. This particular rifle of his appealed to me because it is an excellent example of how […]
Bolt Action Rifles
Palmer Carbine at RIA
The Palmer carbine was the first bolt action firearm adopted by the US military – it was a single shot rimfire carbine patented in 1863 and sold to the US cavalry in 1865. The guns […]
Single Shot Rifles
Joslyn M1862 and M1864 Carbines at RIA
While US infantry forces during the Civil War had only limited access to the newest rifle technology, cavalry units adopted a wide variety of new carbines in significant numbers. Among these were a design by […]
Bolt Action Rifles
Japanese Type 18 Murata at RIA
The Murata was Japan’s first domestic manufactured military rifle. In its first iteration, it was an 11mm, single shot, black powder weapon and was adopted in 1880 (the Type 13). Before long, some problems in […]
Bolt Action Rifles
Chassepot Needle Rifle at RIA (Video)
The Chassepot was the French answer to the Dreyse needle rifle, and also the only other needlefire rifle to see major military service. It was adopted in 1866 and served as a primary French infantry […]