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A personal weapon is a weapon that can be carried and employed by a single person, although its use may be restricted to specialist members of attack or defense teams. Some larger personal weapons may usually be operated by two man teams, an aimer and a loader.

Personal weapons are employed by:

Reproduction Personal Weapons at the Great Wall of China
Reproduction Personal Weapons at the Great Wall of China

Some examples and applications of personal weapons:

Contents

Antipersonnel weapons

These are intended to be used against other combatants. The Great Wall of China ( or ( is a series of stone and earthen Fortifications in China, built rebuilt and maintained between the 6th century BC and the 16th

Limited lethality weapons

These may be used to subdue an opponent with a lower risk of death when properly used.

Edged Weapons

Knife

Main article: Knife

Used in stealth, because of easy concealment and seemingly endless uses, or as a last resort in combat. A club (also known as cudgel, baton, truncheon, night stick, and bludgeon) is among the simplest of all weapons A club (also known as cudgel, baton, truncheon, night stick, and bludgeon) is among the simplest of all weapons Brass knuckles, also sometimes called knuckles, knucks, brass knucks, B-Nux or knuckle dusters, are Weapons used in A club (also known as cudgel, baton, truncheon, night stick, and bludgeon) is among the simplest of all weapons An electroshock weapon is an Incapacitant Weapon used for subduing a person by administering Electric shock aimed at disrupting superficial muscle A Millwall brick is an improvised weapon made of a manipulated Newspaper. A knife is a handheld sharp-edged instrument consisting of handle attached to a Blade used for cutting

The knife is to be stabbed or sliced at the opponent in close quarters combat and self defense.

Knives are used today in many uses for countless jobs. The military still uses knives in the front lines if the primary weapon is unavailable, or attached to the end of a gun as a bayonet. A good military knife is often used for opening crates, breaking wires and fences, cutting 550 cord (parachute lines used for hundreds of military tasks), and opening MREs, to name only a few uses.

May be confused with the "shank"

Dirk

A dirk is longer than the typical knife and is used as a stabbing weapon. Dirk is a Scots word for a short Dagger; sometimes a cut-down Sword blade mounted on a dagger Hilt, rather than a knife blade The Highland Dirk is a traditional Scottish weapon and in the age of sailing ships British midshipmen (officer candidates) were issued this weapon for personal defense. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands For the fish called midshipman see Midshipman fish. The rank of midshipman is one of the oldest ranks still in existence Dirks are still presented to officer candidates in many navies as a symbol of the completion of their initial training (for example, in the modern Russian navy

Sword

The sword is an evolution of the knife. The Russian Navy or VMF ( Russian: Военно-Морской Флот (ВМФ России- Voyenno-Morskoy Flot Rossii (VMF or literally Military Maritime Its name literally means “hurting tool” from the Old German “Swert”. It is one of the most universally recognised ancient weapons and has taken many forms across many different countries. It is used to both slash and stab in much the same way a knife does.

During the Middle Ages, most European swords had double edged straight blades made for both slashing and stabbing. Examples of these swords include the one handed arming sword and the two handed longsword. The arming sword (also sometimes called a knight's or knightly sword) is the single handed Cruciform Sword of the High Middle Ages The Longsword is a type of European Sword used during the Late medieval and Renaissance periods approximately 1350 to 1550 (with early and late use reaching Curved swords such as the falchion existed in Europe during the Middle Ages but were not as prominent as the straight ones. This article describes the Medieval Weapon For the Finnish Heavy Metal band see Falchion (band.

The primary sword used in Japan is the Katana, which has a curved blade that is short in comparison to the Rapiers or Longswords of Europe. A is a type of Japanese sword ( nihontō) and often is called a "samurai sword A rapier is a relatively slender sharply pointed Sword, used mainly for thrusting attacks mainly in use in Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries The Longsword is a type of European Sword used during the Late medieval and Renaissance periods approximately 1350 to 1550 (with early and late use reaching It is known for its sharpness and formed an integral component of the culture of the Samurai. is the term for the military nobility of Pre-industrial Japan. The weapon remained in use even as other weapons of the time were neglected. It eventually disappeared after The Satsuma Rebellion. The, was a revolt of Satsuma ex- Samurai against the Meiji government from January 29 1877 to September 241877 11 years into the Meiji Era. The weapon had a renaissance during World War II where it was used by Japanese soldiers in the Pacific theatre. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Although the katana is seen as the primary sword of the Samurai, many other types of swords were used by the Samurai. A is a type of Japanese sword ( nihontō) and often is called a "samurai sword is the term for the military nobility of Pre-industrial Japan. is the term for the military nobility of Pre-industrial Japan. These include the uchigatana, the odachi, the nodachi and the tachi

In its use by Roman forces the sword was relatively short, but effective in combination with a shield, since the soldier could block a downward slash with his shield and then thrust from below and upward into the midsection of an opponent. The is a type of Japanese sword. From the Heian to the Edo period, the primary battlefield sword was the Tachi. An, meaning "great big sword" was a type of long Japanese Sword. A is a large two-handed Japanese sword. Nodachi approximately translates to "field sword" The is a Japanese sword, often said to be more curved and slightly longer than the Katana. A shield is a protective device meant to intercept attacks The term often refers to a device that is held in the hand as opposed to Armour or a Bullet proof vest This technique was extremely effective when in a closed formation. Examples of the successful use of this technique include the defeat of the outnumbering forces of Queen Boudica in the Battle of Watling Street in the year 60 CE. Boudica (also spelled Boudicca, formerly known as Boadicea, and known in Welsh culture and legends as "Buddug" (d The Battle of Watling Street (sometimes called the Battle of Paulerspury) took place in Roman-occupied Britain in AD 60 or

The sword was used differently in more modern Europe. It was a very long, cylindrical, and narrow blade with no edge and was used to stab rather than slash. It is the source of fencing as we know it today. Fencing is the art of armed Combat involving Cutting, Stabbing, or slapping bludgeoning Weapons directly manipulated by hand Most middle and upper class men would be trained in fencing with the smallsword as it was the primary duelling weapon. The small sword or smallsword (also court sword, fr épée de cour or dress sword) is a light one-handed Sword designed for thrusting As practiced from the 11th to 20th centuries in Western societies a duel is an engagement in combat between two individuals with matched weapons in accordance with their combat

The Scimitar was a curved but short blade used in the Middle East. A scimitar (ˈsɪmɪtə is a Sword with a curved blade design finding its origins in Southwest Asia Its name is derived from the Persian shashimir. The weapon is vaguely similar to the European Sabre in that it is a curved slashing weapon. The sabre or saber (see spelling differences) is a kind of Sword that usually but not always has

The sword fell into disuse after Europe discovered gunpowder and related projectile weapons. Duelling and fencing for social purposes continued well after the invention of the handgun. Duelling fell into disuse even before the end of the 20th century and with it the sword ceased to be used in any practical sense.

For more types, see List of swords. This is a list of Types of swords found through history all around the world For more information on swords in general see sword.

Bludgeoning Weapons

War Hammer

A large hammer on a handle that may be two feet or more in length. See war hammer. For the tabletop games see Warhammer Fantasy Battle and Warhammer 40000.

Club

A club is an asymmetrical stick of moderate length, swung from the light end, similar to a bat used in games. A club (also known as cudgel, baton, truncheon, night stick, and bludgeon) is among the simplest of all weapons Easily formed from a tree branch this, was probably one of the first weapons. May be relatively light for primary use as a walking stick. Also known by various ethnic names such as knobkerry or shillelagh. A club (also known as cudgel, baton, truncheon, night stick, and bludgeon) is among the simplest of all weapons A shillelagh ( Irish: sail éille, a cudgel with a strap commonly ʃɪˈleɪli "shi-LAY-lee" or "shi-LAY-la" ɕaˈleːlə is a wooden club

Mace

A Mace is a club with spiked enhancements. A mace is a simple Weapon that uses a heavy head on the end of a handle to deliver powerful blows It may be a head mounted on a fixed handle. Often confused with a flail, which is a brass spiked ball, on the end of a length of chain.

There are a few more under "Bashing Weapons" on the List of mêlée weapons. This is a list of Melee weapons It includes modern and historical but not fictional weapons from fantasy or Role-playing games '

Chopping Weapons

Hatchet

May be thrown or used offensively or defensively at close quarters (obsolete in modern warfare). The indigenous North American version of this is the Tomahawk

Axe

Used commonly in medieval warfare as the primary chopping weapon. A tomahawk is a type of Axe native to North America traditionally resembling a Hatchet with a straight shaft It was liked because it could be thin enough to be swung at high speeds, but heavy enough to crush or break an opponent's armour or shield. Today they are used to cut down trees and to shape timber for temporary fortifications, but are otherwise obsolete in warfare. It must be borne in mind that "obsolete" is not the same as "useless".

Halberd

A halberd is a combination of the axe's blade and the spear's length and point. Commonly used in the front line because it could keep enemies at a safe distance for the men in the rear to launch arrows, yet could still be used in close combat if one side's line broke. It also found use, as did the spear, as a weapon for disabling warriors on horseback. Today, halberds are obsolete in combat.

Penetrating Weapons

Spear

The spear is a stabbing weapon made from mounting a sharp point on a pole. It is one of humanity's oldest weapons due to its simplicity, has been used since prehistory and has existed in one form or another throughout all of human history. In warfare it is extremely useful when used in large groups. The idea of a spearman is the basis for many military forces throughout history. For more information see spear. This is an article about a particle accelerator For uses of spear, see Spear or Spear (disambiguation.

Pike

The pike is essentially a very long spear not intended to be thrown; this was used by pikemen to defend archers, infantry, musketeers, etc. A pike is a Pole weapon, a very long thrusting Spear used two-handed and used extensively by Infantry both for attacks on enemy foot soldiers and as Archery is the practice of using a bow or Crossbow to shoot Arrows Archery has historically been used in Hunting and Combat and has The Infantry is the oldest and most numerous of the Combat Arms in the Armed forces, and consists A musketeer (mousquetaire was an early modern type of Infantry Soldier equipped with a Musket. , against cavalry by rooting the shank against the ground and positioning it against advancing opponents. The Cavalry (from French cavalerie) is the second oldest of the Combat Arms, and as Soldiers or Warriors who fought mounted on More mobile tactics were developed in the 15th century by the Swiss Confederacy (see pike square) (obsolete). The Pike Square (Gewalthaufen meaning crowd of force) was a military tactic developed by the Swiss Confederacy during the 15th century for use by its Infantry

Rapier

The Rapier is a light sword-like weapon without an edge, being used with a single handed grip only to parry (deflect the opponent's weapon) and to thrust or to slash with the tip. A rapier is a relatively slender sharply pointed Sword, used mainly for thrusting attacks mainly in use in Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries It is today used only in the sport of fencing. Fencing is the art of armed Combat involving Cutting, Stabbing, or slapping bludgeoning Weapons directly manipulated by hand

Bayonet

Attached to a rifle, a bayonet allows the rifle to be used as a short spear for thrusting. A bayonet (from French baïonnette) is a Knife - Dagger - or spike-shaped Weapon designed to fit on or over the muzzle It is still issued to soldiers in even the most modern of armies today.

Bow

The bow has the advantage of relatively long range and quiet (stealthy) operation. A bow is a Weapon that projects arrows powered by the elasticity of the bow It's obsolete as a mass use weapon, but still useful in stealthy covert operations. For such operations a complex compound bow may be used that includes special sighting devices. A compound bow is a modern bow that uses a levering system usually of cables and Pulleys to bend the limbs "Sights" redirects here For the rock band see The Sights. A modern crossbow may be used for the same tasks. A crossbow is a Weapon consisting of a bow mounted on a stock that shoots projectiles often called bolts

Crossbow

The crossbow may be used where a standard bow is inappropriate; one would not waste highly-trained longbowmen when more plebeian crossbowmen could be used. A crossbow is a Weapon consisting of a bow mounted on a stock that shoots projectiles often called bolts The crossbow requires less training, but is much slower with which to fire a second shot. It is especially suitable for use by less skilled or weaker soldiers. This became an effective medium-range weapon for use against metal plate personal armour. A ballistic vest is an item of protective clothing that absorbs the impact from gun-fired Projectiles and shrapnel fragments from explosion Also used in massive numbers as an area defense weapon in the protection of fortifications, propelling short arrows called bolts or fléchettes (fr. "little arrows"). Fortifications are Military Constructions and Buildings designed for defense in Warfare Humans have constructed defensive works for French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people In this use it was not aimed at a specific target but sent on a high, arcing path into masses of opponents. The crossbow is obsolete as a mass use weapon. It remains an effective stealth weapon for special operations, though of limited range.


Handgun

Also known as pistols, handguns are firearms that can be operated with one hand. Their small size makes them convenient for extended carry as well as the primary option for concealed carry. In the United States, carrying a concealed weapon ( CCW, also known as concealed carry) is the legal authorization for private citizens to carry

Over time, handguns have gone from single shot muzzle loaders, to revolvers, to the modern semi-automatic pistol. rEVOLVEr is the fourth studio album by Swedish metal band The Haunted. A semi-automatic pistol is a type of Handgun that can be fired in semi-automatic mode firing one cartridge for each pull of the trigger

Handguns are used today for personal defense and as a primary firearm in today's armies and police forces. In the military, they are typically used by officers and guard captains for short-range self-defense in combat, rather than as an attack weapon. The seven shot Colt .45 Automatic (model 1911, 11. The M1911 is a single-action, Semi-automatic pistol ( Handgun) chambered for the. 43mm) is exemplary of this type, although modern types tend to carry a greater quantity (more than a dozen) of lighter, but less powerful, 9 mm rounds. The 9x19mm Parabellum is a pistol cartridge introduced in 1902 by the German weapons manufacturer Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken (DWM for their Even when semiautomatics were preferred for general military use during the 1960s, U. S. Navy pilots were equipped with allegedly more reliable . 38 cal. revolvers for self-defense, loaded with tracer rounds for distress signaling. A bullet is a solid Projectile propelled by a Firearm or Air gun and is normally made from metal (usually Lead)

Long Guns

Musket (obsolete)

The musket fires a round lead ball from a smooth bore and is loaded from the discharge end (and is so called a muzzle loader). A musket is a muzzle -loaded Smoothbore Long gun, which is intended to be fired from the shoulder A muzzleloader is any Firearm into which the projectile and usually the Propellant charge is loaded from the muzzle of the Gun (i Owing to the relatively loose fit of the ball (as compared to a rifle), a relatively high rate of fire of about three rounds per minute is possible with training and practice. Muskets are most effectively applied by a group of soldiers forming a row three deep. The front of row is the firing group, who move to the back row upon firing and then reload while moving forward. All firing and movements are controlled by a platoon leader, typically a junior officer. The weapon was especially suitable for use by relatively unskilled soldiers, but effective employment required substantial military discipline as the musketeers are usually exposed to enemy fire from similarly equipped opponents and from cannon fire. | NOTE Throughout this article "cannon" is used as BOTH the || singular and plural Under U. S. law, muzzleloaders such as muskets are defined as weapons and not as firearms.

Early Rifle (obsolete)

Unlike the musket, the rifle has a grooved barrel to spin the bullet with gyroscopic forces. A gyroscope is a device for measuring or maintaining orientation, based on the principles of Angular momentum. The spinning increases the accuracy and range, because a cylindrical bullet creates less air resistance and has greater range.

Muskets, smooth bore pistols and early rifles are classified by the ignition mechanism (called the lock) used to fire the weapon. These include matchlock, flintlock and wheelock types. The Matchlock was the first mechanism or "lock" invented to uncomplicate the firing of a hand-held firearm Flintlock is the general term for any Firearm based on the flintlock mechanism Until the development of the Minié ball the rifle had longer reloading time than the musket. The Minié ball (or minie ball) is a type of muzzle-loading Rifle Bullet named after co-developer Claude-Étienne Minié. This was because the rifling made it more difficult to ram a bullet down the barrel. The Minié Ball was slightly smaller than the barrel and had a divot in the end of the bullet. The fact that it was sub-caliber made it easy to ram the Minié Ball down the barrel, but the gases produced by the gunpowder would expand it to full size once it was fired. This development rendered the rifle superior over the musket in all ways. The pre-Minié Ball weapon was less effective in field maneuvers, but possessed a long and accurate range. When used by a skilled operator a rifle was highly effective in defense where a long field of fire had been cleared and the weapon was used for selective fire, rather than as a volley of simultaneous fire. Unlike the musket it was also suitable as a sniping weapon by attackers against a fixed defense and for use after a stealthy approach. READ DISCUSSION PAGE BEFORE MAKING ANY EDITS TO CAPTION BELOW http//en

Under U. S. law, muzzleloaders such as early rifles, or replicas thereof, that do not use cartridges, are defined as weapons and not as firearms. A muzzleloader is any Firearm into which the projectile and usually the Propellant charge is loaded from the muzzle of the Gun (i

Breech Loader

The successor to the muzzle loader was the breech loading rifle. Instead of loading from the muzzle, the breech loader loaded from opening the breech some way. A breech-loading weapon is a Firearm (a Rifle, a Gun etc in which the Bullet or shell is inserted or loaded at the rear of the Breech loaders had a much higher rate of fire and can be reloaded from a prone position, greatly increasing the survivability of troops. This ability was particularly advantageous in defense where the troops may be lightly protected by low revetments and shallow trenches.

Carbine

A rifle that has been shortened (in comparison to the original variant) and been made lighter. These were originally made for use on horseback. Currently, carbines are used for close quarters combat, where their smaller size is an advantage, for guard duty, where their light weight reduces fatigue, and are issued as Personal Defense Weapons in some militaries.

Rifle

Modern rifles are almost always breech loading, although some muzzle loaders exist. For the band The Rifles see The Rifles (band. For the novel by William T A muzzleloader is any Firearm into which the projectile and usually the Propellant charge is loaded from the muzzle of the Gun (i They are usually semi-automatic, fully automatic, bolt action, lever action, or single shot. A semi-automatic rifle is a type of Rifle that fires a single Bullet each time the trigger is pulled without the need manually to operate a An automatic firearm is a Firearm that automatically extracts and ejects the fired cartridge case and loads a new case usually through the energy of the fired The term bolt action refers to a type of Firearm action in which the weapon's bolt is operated manually by the opening and closing of the breech with Lever-action is a type of Firearm action which uses a lever located around the trigger guard area (often including the trigger guard itself to load fresh cartridges Single-shot Firearms are firearms that hold only a single round of Ammunition, and must be reloaded after each shot A battle rifle is a military-issue/surplus full-length rifle which fires a major caliber (30-caliber/7.62 millimeter and above). A Battle Rifle or Main Battle Rifle is a full-size Rifle designed for military use that fires a high-power rifle cartridge such as the U There are many cartridges which use 762 mm caliber bullets The measurement equals 0 Rifles are used for almost everything from target shooting and hunting to warfare. The battle rifle, at that time a muzzle-loading musket or rifle, is considered to be the primary weapon in mind when the Second Amendment to the American Constitution was drafted.

Sniper rifle

Sniper Rifles are weapons designed for precision firing at an enemy to allow a more precise impact point on the enemy, to fire from a longer range than usual, or both. Sniper rifles usually have telescopic sighting devices and fire a more powerful cartridge that has a flatter trajectory and more power than the intermediate cartridges typically employed by assault rifles. Examples of sniper rifles are the M24, M40, and the Dragunov SVD. The M24 SWS (Sniper Weapon System is the military and police version of the Remington 700 Rifle, M24 being the model name assigned by the United The M40 is a Bolt-action Sniper rifle used by the United States Marine Corps. Sniper rifles are typically employed by specialist operators selected for their competency. They are often trained in stealth and in intelligence-gathering operations and employed as a one- or two-person unit. A sniper team will consist of a two snipers with one operating the sniper rifle in the role of shooter and the other assisting with a spotting telescope as a spotter to assist in set-up, determining the opportune time to fire, and assessing the results of the shot. Team employment was seen in the 2005 movie production Jarhead, based on a US Marine sniper's autobiography. Jarhead is a 2005 Film based on US Marine Anthony Swofford 's 2003 Gulf War Memoir See also sniper. READ DISCUSSION PAGE BEFORE MAKING ANY EDITS TO CAPTION BELOW http//en

Fully Automatic Weapons

Full automatic fire allows multiple rounds to be fired with a single trigger pull. Ammunition may be stored in long clips or drums for lighter weapons or on "belts" of linked cartridges.

Submachine Gun

A submachine gun is a weapon designed to fire a pistol cartridge in automatic mode and is employed in close quarters battle. A submachine gun (SMG is a Firearm that combines the automatic fire of a Machine gun with the cartridge of a Pistol, and is They were the first fully automatic hand-held weapons. Nowadays they are used in close quarters when an assault rifle would be too bulky or may have too much penetration. Some popular submachine guns are the WW2 Thompson submachine gun, the HK MP5 and the IMI Uzi. The Thompson submachine gun is an American Submachine gun that became infamous during the Prohibition era The MP5 is a 9 mm Submachine gun of German design developed in the 1960s by a team of engineers from the West German arms manufacturer

Assault rifle

The assault rifle was born in World War II when the Germans developed the Stg44, revolutionizing the battlefield. An assault rifle is a Selective fire Rifle or Carbine (not to be confused with a semi-automatic only replica firing Ammunition with muzzle The main characteristic of the assault rifle is the usage of an intermediate cartridge, smaller and less powerful than those used in the battle rifle but with greater speed and power than those used in pistols and submachine guns. A Battle Rifle or Main Battle Rifle is a full-size Rifle designed for military use that fires a high-power rifle cartridge such as the U A submachine gun (SMG is a Firearm that combines the automatic fire of a Machine gun with the cartridge of a Pistol, and is Depending on the model, an assault rifle's effective range can go from 300 m to 500 m. The assault rifle is now the standard weapon used by infantry for most of the planet. A selective fire function will allow single shots to be fired, and modern doctrine encourages the provision of an automatic fire mode of short bursts of three rounds, both to increase kill probability compared to a single shot while conserving ammunition compared to full automatic mode.

The main characteristics of assault rifles compared to battle rifles are: less recoil, less weight, less power, less range, bigger magazine capacity, higher rate of fire.

Compared to submachine guns, they have more recoil, are heavier, have more power, and more range.

The two best known assault rifles in history are the Russian AK-47 designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov and the American Colt M16, originally designed by Eugene Stoner. The AK-47 (contraction of Russian Автомат Калашникова образца 1947 года; Avtomat Kalashnikova obraztsa 1947 goda; "Kalashnikov's Lieutenant General Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov (Михаи́л Тимофе́евич Кала́шников Mihail Timofeevič Kalašnikov) (born November M16 (more formally United States Rifle II Caliber 556 mm M16) is the U Eugene Morrison Stoner (Born November 22, 1922 in Gosport, Indiana; died in Palm City Florida) Both have hundreds of rifles based on them, either copies or extreme variants.

Light Machine Gun

An example of the light machine gun (LMG) would be the M249 SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon) used by the U. A light machine gun or LMG is a Machine gun that is generally lighter than other machine guns of the same period and is usually designed to be carried The M249 Squad Automatic Weapon ( M249 SAW) is the United States military designation for a sub-family of the FN Minimi Squad automatic S. army. Light machine guns use a rifle round, either a full power or intermediate round, and are operated using a bipod or a light tripod mount. They are usually belt fed or have a larger than normal magazine. A belt is a device that holds cartridges adjacent to each other in a single row for feeding into a Firearm, typically a Machine gun. This allows LMGs to have more firepower than assault rifles. A light machine gun (LMG) is used to provide covering fire to friendly troops.

Shotgun

Shotguns are useful only at short range, so they are used in close quarters combat or in home defense situations. A shotgun (also known as a scattergun) is a Firearm that is usually designed to be fired from the shoulder which uses the energy of a fixed shell to fire a number Close Quarters Battle ( CQB) or close quarters combat ( CQC) is a type of fighting in which small units engage the enemy with personal weapons at very Shotguns are also used commonly to hunt birds. The main advantages of shotguns are their ease of use and high lethality at close range. Their disadvantages are a short range and limited magazine capacity. Most shotguns are of break action, pump action or are semi-automatic, although muzzleloading shotguns still are used for special-season hunting. A break-action Firearm is one whose barrels are hinged and rotate perpendicular to the bore axis to expose the breech and allow loading and unloading of A pump-action Rifle or Shotgun is one in which the handgrip can be pumped back and forth in order to eject and chamber a round of Ammunition. The most common antipersonnel shotgun shell is buckshot, which is a number of metal balls, usually lead, that diverge on firing. Lead shot is a collective term for small balls of Lead. It is used primarily as Projectiles in Shotguns but is also used for a variety of other purposes The balls are called shot. There is also birdshot which is the same concept with smaller shot. A shotgun shell (shotshell is a self-contained cartridge loaded with shot or a slug designed to be fired from a Shotgun. They can also be used with a large "slug" round effectively giving the user a high-caliber, high-impact round. A number of special rounds have been developed for the shotgun including flechette rounds which consist of tightly packed metal darts, incendiary rounds, less-than-lethal cartridges that use rubber balls or flexible bags of shot, and anti-material rounds. The French word fléchette means "little arrow" or Dart projectile of steel that is sharp and pointed with a vaned tail for stable flight

Under U. S. law, muzzleloading shotguns, whether originals or replicas thereof, are defined as weapons and not as firearms.

Grenade Launcher

A grenade launcher is a device that launches a rifle grenade. A grenade launcher is a Weapon that launches a Grenade with more accuracy higher velocity and to greater distances than a soldier could throw it by hand A rifle grenade is a form of Grenade that utilizes a Rifle as a launch mechanism to increase the effective range of the grenade Modern rifle grenades resemble small artillery shells or very large pistol cartridges. A shell is a payload-carrying Projectile, which as opposed to shot, contains an explosive or other filling though modern usage includes large solid projectiles These grenades are typically launched from an accessory for a rifle in the form of a launcher mounted under the rifle's barrel, as in the case of the M203 grenade launcher. M203 is a single shot 40 mm Grenade launcher that attaches to the M16 Assault rifle or the M4 Carbine used by the Military There are also stand-alone models, such as the M79 and modifications for the M203 and AG36. The M79 grenade launcher also know as "the Thumper" is a Single-shot, shoulder-fired Break open Grenade launcher which fires a 40 x46 mm The AG36 is a single-shot 40 mm Grenade launcher designed primarily for installation on the G36 Assault rifle, designed by the German The western countries usually use 40mm grenades, while 30mm grenades are more common in the East, and especially in the former Soviet Bloc. The 40 mm grenade is a military Grenade caliber for Grenade launchers in service with many armed forces During the Cold War, the term Communist Bloc (or Soviet Bloc) was used to refer to the Soviet Union and countries it either controlled or that were Older rifle grenades look more like hand grenades with stabilizing fins. They are launched from a device that is mounted on the muzzle of a rifle. With older rifle grenades, a blank round (a cartridge without a bullet) is used to generate the propelling gas to launch a grenade. Modern rifle grenades have the advantage that they can be used at the same time as the rifle and have a greater range. There are even fully automatic grenade launchers, like the Mk 19, which resemble belt-fed machine guns. The Mk 19 Grenade Launcher is a belt-fed automatic 40 mm Grenade launcher or grenade machine gun that entered U

Hand Grenade

Hand grenades are small explosive devices that are thrown. A soldier will typically have several of these. Hand grenades usually have a time delay fuse of several seconds. Some types of grenade have impact fuses, usually anti-tank grenades.

Fragmentation type

An explosive charge is contained within a rigid shell scored so that it breaks into small fragments propelled at high speed. This increases the effective radius of the weapon. The standard U. S. military M67 grenade has a kill radius of 5 meters, a wounding radius of 15 meters and danger radius up to 150 meters. The M67 grenade is a fragmentation Hand grenade used by the US armed forces and Canadian forces - where it is referred to as the C13

Concussion type

Concussion grenades have an explosive charge that is intended to shock with a pressure wave, potentially with lethal effect. The lack of fragments limits the effective range and offers greater safety to the person employing this weapon. Concussion grenades are used in situations where the operator has limited cover from fragments, and in enclosed/semi-sealed spaces when the user can remain outside the space.

Anti-tank type

Anti-tank grenades use the shaped charge principle to penetrate a tank’s armor. A shaped charge is an Explosive charge shaped to focus the effect of the explosive's energy They usually have impact fuses, but some types, like the No 74 sticky bomb, do not. Popularly known as the sticky bomb, the No 74 ST Grenade was an unusual British Hand grenade issued in World War II. A shaped charge only works if it hits head on, so most anti-tank grenades have some sort of fins or streamers to insure a successful impact. Due to the effectiveness of modern tank armor, anti-tank grenades are mostly obsolete.

Flash type

A grenade with a low probability of lethality, this makes a loud report with moderate concussive force and a bright flash and does not throw shrapnel. It is intended to shock, temporarily blind, deafen, and disorient persons in a confined space so that they may be overcome and restrained. Typically used by SWAT teams in police units and in commando operations attempting a live capture for subsequent interrogation. SWAT ( Special Weapons And Tactics) is an elite special operations tactical unit in American Police departments similar to the Taiwan Thunder Squad In Military science, the term commando can refer to an individual a Military unit, or a raiding style of military operation. Interrogation or questioning is Interviewing as commonly employed by officers of the Police and Military.

Smoke type

Smoke grenades are used to provide cover for movement and for signaling, with the latter usually employing various colors of smoke.

Anti-matériel weapons

Anti-matériel rifle

An anti-matériel rifle is a very large caliber weapon used primarily to destroy lightly armored or unarmored targets, or unexploded ordnance. An anti-materiel rifle ( AM) is a Rifle that is designed for use against military equipment ( Matériel) rather than against other combatants (" They are similar to sniper rifles. Common calibers used are . 50 BMG (Browning Machine Gun), 14. 5mm, and 20mm. An example is the M82 Barret. The M82 (also more recently known as the M107) is a heavy SASR (Special Application Scoped Rifle developed by the American Barrett Firearms Company

Anti-matériel shotgun shell

A shotgun shell may contain various loads of the same gross mass, from fine shot to large shot to solid slug. A shotgun shell (shotshell is a self-contained cartridge loaded with shot or a slug designed to be fired from a Shotgun. One loading is devised to destroy equipment, particularly electronics and computers, and is composed of a solid cylindrical and hard mass divided into four to eight solid segments, with sharp edges and corners. These are effective in penetrating and destroying delicate electronic equipment. There are also shotgun shells that are filled with a metal powder for door breaching. A breaching round or slug-shot is a Shotgun shell specially made for the purposes of Door breaching. Door breaching is a process used by military police or emergency services to force open a closed and/or locked door The powder stays together as a mass to destroy the latch, but dissipates upon impact so nothing on the other side of the door is hurt.

Flamethrower

The flamethrower propels a burning stream of flammable fluid. A flamethrower is a mechanical device designed to project a long controllable stream of Fire. It is primarily used against occupied fortifications. There many types of flamethrower, from backpack-sized units to ones that are mounted in place of a tank's main gun. Backpack flamethrowers have a very limited fuel supply, sufficient for only seconds of fire, and very short range. However, they are devastating both physically and psychologically.

Improvised weapons

Anti-aircraft weapons

Anti-aircraft weapons exist in all types. Anti-aircraft warfare, or air defense, is any method of engaging hostile military Aircraft in defence of ground objectives, ground or naval forces The only ones that can be classified as personal weapons are shoulder launched missiles, also called MANPADS. Man-portable air-defense systems ( MANPADS) are shoulder-launched Surface-to-air missiles (SAMs These use either infrared guidance or ride laser beams. Infrared homing refers to a passive missile guidance system which uses the emission from a target of Electromagnetic radiation in the Infrared MANPADS have short range, but are a very serious threat to low-flying attack aircraft or attack helicopters. Ground-attack aircraft are military aircraft designed to attack targets on the ground and are often deployed as Close air support for and in proximity to their own ground forces An attack helicopter, also known as a Helicopter Gunship, is a Military helicopter armed for attacking targets on the ground Modern examples of shoulder launched missiles are the FIM-92 Stinger, SA-16 and the British Javelin. The FIM-92 Stinger is a personal portable Infrared homing Surface-to-air missile developed in the United States and used by all the U The 9K38 Igla (9К38 «Игла́» needle) is a Russian Soviet man-portable Infrared homing Surface-to-air missile (SAM Javelin is a British man-portable Surface-to-air missile, formerly used by the British Army and Canadian Army.

Anti-structure weapons

Satchel Charges

Large explosives intended to be placed or thrown at short range against structures or to destroy matériel useful to the enemy.

Antitank Weapons

Recoilless Rifle

A recoilless rifle fires a large shell that resembles an artillery shell. A recoilless gun or recoilless rifle (RCL is a lightweight form of Weapon that allows the firing of a heavier projectile than would be practical with a recoiling Instead of having a closed breech like a conventional gun, it is open on both ends. This allows the recoil gases to escape and balance the recoil. This has the disadvantage of creating a dangerous backblast. This concept is also applied to shoulder launched rockets and missiles. (For a shoulder launched German World War II example see Panzerfaust. The Panzerfaust (plural Panzerfäuste, "armored fist" or "tank fist" was an inexpensive recoilless German Anti-tank ) While recoilless rifles were invented in World War II, one variant, the Carl Gustav rifle, is still in use today. The Carl Gustav (also Carl-Gustaf) is the common name for the 84 mm man-portable multi-role Recoilless rifle produced by Saab Bofors Dynamics (formerly

Shoulder Fired Rocket

The shoulder fired rocket was designed as an anti-tank weapon, but nowadays it is often used as a general purpose weapon. They launch unguided rockets. Unlike disposable launchers, they can be reloaded. In addition to ground vehicles, shoulder fired rockets have been used effectively against infantry and even helicopters. The original shoulder fired rocket was the American Bazooka. The bazooka is a man-portable Anti-armor rocket launcher made famous during World War II. Both it and its German counterpart, the Panzerschreck were developed during the Second World War. Panzerschreck (tank shocker was the popular name for the Raketenpanzerbüchse ('rocket tank rifle' abbreviated to RPzB an 88 mm Calibre reusable The most common type today is the RPG-7

Shoulder-Fired Disposable Rocket

Shoulder-fired disposable rockets designed to be fired from a one-use tube. The RPG-7 (РПГ-7 is a widely-produced portable shoulder-launched, Anti-tank Rocket propelled grenade weapon These are distinct from missiles in that they are not guided. The first weapon of this type was the Panzerfaust, made in Germany during World War II. The Panzerfaust (plural Panzerfäuste, "armored fist" or "tank fist" was an inexpensive recoilless German Anti-tank They are either for anti-tank or anti-matériel use. Modern examples include the LAW, the RPG-18 and the AT4. The M72 LAW ( Light Anti-Tank Weapon, also referred to as the Light Anti-Armor Weapon or LAW) is a portable one-shot 66 mm unguided Anti-tank The RPG-18 Mukha (Rus "Муха", "Fly" is a Russian short-range disposable light Anti-tank rocket launcher. The AT4 (or AT-4 an alpha-phonetic word play on the weapon's Caliber of 84 mm is a portable one-shot Anti-tank Weapon built in Sweden

Shoulder-Fired Disposable Tube Missile

A shoulder-fired missile is a guided missile that is fired from a one-use tube. A shoulder-launched missile weapon is a Weapon that fires a Projectile at a target, yet is small enough to be carried by a single person and fired while Usually the guidance system is retained and another missile tube is attached, but this is not always the case. There are a number of guidance systems for missiles of this type. Often these missiles have a “cold launch” system where the initial propellant of the rocket is with a gas charge. This allows the weapon to be used in close quarters where the backblast of a normal launcher would be dangerous. Examples of this type are the American Javelin and the ERYX

Anti-tank rifle (Obsolete)

An anti-tank rifle is a large rifle designed to penetrate tanks, used in World War I and World War II. The FGM-148 Javelin is an American -made man-portable Anti-tank guided missile. ERYX is a short-range portable SACLOS -based wire-guided Anti-tank guided missile (ATGM produced by European company MBDA. An anti-tank rifle is a Rifle designed to penetrate the armour of vehicles particularly Tanks The usefulness of rifles for this purpose ran from the introduction This may be mounted on a light wheeled carriage for increased mobility in the field. In World War II, they were only useful against lightly armored vehicles. See Boys rifle. The Rifle Anti-Tank.55in Boys commonly known as the "Boys (or often and incorrectly "Boyes") Anti-tank Rifle" was a British

Oddity

PIAT

The "Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank" (PIAT) was used by the United Kingdom from 1943 to 1950. The Projector Infantry Anti Tank ( PIAT) was one of the earlier Anti-tank weapons using a high explosive anti-tank projectile The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Instead of using a rocket to launch the warhead, the PIAT’s shell was launched by a large spring and then propelled by a charge.

See also

References

External links

This is an extensive list of Small arms — Pistol, Machine gun, Grenade launcher, Anti-tank rifle — that includes variants Hunting weapons are Weapons designed or used primarily for Hunting Game animals for food or sport as distinct from Defensive weapons or weapons This is a list of Melee weapons It includes modern and historical but not fictional weapons from fantasy or Role-playing games ' The following is a partial list of Martial arts weapons. Bow and Arrow Crossbow Longbow
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