Small Arms of World War II: The Bolt Actions

dr_zoidberg_md Published 06/16/2018 in ftw

Almost 73 years ago, Imperial Japan surrendered to formally end hostilities during World War II. Here is a look at some of the rifles carried by soldiers of the day on both sides.

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1.
The following rifles were some of the most common battle rifles deployed during World War II. Enjoy!
2.
M1903 Springfield Rifle (USA): Officially adopted as the standard US infantry rifle in 1903, the '03 Springfield remained in frontline service with US Marine and Army units through the end of WWII in 1945. Due to the high accuracy of the rifle, many were converted to sniper rifles deginated the M1903A4. In total, more than 3 million of these rifles were produced from 1903-1949.
3.
Mauser Karabiner 98k (Germany): Much of the workings of the Springfield M1903 were derived from one rifle: The Gewehr 98 Mauser. The G98 Mauser was also the basic for the K98k. The K98k was adopted as the standard infantry rifle of the German Wehrmacht in 1935. Much like it's American cousin, the high accuracy led to the rifle being converted into sniper variants. An estimate of 14.6 million of these rifles were produced. Primarily in the 1960's and 70's, many of these rifles were converted to sporting (hunting) rifles.
4.
Lee-Enfield SMLE No. 4 Mk I (Great Britain): England's famed SMLE (Short Magazine Lee-Enfield) variants were in frontline service from 1895-1957. Some features that distinguished the SMLE from other bolt-actions of the time: 1.) Larger magazine 2.) Detachable magazine 3.) The rifle cocked on bolt closing rather than opening which allowed for a faster rate of fire. Of all of the WWII bolt action rifles, the SMLE No. 4 Mk I is probably my favorite to shoot. Over 17 million of these rifles have been produced.
5.
Mosin-Nagant M91/30 (Russia): The Mosin-Nagant was origionally adopted in 1891 and remained in frontline service with the Soviet Union well into the 50's. It was designed to be inexpensive and simply to manufacture, and easy to use and maintain by a minimally trained peasant conscript. The most accurate rifles were selected for conversion to sniper variants. While a bit "clunky" in operation, the Mosin-Nagant was a highly effective, accurate battle rifle for its time. From 1891-1965, over 37 million of these rifles were produced worldwide.
6.
Mosin-Nagant M91/30 Sniper
7.
Carcano M1891 (Italy): Regarded as one the worst rifles of World War II, the Italian designed Carcano M1891 was initially manufactured in Italy for the Japanese Imperial Armed Forces. Not well regarded as a battle rifle, the Carcano is probably most famous as a Carcano Model 91/38 was used to assassinate US President John F. Kennedy. The rifle used by Lee Harvey Oswald was purchased for $19.95 through mail order in March of 1963. Approximately 3 million of these rifles were produced from 1891-1945.
8.
Arisaka Type 99 (Empire of Japan): The Arisaka family of rifles were in frontline service from 1897-1945. The Type 99 was the most common Japanese rifle in use during World War II and was manufactured and fielded from 1941-1945. The more accurate rifles were taken from regular units and converted to sniper rifles. Taking elements from both German Mausers and Italian Carcanos, the Arisakas were reliable, accurate battle rifles until towards the end of the war when manufacturing quality suffered due to increased demand from the Armed Forces. These rifles were known as "Last Ditch" Type 99 rifles.
9.
Mannlicher M1895 (Austria-Hungary): One of the lesser known, but widely used bolt-action rifles of WWII is the Mannlicher M1895. Originally adopted in 1895 by Austria-Hungary, the M1895 remained in frontline service through the end of the war. The M1895 is unusual in that it utilized a straight-pull bolt actionrather than the more common rotating bolt-handle of the other rifles featured here. From 1895-1945 approximately 3.5 million of these rifles were produced with around 6,000 rifles converted to sniper rifles from 1915-1918. The rifle was in military and police service all over Europe with around 20 nations officially fielding the rifle in that time.
10.
ZB vz. 24 (Czechoslovakia): Manufactured from 1924-1942 by Zbrojovka Brno, the vz. 24 was the primary battle rifle for the Czechoslovak Army as well as Romanian Army during both WWI and WWII. Like many other bolt action rifles of the time, the workings were based on a Mauser action. Production of the rifle ceased following Germany's invasion and converting factories to produce K98k rifles in 1942.

1.
The following rifles were some of the most common battle rifles deployed during World War II. Enjoy!
2.
M1903 Springfield Rifle (USA): Officially adopted as the standard US infantry rifle in 1903, the '03 Springfield remained in frontline service with US Marine and Army units through the end of WWII in 1945. Due to the high accuracy of the rifle, many were converted to sniper rifles deginated the M1903A4. In total, more than 3 million of these rifles were produced from 1903-1949.
3.
Mauser Karabiner 98k (Germany): Much of the workings of the Springfield M1903 were derived from one rifle: The Gewehr 98 Mauser. The G98 Mauser was also the basic for the K98k. The K98k was adopted as the standard infantry rifle of the German Wehrmacht in 1935. Much like it's American cousin, the high accuracy led to the rifle being converted into sniper variants. An estimate of 14.6 million of these rifles were produced. Primarily in the 1960's and 70's, many of these rifles were converted to sporting (hunting) rifles.
4.
Lee-Enfield SMLE No. 4 Mk I (Great Britain): England's famed SMLE (Short Magazine Lee-Enfield) variants were in frontline service from 1895-1957. Some features that distinguished the SMLE from other bolt-actions of the time: 1.) Larger magazine 2.) Detachable magazine 3.) The rifle cocked on bolt closing rather than opening which allowed for a faster rate of fire. Of all of the WWII bolt action rifles, the SMLE No. 4 Mk I is probably my favorite to shoot. Over 17 million of these rifles have been produced.
5.
Mosin-Nagant M91/30 (Russia): The Mosin-Nagant was origionally adopted in 1891 and remained in frontline service with the Soviet Union well into the 50's. It was designed to be inexpensive and simply to manufacture, and easy to use and maintain by a minimally trained peasant conscript. The most accurate rifles were selected for conversion to sniper variants. While a bit "clunky" in operation, the Mosin-Nagant was a highly effective, accurate battle rifle for its time. From 1891-1965, over 37 million of these rifles were produced worldwide.
6.
Mosin-Nagant M91/30 Sniper
7.
Carcano M1891 (Italy): Regarded as one the worst rifles of World War II, the Italian designed Carcano M1891 was initially manufactured in Italy for the Japanese Imperial Armed Forces. Not well regarded as a battle rifle, the Carcano is probably most famous as a Carcano Model 91/38 was used to assassinate US President John F. Kennedy. The rifle used by Lee Harvey Oswald was purchased for $19.95 through mail order in March of 1963. Approximately 3 million of these rifles were produced from 1891-1945.
8.
Arisaka Type 99 (Empire of Japan): The Arisaka family of rifles were in frontline service from 1897-1945. The Type 99 was the most common Japanese rifle in use during World War II and was manufactured and fielded from 1941-1945. The more accurate rifles were taken from regular units and converted to sniper rifles. Taking elements from both German Mausers and Italian Carcanos, the Arisakas were reliable, accurate battle rifles until towards the end of the war when manufacturing quality suffered due to increased demand from the Armed Forces. These rifles were known as "Last Ditch" Type 99 rifles.
9.
Mannlicher M1895 (Austria-Hungary): One of the lesser known, but widely used bolt-action rifles of WWII is the Mannlicher M1895. Originally adopted in 1895 by Austria-Hungary, the M1895 remained in frontline service through the end of the war. The M1895 is unusual in that it utilized a straight-pull bolt actionrather than the more common rotating bolt-handle of the other rifles featured here. From 1895-1945 approximately 3.5 million of these rifles were produced with around 6,000 rifles converted to sniper rifles from 1915-1918. The rifle was in military and police service all over Europe with around 20 nations officially fielding the rifle in that time.
10.
ZB vz. 24 (Czechoslovakia): Manufactured from 1924-1942 by Zbrojovka Brno, the vz. 24 was the primary battle rifle for the Czechoslovak Army as well as Romanian Army during both WWI and WWII. Like many other bolt action rifles of the time, the workings were based on a Mauser action. Production of the rifle ceased following Germany's invasion and converting factories to produce K98k rifles in 1942.