Rifles in History: 5 More Iconic & Influential Weapons

Last month, we introduced you to five rifles that influenced history in major ways. With so many remarkable firearms out there, we decided we’d give you a quick historical overview of a few more!

So, without further ado, here are five more rifles that have made a significant impact on our world’s history.

1. To start off, let’s look at the Springfield M1903:

First developed in 1903, the Springfield M1903 is a bolt-action rifle that served as the standard rifle for the U.S. military. It was eventually replaced as the standard service rifle by the M1 Garand in 1936, but it remained in use in limited roles until 1957. The M1903 Springfield was widely used during World War I and World War II, and it played a significant role in other conflicts as well. More than 1.3 million M1903 Springfields were produced during its service life, making it one of the most widely used rifles of the 20th century.

2. Impacts of the Mosin-Nagant:

First developed in 1891, the Mosin-Nagant is a Russian bolt-action rifle that was first used in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905. It was designed by Captain Sergei Ivanovich Mosin and Lieutenant Colonel Adolf von Nagant and was another widely used rifle of the 20th century, with over 37 million units produced.

The rifle was officially adopted by the Russian military in 1891 and was used throughout both World Wars and remained in service until the early 1960s. It was used by the militaries of the Soviet Union, China, Romania, Poland, North Korea, and Finland. After World War II, it was also adopted by 23 other countries.

The Mosin-Nagant was used extensively in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. In the hands of Soviet soldiers, it helped to defeat Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. Today, the rifle is considered to be a reliable and rugged weapon that is still popular with collectors and shooters.

3. History of the AKM:

The AKM is a 7.62×39mm rifle designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It was a common weapon in the Soviet Union and its successor states, as well as in many other countries. Developed in 1959, the AKM is a modernized version of the AK-47 that remains in production today.

The AKM’s major improvements over the previous model are a slanted muzzle device to reduce muzzle climb (thus allowing for more accurate fire in full-automatic mode), a hammer retarder preventing accidental discharge if the rifle is dropped, and a butt plate with improved cheek weld. These improvements increased reliability and durability while decreasing manufacturing time and cost.

The AKM is equipped with a folding buttstock, making it more compact for transport and storage. It can also be fitted with a bayonet, grenade launcher, or night vision scope.

The AKM is used by the armed forces of over 100 countries. It has been involved in numerous conflicts around the world, including the Vietnam War, the Iran-Iraq War, the Gulf War, and the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

4. Introducing the FN FAL:

Developed by Fabrique Nationale d’Armes de Guerre in Belgium, the FN FAL was first introduced in 1953, replacing the aging Mle 1949 rifles. The new rifle was chambered for the then-new 7.62x51mm cartridge and was gas-operated with a tilting breechblock. The first prototypes were completed in 1951 and after some refinements, the FN FAL went into production in 1953.

It quickly became the standard rifle for a number of militaries around the world and saw action in a number of conflicts, such as the Cold War, Korean War, Vietnam War, Falklands War, and Gulf War. The FAL was adopted by many NATO countries, with over 90% of the world’s military forces using it at one point.

Today, it still remains in use by many militaries and private shooters around the world.

5. Finally, the history of the M1 Garand:

The M1 Garand rifle was first introduced in 1936 and was originally designed by John C. Garand. It was the standard-issue rifle for the United States military during World War II and saw action in many of the major battles of the war. After the war, the M1 Garand continued to be used by the US military until it was replaced by the M14 rifle in 1957. Today, the M1 Garand is still widely used by collectors and shooters alike and is considered one of the most iconic rifles of the 20th century.

We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know some of the world’s most impactful rifles as much as we’ve enjoyed getting to write about them!

Feel free to check out our Build Your Own Rifle page to get your custom build, or give us a call at (360) 559-6210 for more information.

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