Personal weapon

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

Personal weapons are employed by:

• Bodyguards.
• Civil aviators as wilderness survival gear.
• Hunters.
• Individuals for home defense.
• Infantry in pursuit of objectives of war, both defensive and offensive.
• Military officers, military aviators, and cannoneers for self defense.
• Participants in various martial arts.
• Police forces on patrol.
• Private guards.
• Recreationally in various shooting sports against stationary or moving mechanical targets

Reproduction Personal Weapons at the Great Wall of China

Some examples and applications of personal weapons:

Antipersonnel weapons

These are intended to be used against other combatants.

Limited lethality weapons

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

• Baton, a police or guard's night stick
• Brass knuckles
• Blackjack
• Electroshock gun
• Millwall brick

Edged Weapons

Knife

Main article: Knife

Used in stealth, because of easy concealment and seemingly endless uses, or as a last resort in combat.

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 frontlines if the primary weapon is unavailable, or attached to the end of a gun as a bayonette. 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 a few.

Dirk

A dirk is longer than the typical knife and is used as a stabbing weapon. 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 defence.

Sword

The sword is an evolution of the knife. 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.

The sword was used in feudal Japan under the name Katana. It was a blade that was short in comparison to the rapiers of Europe but was no less effective. It was razor sharp and well looked after by its owner as the Samurai viewed the weapon as his soul. The weapon remained in use even as other weapons of the time were neglected. It eventually disappeared after The Satsuma Rebellion. The weapon had a renaissance during World War II where it was used by Japanese soldiers in the Pacific theatre.

The sword was used differently in Europe. It was a very long blade used to stab rather than slash. It is the source of fencing as we know it today. Most middle and upper class men would be trained in fencing with the epée as it was the primary duelling weapon. The epée only differed from foil (in those times) in that anywhere on the body was the target in a duel. It was considered bad etiquette to strike the head, arms or legs in older times but this changed as fencing progressed.

The Scimitar was a curved but short blade used in the Middle East. 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. It is much more curved than its Japanese equivalent the Katana.

The sword fell into disuse after Europe discovered gunpowder and therefore 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.

Batting Weapons

War Hammer

A large hammer on a handle that may be two feet or more in length. See war hammer.

Club

A club is an asymmetrical stick of moderate length, swung from the light end, similar to a bat used in games. 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.

Mace

A Mace is a club with spiked enhancements. It may be a head mounted on a fixed handle or connected to the handle with a short length of chain.

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. It was liked because it could be thin enough to be swung at high speeds, but heavy enough to crush or break an opponents armour or shield. Today they are used to cut down trees and to shape timber for temporary fortifications, but are otherwise obsolete in warfare.

Halberd

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

Penetrating Weapons

Spear

Used to hold enemies at a distance or take down riders, similar to the halberd, only also used as a thrown weapon, to deal heavier damage and to be better aimed than an arrow. The easy to make design and convenience of a spear make crude weapons for rebels in 2nd and 3rd world countries. Many similar items exist for work, but the spear is obsolete in militaries today.

Pick

Used for shanking (stabbing with something not intended for stabbing).

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. against horse cavalry by rooting the shank against the ground and positioning it against advancing opponents. More mobile tactics were developed in the 15th century by the Swiss Confederacy (see pike square) (obsolete)

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. It is today used only in the sport of fencing.

Bayonet

Attached to a rifle, a bayonet allows the rifle to be used as a short spear for thrusting. It is still issued to soldiers in even the most modern of armies today.

Bow and Arrow

This has the advantage of relatively long range and quiet (stealthy) operation. 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 modern crossbow may be used for the same tasks.

Crossbow

The crossbow may be used where Bow and Arrow are appropriate. It is especially suitable for use by less skilled or weaker weaponers and in confined spaces. This became an effective medium range weapon for use against metal plate personal armour. 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"). 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 but is still used by some hunters, usually during special seasons that prohibit firearms. It is also an effective stealth weapon for special operations, though of limited range.

Handgun

Generally used by officers and guard captains for short range self defense in combat, rather than as an attack weapon. Historically a revolver this is now generally an automatic pistol. The seven shot Colt .45 Automatic (model 1911, 11.43mm) is exempliary of this type, although modern types tend to carry a greater quantity (more than a dozen) of the lighter 9 mm rounds. Even when automatics were preferred for general military use during the 1960s U.S. Navy pilots were equipped with more reliable .38 cal. revolvers for self-defense, loaded with tracer rounds for distress signaling. Still used today as personal defense and primary firearm in today's armies and police forces.

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). 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 espeically suitable for use by relatively unskilled weaponeers, but effective employment required substantial military discipline as the musketers are usually exposed to enemy fire from similarly equipped opponents and from cannon fire.

Early Long Rifle (obsolete)

Similar to the musket this fires a spherical or cylindrical bullet, but has a spirally groved barrel to spin the bullet to maintain its orientation through gyroscopic forces. With a cylindrical bullet there is less air resistance and so greater range. Muskets, smooth bore pistols and early rifles are classified by the ignition mechanisim (called the lock) used to fire the weapon. These include matchlock, flintlock and wheellock types. Owing to a longer reloading time than the musket, the weapon is less effective in field manuvers, but possessing a long and accurate range when used by a skilled operator it can be highly effective in defense where a long field of fire has been cleared and the weapon is used for selected 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.

Breech Loader

The successor to the muzzle loader was the breech loading rifle. This has a much higher rate of fire and can be reloaded from a prone position - a distinct advantage in increasing the survivability of troops and an advantage in forward 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 also designed with a lighter construction for ease of use in close quarters combat.

Long Rifle

Also called a battle rifle the Garand .30 caliber (7.65mm) of World War II is typical of this type. This has automatic loading from clips with automatic clip ejection. The German Mauser and U.S. Springfield were typical of earlier multi-shot clip loaded bolt action rifles.

Assault rifle

The assault rifle was born in World War II when the Germans developed the Stg44, thus revolutionizing the battlefield. 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. Depending on the model, an assault rifle's effective range can go from 300 m to 800 m. The assault rifle is now the standard weapon used by infantry in the greatest part of the planet.

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

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

The two best known assault rifles in history are probably the Russian AK-47 designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov and the American Colt M16, originally designed by Eugene Stoner.

Submachine Gun

A submachine gun is a weapon designed to fire a pistol cartridge in automatic mode and is employed in close quarters battle, where an assault rifle would be too bulky or may have too much penetration. The best examples of submachine guns are the WW2 Thompson submachine gun (firing the same .45 inch round used in the model 1911 automatic pistol), the HK MP5 and the IMI Uzi.

Light Machine Gun

An example of the light machine gun would be the M249 SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon) used in Iraq by the U.S. army. Light machine guns will usually use a long rifle round, rather than a pistol round and while easily carried are operated using a bipod steady rest or a light tripod swivel mount A light machine gun (LMG) is used to fire rapid bursts at the enemy to provide covering fire to manuvering friendly troops.

Sniper Rifle

Sniper Rifles are weapons designed to fire at an enemy with extreme precision. Sniper rifles will usually have telescopic sighting devices and usually fire a more powerful cartridge than the assault rifle to gain both range and penetration. Examples of sniper rifles are the M24, M40, Barrett M82 and the Dragunov SVD. Sniper rifles are employed by specialist operators selected for their competency. They are often also trained in covert and stealthy operations and frequently are employed as a one-person unit. A sniper team will consist of a two snipers with one operating the rifle in the role of shooter and the other assisting with a telescope as a spotter, assisting in set-up, determining the opportune time to shoot, and assessing the results of a shot. Team employment was seen in the 2005 movie production Jarhead, which was based on a US Marine sniper's autobigraphy. See also sniper.

Shotgun

Useful only at short range this is used in close quarter assaults such as employed in trench warfare or in urban assault situations. The principle advantange is that due to the short range and the conical scatter of shot, precise aiming is not required. Shot is less likely than bullets to penetrate lightweight plaster walls and also limits unintended casualties (collateral damage).

Grenade Launcher

This may be an auxiliary barrel on an assault rifle or may be an accessory for use with a rifle. In the latter case, a blank round (a cartridge without a bullet) is used to generate the propelling gas to launch a grenade. Stand-alone models, such as the M79 and modifications for the M203 and AG36 are commonly available as well.

Hand Grenade

Hand grenades are thrown. A soldier will typically carry two or more of these. A fuse with several seconds' delay is activated when the weapon is released.

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 fragmentation grenade kill radius is 5 meters, wounding radius 15 meters and danger radius up to 150 meters.

Concussion type

An explosive charge is intended to shock with a concussive pressure wave, potentially with lethal effect. The limited effective range offers greater safety to the person employing this weapon in situations where that person has limited opportunity for shelter from fragments.

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 and 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.

Anti-materiel weapons

Anti-materiel rifle

An anti-materiel rifle is a very large caliber weapon used primarily to destroy lightly armored or unarmored targets, or unexploded ordnance. They are similar to sniper rifles. Common calibers used are .50 BMG (Browning Machine Gun) (M82 Barret .50 cal Rifle), 14.5mm, and 20mm.

Anti-material shotgun shell

A shotgun shell may contain various loads of the same gross mass, from fine shot to large shot to solid slug. 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.

Flame thrower

The flamethrower propels a burning stream of flammable fluid. Primarily used against occupied fortifications.

Improvised weapons

• Booby trap. This is typically left by retreating forces to cause death or injury to advancing forces or to re-occupying civilians. A typical employment would be to place a grenade, with the pin removed, under an object expected to be displaced by the new occupier, such as in a desk drawer or a can to be pulled free with a trip wire. Movement of the object or pulling on the wire frees the fuse mechanism on the grenade.
• Improvised explosive device (IED). Any weapon modified or created in a field expedient manner so as to explode, causing damage to personnel or materiel, By definition, it has been altered to detonate when it should not, thus a mine or hand grenade is not an IED. A typical device may be constructed using an artillery round, some type of detonating mechanism, and a wired or radio operated triggering device such as a cellphone or garage door control. These are employed against road traffic and triggered by a nearby observer. During the Vietnam War anti-tank mines would be constructed by villagers supporting the Viet Cong using explosive compounds removed from unexploded aerial bombs.
• Molotov cocktail. A thrown device, this uses flammable fluid in a breakable container and an ignition source which may be contact operated or ignited before throwing.

The use of completely improvised weapons such as spoons, spatulas, ladles, lamps, cups, or chairs is beneficial to slowing an attacker as an attack from a ladle is not one, one would think possible. The ludicrosity of such weapons has brought some people to practice with such.

Anti-aircraft weapons

The sophistication of an infra-red tracking missile has been miniaturized to produce the FIM-92 Stinger anti-aircraft missile and others of similar light weight and short range. Other types include the Soviet SA-7 and the British Javelin.

Anti-structure weapons

Satchel charges

Explosives intended to be placed or thrown at short range against defensive structures or to destroy materiel useful to the enemy.

Antitank weapons

Present day

Rocket propelled grenade

The rocket propelled grenade was designed as an anti-tank weapon, but nowadays it is often used as a general purpose weapon. In addition to ground vehicles, it has been effectively used against infantry and even helicopters.

Recoilless rifle

A recoilless rifle fires a large shell that resembles an artillery shell, propelled by a rocket. The rocket stops burning when it leaves the tube, so the operator is not injured. It vents out the back of the weapon, eliminating recoil. While recoilless rifles were invented in World War 2, one variant, the Carl Gustav rifle, is still in use today.

Shoulder-fired disposable tube Rockets

Rockets designed to be fired from a one-use tube. The size can range from the relatively small LAW and RPG-18, to medium such as the AT4, to the two-piece (control device and DT rocket module) Javelin. The sophistication of the weapons targeting system and explosive technique generally increase with size.

Anti-tank weapons no longer in use

Bazooka

A bazooka is an unguided rocket, launched from a long shoulder carried tube, carries a shaped charged to the target. This is not strictly a personal weapon as it is operated by a team of two — a loader and a sighter-operator. It was used by United States forces in World War II and the Korean War.

Panzerfaust

A Panzerfaust is similar to a rocket propelled grenade but carries a shaped charge, intended to penetrate substantial armour. It was first used in 1943 by Germany. fghf

Panzerschreck

Developed by Germany, by copying the bazooka, the panzerschreck had much greater armor piercing capability.

PIAT

The "Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank" was used by the United Kingdom from 1943 to 1950. It was notable in that it propelled its charge with a spring instead of a rocket.

Anti-tank rifle

An anti-tank rifle is a large rifle designed to penetrate tanks, used in World War I and World War II. 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 also

• List of firearms
• List of mêlée weapons
• List of martial arts weapons

External links

• Scottish weapons