WW2 Weapons Still in Use Today: From M1 Garand to Mosin Nagant

These 6 Weapons From WW2 Are Still Used Today

World War 2 marked a turning point in human conflict. Because it was so widespread, the war saw new technologies—and as a result, new tactics—implemented for the first time in many places around the globe. Many innovative weapon systems used by the Axis and the Allies were so well designed that they are still in use today. Check out this list of guns with a legacy of continued performance and learn why you can still find WWII firearms for sale to this day.

WW2 Weapons that you might find on GunBroker.com:

M1 Garand: Unsurprisingly at the Top of Our WW2 Weapons List

Surely, you did not expect to see any other weapon in the top spot on this list. John Garand’s semi-automatic rifle gave American infantrymen an edge against the Axis troops. General George S. Patton described the M1 as “the best battle implement ever devised.” Some foreign militaries use it as a ceremonial weapon, and the M1 has recently seen combat in isolated conflicts in modern warfare. The Ruger Mini 30 is a reliable example of a newer design that uses the same Garand-style action of the renowned M1.

M1911 Pistol

Not only is the M1911 still widely used, but it is also still being produced more than a century since its formal adoption by the U.S. Army before World War I. One of the most popular pistols for sale among gun enthusiasts, the M1911 is prized for its reliability, which is why it is still widely used among law enforcement and even the U.S. Special Forces.

Browning M2 Heavy Machine Gun

While the M1911 has largely been retired from military use, the Browning M2 decidedly has not. This air-cooled, 50 caliber machine gun can penetrate an inch of armor at 1,000 yards. All branches of the U.S. military and Coast Guard use the M2. It is typically mounted to vehicles such as patrol boats, Humvees, and M1A2 Abrams tanks. 

Upgraded MG42

The MG42 was first produced by Mauser in 1942 and was widely used by German armed forces until the war’s end. With a fire rate of 1,200 rounds per minute, the MG42 provided incredibly effective suppressive fire and was highly reliable. Rechambered for 7.62x41mm NATO and dubbed the M3, this design is the primary general-purpose machine gun of the Bundeswehr and has been adopted by several other NATO militaries.

Mosin-Nagant Bolt-Action Rifle

Having entered Russian military service in 1891 and updated in 1930, the M1891 is known colloquially as the Mosin-Nagant. In WWII, it was the standard-issue rifle of the Soviet military—the largest army ever mobilized. More than 17 million of these rifles were produced, and several nations used them after the Soviets moved on to the SKS and AK 47. Mosin-Nagant rifles have recently turned up in conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria.

Browning Hi-Power 9mm Pistol

This is the third firearm on this list designed by John Browning, who also conceived the M1911, M2, and the BAR. The Hi-Power was widely used by Allied troops during WWII and was even produced for the Axis after Germany occupied Belgium. Following WWII, over 93 countries adopted this handgun for their militaries, and it is still being carried today.

Find a variety of WWII-era firearms from private sellers at www.gunbroker.com

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