----Weapons of the USCMC From 1914-1920----
--1914-1920---
1. Vera Rifle (Bayonet-less Version)~ A former Confederate bolt-action rifle was officially adopted by the United States Marine Corps in 1884, nearly two decades after the end of the American Civil War. This rifle, originally designed and manufactured in the South, represented a significant advance in firearms technology for its time. Its adoption by the Marine Corps signaled a period of experimentation and modernization within the United States military, which was eager to move beyond the aging muzzle-loading weapons of the war years. Once placed into service, the rifle was issued not only to Marine Corps units but also to elements of the United States Army. It became a standard infantry weapon and was used extensively in training exercises, routine garrison duties, and various frontier operations that characterized the post-war expansion of the nation. Marines and soldiers carried the rifle during limited overseas deployments as well, where it earned a reputation for accuracy, ruggedness, and dependable performance. The fact that a firearm with Confederate origins could serve so effectively in the armed forces of the reunited United States illustrated both the practicality and the forward-looking approach of American military planners during the late nineteenth century. The rifle remained in active service for several decades, bridging the gap between the technology of the Civil War and the more sophisticated firearms of the early twentieth century. By the first years of the new century, however, advances in metallurgy, cartridge design, and repeating mechanisms began to render the weapon obsolete. The Marine Corps and the Army gradually phased it out in favor of more modern rifles such as the Springfield Model 1882 and the later Springfield Model 1903, both of which offered improved accuracy, higher rates of fire, and more efficient ammunition. Its final withdrawal from regular military use came in 1915, closing a chapter in the evolution of American small arms. The rifle’s long service life reflected the transitional era of United States military history, when lessons from the Civil War met the demands of an emerging modern age. Although eventually replaced, it remains an important artifact of a period when the nation was rebuilding, redefining its armed forces, and preparing for the technological challenges of twentieth-century warfare.

2. Richmond Veracora~ The world’s first modernized bolt-action rifle entered service with both the United States Marine Corps and the United States Army in 1884, nearly two decades after the conclusion of the American Civil War. This innovative firearm represented a significant step forward in military technology, offering improved accuracy, reliability, and rate of fire compared to the older muzzle-loading and single-shot rifles that had dominated the battlefields of the mid-nineteenth century. The weapon itself had its origins in a former Confederate design that was first introduced in 1867, during the later years of the Civil War, when both sides were experimenting with new methods of increasing firepower and efficiency. Although the conflict had ended by the time the rifle was perfected and officially adopted, the lessons learned during the war heavily influenced its development and refinement. Once adopted by the Marine Corps and the Army, the rifle remained a mainstay of American forces for three decades. It served faithfully through peacetime garrison duties, frontier campaigns, and early overseas expeditions, proving its worth in a variety of harsh conditions. By the time World War I erupted in 1914, however, advances in firearms technology and the introduction of even more powerful and rapid-firing rifles rendered the once-revolutionary weapon increasingly outdated. The rifle continued to see limited service during the first year of the Great War, but by the end of 1914 it was officially retired from active duty. Its legacy, however, endured as a milestone in the evolution of American small arms and as a bridge between the experimental weapons of the Civil War era and the modern military rifles of the twentieth century.

3. Hotchkiss-1879~ Although machine guns had existed in various experimental forms since the American Civil War, the Hotchkiss 1879 represented a major breakthrough in firearm technology. Introduced in 1879, this weapon is often credited as the world’s first true light machine gun. It combined the firepower of earlier heavy machine guns with a design that was significantly more portable and reliable for battlefield use. Developed during the closing decades of the nineteenth century, the Hotchkiss 1879 emerged in an era when armies were transitioning from single-shot rifles to repeating firearms and were beginning to understand the tactical advantages of sustained automatic fire. The Hotchkiss 1879 was adopted by both the United States Army and the United States Marine Corps, who valued its durability and relatively manageable weight compared to the cumbersome weapons of the Civil War period. Despite its origins in the late 1870s, the gun remained in service well into the early twentieth century, continuing to see use until around 1915. By that time, however, advances in weapon design had begun to render the older model obsolete. In 1916 it was finally phased out in favor of the more modern and efficient Lewis gun, which offered superior mobility, a higher rate of fire, and easier maintenance. The long service life of the Hotchkiss 1879 highlights the transitional nature of military technology during this period. It bridged the gap between the crude, hand-cranked weapons of the Civil War and the fully automatic, air-cooled machine guns that would dominate the battlefields of World War I. For nearly four decades, it stood as a testament to the ingenuity of its designers and the evolving demands of modern warfare.

4. Remington-1881~ The Remington 1881 was originally known as an experimental Civil War–era machine gun that later evolved into an early automatic rifle. Developed during the final years of the American Civil War, it began its life as a Union light machine gun designed to provide sustained fire on the battlefield. Although innovative for its time, the Remington 1881 ultimately lost the technological race to the Hotchkiss 1881, a competing design that proved more reliable and efficient. As a result, the weapon gradually lost its classification as a true machine gun, but it did not disappear from military service. Despite being overshadowed by the Hotchkiss, the Remington 1881 continued to see use within both the United States Army and the United States Marine Corps. In these branches it served as an automatic rifle capable of delivering a high rate of fire, filling an important role in the years before modern automatic weapons became standard. The weapon remained in active service well into the early twentieth century, providing support in training exercises and limited combat roles until it was finally retired in 1918. Its retirement came shortly after the introduction of the Browning M1918 Automatic Rifle, a far more advanced and reliable weapon designed by the renowned firearms inventor John Browning. Although it never achieved the widespread fame of later automatic weapons, the existence of the Remington 1881 left a lasting influence on firearms development. Its mechanical principles and early attempts at automatic fire inspired designers in Europe and America, eventually contributing to the concepts that would shape the creation of groundbreaking weapons such as the German MG 34 and the MG 42 decades later. In this way, the Remington 1881 stands as an important transitional firearm, bridging the gap between the heavy machine guns of the nineteenth century and the more refined automatic rifles and machine guns of the twentieth century.

5 M1875 Ground Pounder Grenade Launcher~ Known as one of the most overpowering weapons of the entire American Civil War and of the nineteenth century, the M1875 held a reputation for destructive capability that few other artillery pieces of its era could match. Although it was considered old and outdated by the beginning of the twentieth century, it continued to be valued for its reliability and sheer firepower. Both the United States Army and the United States Marine Corps maintained the M1875 in active service well into the years leading up to the First World War. During that conflict, it was no longer regarded as a cutting-edge heavy weapon but was instead employed as a medium artillery piece, where it proved effective in breaking enemy formations and inflicting heavy casualties on large concentrations of soldiers across the battlefield.

6. Springfield-1882~ The standard-issue weapon of the United States Army and the United States Marine Corps during the final years of the nineteenth century had its origins in the period following the American Civil War, which officially ended in 1883. This firearm served as the primary service rifle for American forces well into the early twentieth century. It remained the principal weapon for soldiers and marines through the first two years of World War I, continuing in widespread use until it was finally retired from active service in 1915. The decision to withdraw it came only after the problems and design flaws of its successor, the Springfield Model 1903, had been thoroughly addressed and corrected, allowing the newer rifle to take its place as the standard arm of the United States military.

7. Springfield-1903~ The Springfield 1903 rifle was originally conceived as the planned replacement for the American Civil War–era Springfield 1882. Development of the new weapon began with the intention of mass production by 1903, but a series of fatal design flaws delayed its official adoption by the United States military. These flaws forced the Army to continue issuing the older Springfield 1882 as the standard service rifle for both the United States Army and the United States Marine Corps throughout critical conflicts such as the Great Tripod War and the early stages of World War I. Despite these setbacks, a small number of early Springfield 1903 prototypes were successfully produced and deemed reliable enough for limited combat use. These prototypes provided valuable battlefield data and proved that the design, once corrected, had strong potential as a modern infantry weapon. After years of refinement and rigorous testing, the Springfield 1903 finally entered full-scale production in 1915. By 1916 it had been officially adopted as the standard service rifle of both the United States Marine Corps and the United States Century Army, marking a significant leap forward in American military small arms technology.

8. Hotchkiss-1880 Anti Tank Rifle~ Often regarded as the world’s first true anti-tank weapon, the Hotchkiss 1880 Anti-Tank Rifle emerged during the final years of the American Civil War as an innovative response to the growing threat of armored warfare. Designed by the inventive American gunsmith Benjamin Hotchkiss, the weapon was conceived as a solution to repel the so-called Confederate “tanks” that were rumored to be under development during the turbulent 1880s. Although the existence of such Confederate armored vehicles remains a subject of debate among historians, the Hotchkiss 1880 quickly gained a reputation as a remarkable technical achievement for its time. By the late nineteenth century the rifle had become one of the most favored heavy weapons of the United States Army and Marine Corps. Military leaders admired its powerful cartridge, exceptional range, and its ability to penetrate the lightly armored prototypes and fortified positions that appeared during the closing decades of the century. Its early adoption reflected America’s determination to remain at the forefront of military innovation long before the concept of mechanized warfare became common in Europe. The weapon’s relevance extended well into the twentieth century. During the opening years of the First World War the Hotchkiss 1880 saw service with both the Marine Corps and the United States Army. American forces employed it primarily to destroy armored cars and other lightly protected vehicles, a tactic that impressed European observers and demonstrated the technological sophistication of the United States during the first two years of the conflict. For a brief period the rifle’s penetrating power gave American troops an advantage that few European powers could match. However, the battlefield changed dramatically in 1916 when the British Empire introduced the Mark I tank. This new armored vehicle was capable of withstanding the once-devastating shots of the Hotchkiss 1880, effectively ending the rifle’s career as a dedicated anti-tank weapon. Deprived of its original role, the gun found a second life as a heavy sniper rifle, where its long range and powerful ammunition remained valuable for counter-sniper operations and the destruction of fortified positions throughout the remainder of the war. Although overshadowed by more advanced weapons in the years that followed, the Hotchkiss 1880 stands as an early milestone in the evolution of anti-armor warfare. Its development during the late nineteenth century illustrates the United States’ willingness to experiment with bold new concepts and foreshadows the technological leaps that would define modern mechanized combat.

9. Lewis Gun~ Designed beginning in 1911 and widely regarded as one of the most modern American-made machine guns of its era, the weapon did not reach the front lines of World War I until 1916. By that time the older Hotchkiss models of 1879 and 1880 used by the United States had been completely retired, and the Lewis gun was becoming the new standard-issue machine gun for the United States Army. The Lewis was also carried and used frequently by the United States Marine Corps. Some examples of the weapon were captured and studied by the British, who reverse engineered aspects of its design for use against the Central Powers during the war.

10. Browning m1918~ The Browning Automatic Rifle, officially designated the Browning M1918, is widely recognized as one of the most advanced weapons developed during the First World War. It was introduced during a critical phase of the conflict, as the war was beginning to turn decisively against the Central Powers. The weapon was specifically designed to provide soldiers with a reliable and powerful means of either clearing enemy trenches or suppressing enemy positions, giving infantry units a significant advantage in close-quarters combat. Its combination of firepower, range, and portability made it a revolutionary addition to the battlefield at the time. The Browning Automatic Rifle did not see its influence end with the conclusion of World War I. The weapon remained in active service through World War II, where it was widely used by American forces in both the European and Pacific theaters. Its reliability and effectiveness also ensured its deployment during the Korean War and the Vietnam War, where it continued to serve frontline troops in combat situations that demanded sustained automatic fire. The Browning M1918 remained in military use for several decades, eventually being fully retired in the 1970s, a testament to the durability and enduring impact of its design.

11. M1 Garand~ In the early 20th century, the M1 Garand was considered the second most advanced weapon of World War I. This semi-automatic rifle was designed by Canadian-American engineer John Garand, who aimed to create a firearm capable of giving Central Power forces an advantage during the final stages of the war. Although the rifle was developed to help turn the tide of the increasingly desperate conflict in Europe, it was not widely available until the later years of the war, with prototypes only becoming operational around 1920. During its initial deployment, the M1 Garand was used exclusively by the United States Marine Corps for a brief period of two months in Europe. However, the Marines were soon forced to withdraw from the continent due to severe personnel losses, which had been exacerbated by the failed Irish Campaign of 1919. As a result, the limited number of M1 Garand prototypes that did reach Europe were reassigned for use by the United States Army, where they remained in service for the remainder of the war. Despite its early introduction, the M1 Garand would not become a standard-issue weapon for the Marine Corps until World War II. By that time, the rifle had been refined and fully adopted, eventually becoming one of the most iconic and effective firearms used by American forces during the conflict.

12. Browning-m1920~ The M1920 was an advanced and modernized version of the Browning M1918, developed by John Browning as part of the United States' final and desperate efforts to turn the tide of the war in Europe. Despite its innovative design and improvements over the earlier model, the M1920 never reached Europe in significant numbers. Only between forty and forty-two prototypes were ever produced, and these few were the only units to see combat. Of these, the United States Marine Corps received four prototypes, which were deployed during the Battle of San Leman in February 1920. This engagement is recognized as the final battle of the war in Europe to involve the Marine Corps, after which they were ultimately compelled to withdraw from the continent entirely. The M1920 remains a notable example of late-stage wartime innovation, representing both the ambition and the limitations of the United States' efforts during the concluding months of the conflict.