Weapons of France

Go Back to Countries

Go Back To Weapons Home



M1857 12-pounder Napoleon

M1857 12-pounder Napoleon

A smoothbore cannon used extensively during the American Civil War by both Union and Confederate forces. It was favored for its reliability, range, and ability to fire both explosive shells and solid shot.
75mm field gun M1897 on M2 carriage

75mm field gun M1897 on M2 carriage

An updated version of the French 75mm M1897 field gun, mounted on an M2 carriage for mobility. It was notable for its rapid-firing capability and use in World War II.
MAT49

MAT49

The MAT-49 is a French submachine gun used primarily during the post-World War II era. Chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum, it was designed by the Manufacture Nationale d'Armes de Tulle (MAT) and became a standard weapon for French forces in the Indochina and Algerian Wars.
MAS 38

MAS 38

The MAS-38 is a French submachine gun developed before World War II and used during the war. Chambered in 7.65x20mm Longue, it had a distinctive design with a forward-slanted grip and was used by French and German forces during the occupation.
Reffye mitrailleuse

Reffye mitrailleuse

An early type of volley gun used by the French military in the late 19th century. It featured multiple barrels and was capable of firing volleys of projectiles simultaneously, serving as a precursor to modern machine guns.
Hotchkiss M1909

Hotchkiss M1909

A light machine gun of French design, used by various forces during World War I and World War II. It was known for being relatively lightweight and portable for its time.
Hotchkiss M1914

Hotchkiss M1914

A French heavy machine gun used during World War I and World War II. It was known for its reliability and was used by French and other Allied forces.
Modele 1915 CSRG Chauchat

Modele 1915 CSRG Chauchat

A French light machine gun, infamously known for its poor reliability. It was used extensively in World War I but was plagued by jamming issues and design flaws.
Mle. 1892 Lebel Revolver

Mle. 1892 Lebel Revolver

A French service revolver used from the late 19th century through both World Wars. It was known for its robust design and reliability.
Chamelot-Delvigne 1873 Revolver

Chamelot-Delvigne 1873 Revolver

A service revolver used by the French military, chambered in 11mm French Ordnance. It was known for its rugged design and served as the standard sidearm in the late 19th century.
Fusil Automatique Modele 1917

Fusil Automatique Modele 1917

A French semi-automatic rifle used during World War I. Chambered in 8mm Lebel, it was one of the first semi-automatic rifles to see combat use, though it faced reliability issues in the field.
M1874 Gras

M1874 Gras

A French bolt-action rifle that was the standard service rifle of the French Army during the late 19th century. It was the first French rifle to use a metallic cartridge.
M1916 Berthier

M1916 Berthier

A French bolt-action rifle used during World War I. It was an improvement on earlier Berthier rifles, featuring a five-round magazine and was widely used by French and colonial troops.
M1866 Chassepot

M1866 Chassepot

A French bolt-action rifle that was the standard infantry weapon during the Franco-Prussian War. It was notable for its use of a paper cartridge and needle-firing mechanism, which gave it a significant range and rate of fire advantage over earlier muzzle-loading rifles.
M1886 Lebel

M1886 Lebel

A French bolt-action rifle, the first to use smokeless powder cartridges, which revolutionized military small arms. The Lebel was the standard French infantry rifle during World War I, known for its accuracy and range.
1777 An IX Musket

1777 An IX Musket

A French flintlock musket adopted in 1777 and modified in 1801 under the An IX (Year 9 of the French Revolutionary Calendar). It was the standard infantry weapon of Napoleonic troops and saw extensive use in the Napoleonic Wars. The musket was renowned for its durability and effectiveness in massed volley fire.
1766 Charleville Musket

1766 Charleville Musket

A French flintlock musket introduced in 1766, which became the standard infantry weapon for French forces and was also used by American forces during the Revolutionary War. The Charleville musket was known for its reliability and was a key weapon in the 18th century.
Mle. 1892 Berthier

Mle. 1892 Berthier

A French bolt-action rifle that was originally designed as a carbine for cavalry but later adapted for general infantry use. The Mle. 1892 was chambered in 8x50mmR Lebel and saw service in World War I and World War II. It was praised for its simplicity and reliability.
MAS 36

MAS 36

A French bolt-action rifle adopted in 1936, the MAS 36 was chambered in 7.5x54mm French and served as the standard infantry rifle for the French military during World War II and beyond. It was known for its simplicity, durability, and ease of use, with a short, robust design suited for modern warfare.
MAS 49/56

MAS 49/56

An updated version of the French MAS 49 semi-automatic rifle, the MAS 49/56 was introduced in 1956. It retained the 7.5x54mm French chambering and featured a shorter barrel and integrated grenade launcher. The MAS 49/56 was widely used by French forces in the post-World War II period, including in colonial conflicts.
FAMAS

FAMAS

A French bullpup-style assault rifle, also known as the "Clarion." It is chambered in 5.56mm NATO and is known for its distinctive shape, high rate of fire, and use by the French military since the 1970s.
Mle 1853/67 Tabatiere

Mle 1853/67 Tabatiere

A French single-shot breech-loading rifle, converted from older muzzle-loading muskets. It was chambered in a large-caliber rimfire cartridge and used primarily in the mid-to-late 19th century.
Liege M1853 Musket

Liege M1853 Musket

A Belgian-made percussion musket, often a copy or variant of the French Mle 1853. It was widely used in Europe during the mid-19th century and was known for its reliability and accuracy.
Cuirassier sword model An XIII

Cuirassier sword model An XIII

A heavy cavalry sword used by the French during the Napoleonic Wars. It featured a long, straight blade designed for powerful thrusts and slashing, suited for shock cavalry tactics.
1790 Grenadier Saber

1790 Grenadier Saber

A short sword used by infantry and grenadiers, commonly seen in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It featured a curved blade and was employed in close combat or as a status weapon.