As history's largest global conflict, the Second World War ignited the ultimate arms race. From tanks and artillery to machine guns, rifles, and pistols, WW2 weapons saw immense innovation in every arena as the Axis and Allies vied for battlefield superiority. The sheer number of distinct models produced and fielded during the conflict has resulted in one of the most diverse arms collecting classes today.

The M1 Garand and M1 Carbine, two of the most iconic WW2 weapons.

Rock Island Auction Company's Premier and Sporting & Collector Auctions demonstrate the wealth of WW2 weapons available to collectors of all aspirations and interests. Click on the images throughout this article to learn more about each model.

A late production J. P. Sauer & Sohn Model 38H Heinrich Himmler inscribed sniper's prize presentation pistol, one of the most historic WW2 guns for sale this May. The included original bring back paper lists this pistol by serial number as brought back in a duffel bag by Private First Class Paul W. Sansone after the war on April 2, 1946.

WW2 Tank Warfare

The tank stands tall as one of the quintessential WW2 weapons and a true game-changer on the battlefield. Though the tank first appeared in WW1 and served as infantry support, armored warfare came into its own during the Second World War as new technology and strategies evolved. The North African Campaign saw the Italian M13/40 and the German Panzer III and IV facing off with British Crusaders, Matildas, and Valentines like the exceptional example highlighted below.

Valentine tanks saw widespread use by British Commonwealth forces in North African, where they were found to be reliable in a desert setting and easy to maintain.

The British were also supplied with a large number of American tanks like the M4 Sherman and the M3 Stuart through the Lend-Lease program. The M3A1 Stuarts saw their first major campaign with U.S. troops during the Allied invasion of North Africa in November 1942.

Stuarts, with their 37mm main guns and .30 caliber Browning machine guns, were found to be most effective against light armored vehicles and offered Allied forces a fast, reliable scouting option. In the European theater, most U.S. tank battalions had three companies of Sherman tanks and one company of Stuarts. Many Stuarts were also successfully employed in the jungles of the Pacific.

The U.S. M3A1 Stuart is one of the most iconic light tanks of WW2.

The rapid evolution of tank warfare can be observed in Germany's Pak 36 anti-tank gun. As one of the early WW2 weapons capable of disabling the Polish 7TP tank, the Pak 36 found itself rapidly outmatched by tougher Allied armor and would be gradually replaced by the stronger 50 mm Pak 38 and 75 mm Pak 40 anti-tank guns.

A desirable example of a German 3.7 cm (37mm) Pak 36 anti-tank gun.

The Allies made similar adjustments in reaction to the swift advancements in enemy armor. While the M3 was America's first dedicated anti-tank gun and served admirably in the Pacific theater, the North African Campaign demonstrated the need to field a heavier armor-busting option. The British Ordnance Quick-Firing 6-pounder 7 cwt, widely shortened to the "6-pounder" hit the field in mid-1942 and was adopted by the US Army as the M1 57mm anti-tank gun.

A York Safe & Lock Co. manufactured U.S. M3A1 37mm anti-tank gun (top) and a Yoder Co. manufactured U.S. M1 57mm anti-tank gun (bottom), two important WW2 weapons.

Explosive Firepower of WW2

According to 'The WWII Databook' by John Ellis, 75% of battle wounds suffered by British soldiers during the conflict were the result of mortars, grenades, bombs, and shells. One of the most fearsome WW2 weapons the Allies faced was the German 15 cm Nebelwerfer 41 multiple rocket launcher. Nicknamed "Screaming Mimi" and "Moaning Minnie" due to the characteristic high-pitched screech made by incoming rockets, this six-tubed launcher had a maximum firing range of 4.3 miles.

A rare surviving example of a 15 cm Nebelwerfer 41 multiple rocket launcher with carriage, one of the most infamous German WW2 weapons.

The French Brandt mortar, based on the British Stokes design, served as the template for most WW2 light mortar systems, including the Japanese Type 3 81 mm, the Soviet 82-PM-36, the Italian 81/14 Model 35, and the American M1 and M2 mortar launchers. The M1 served as America's primary indirect-fire infantry weapon throughout WW2 and into the 1950s, with the M2 offering a lighter variant. The Brandt pattern design was robust and effective, allowing for an impressive rate of fire.

A KVS Mfg. & Eng. Co. M2 60mm infantry mortar (left) and a U.S. PSCM Co. M1 81mm mortar (right), two of the most prolific weapons used in WW2.

WW2 Machine Guns

Some historians have said that the primary purpose of small arms during WW2 was to pin down the enemy until they could be targeted by artillery. Nothing accomplished this task better than the machine gun.

The machine guns used in WW2 provided a heavy volume of fire ideal for both infantry support and enemy suppression. Models like the 7.7mm Japanese Type 92 machine gun pictured below were designed to be operated by multiple crew members, with the hefty 125-pound rig relying on carry poles that could be inserted into the tripod for rapid redeployment.

A derivative of the classic Hotchkiss machine gun designed by Kijiru Nambu, the Type 92 heavy machine gun was one of the go-to automatic WW2 weapons for the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy during WW2.

The German MG34, invented by Heinrich Vollmer of Mauser, demonstrates the machine gun's status as one of the most versatile weapons of WW2. Filling the role of both a light and heavy machine gun, the MG34 allowed for rapid tactical movement from a bipod, support fire from a sturdy folding tripod, as well as providing an ideal option for vehicle use such as a coaxial weapon in German tank turrets.

Developed prior to the war, the MG34 was a mainstay of German forces throughout the conflict. The example pictured above is one of the most desirable WW2 guns for sale.

Many WW2 machine gun models like the American M1919 Browning and M2 Browning enjoyed wide application on aircraft and ships as well as providing heavy firepower options to ground vehicles. The M20 Greyhound armored utility car pictured below features an armored open-topped superstructure with an anti-aircraft ring mount for use with a .50 caliber M2 Browning.

An M20 Greyhound armored utility car.

WW2 Light Machine Guns

The success of the German Blitzkrieg demonstrated the advantage of rapid mobility, and the light machine guns used in WW2 complemented this offensive approach to warfare. One of the most prolific examples of the light machine gun platform was the Soviet Degtyaryov DP28. Adopted in 1928, the DP28 served as the primary light machine gun for the Red Army throughout WW2 and was noted for its simplicity, reliability, and resilience during harsh winter conditions.

The Soviet Degtyaryov DP28, one of the most prolific WW2 weapons.

The .30-06 chambered BAR filled the role as one of America's WW2 squad guns as well as serving the British early in the conflict. The British had been exploring replacing the aging Lewis gun with a light machine gun since 1922, and would ultimately settle on the BREN design over the BAR. The BREN earned a reputation as one of the finest WW2 weapons and saw action in every British theater.

A fine example of a desirable WW2 British Universal Carrier. More popularly known as a Bren Gun Carrier, the vehicle helped provide the British LMG with even more mobility.

Germany developed some of the most innovative WW2 weapons, including a new class of firearm that was smaller than a light machine gun but chambered in intermediate rifle cartridges rather than pistol calibers like an SMG. While the trailblazing FG42 was chambered for the full-bore 8mm Mauser round, the MP44 was designed for 8mm Kurz, giving birth to the assault rifle platform.

One of the later weapons used in WW2, the MP44 was the forerunner and later namesake of the intermediate caliber, select fire, infantry assault rifle.

WW2 Submachine Gun

One of the deadliest close combat WW2 weapons, the submachine gun made a lasting impact on the battlefield. SMGs were most commonly equipped to infantry leaders, paratroopers, and armored vehicle crews who would find carrying a full-sized rifle impractical. Germany's straight blow-back, open-bolt MP40 was one of the most recognizable SMGs fielded during the war.

A German MP40 with a hooded blade front and two-leaf notch rear sights, Bakelite side panels, and an underfolding steel stock, one of the most desirable WW2 guns for sale.

Another classic SMG, the Tommy gun was an early entry into the war, originally seeing service with America and the British in its M1928 incarnation. To meet surging demand, Auto-Ordnance developed the M1 Thompson in 1942, a streamlined version of the platform intended to reduce production time and cost.

A fine example of one of the most famous WW2 weapons, this Auto-Ordnance M1 Thompson includes two tan canvas "USMC" marked magazine pouches.

Even with the design changes, the M1 Thompson and its milled steel receiver proved more expensive and slow to produce compared to cheaper sheet steel alternatives like the British STEN and American M3 "grease gun." Where the STEN could be produced for a mere 10 dollars, the M1 Thompson cost over 40 dollars in 1942. As a result, the STEN saw over 4 million units manufactured across all variations, becoming one of the most successful WW2 weapons in terms of production numbers.

A Charles Erb STEN Mark II SMG.

WW2 Semiautomatic Rifles

While bolt action rifles were the most common WW2 infantry weapons throughout the conflict, the semiautomatic rifle was fielded in various forms, with none more successful than America's M1 Garand. Dubbed by Gen. George S. Patton as "the greatest battle implement ever devised," the M1 Garand and its 8-round capacity provided American troops with a significant firepower advantage over most bolt-action adversaries.

A WW2 U.S. Springfield Armory M1 Garand rifle, an exceptional example of one of America's most iconic WW2 weapons.

Russia produced a wide arsenal of WW2 weapons to combat the German advance, and the Tokarev SVT-38 and its SVT-40 successor offered the Red Army an effective semi-automatic rifle with a 10-round detachable magazine. 150,000 SVT-38s and 1,600,000 SVT-40s were produced by the Tula and Izhevsk arsenals, and the self-loading rifle platform was put to hard use on the Eastern front.

An SVT-38 manufactured by Tula arsenal in 1940.

Germany pursued its own self-loading rifle in the form of the G41. Mauser and Walther developed similar designs, with Mauser producing a rifle with a gas-trap/bolt action hybrid system like the example pictured below. The platform's G43 successor improved the design and saw 400,000 rifles produced, yet was introduced too late to change the tide of the war.

This Mauser Model G41(M) gas trap rifle with sling, manufactured circa 1941-1942, is among the scarcest WW2 guns for sale.

WW2 Bolt Action Rifles

Though the Third Reich fielded a variety of rapid-fire WW2 weapons, including machine guns, SMGs, and a limited number of semi-automatic rifles, the Karabiner 98 kurz served as the backbone of the German infantry. A derivative of the Mauser 98, the Germans produced well over 14,000,000 K98 bolt action rifles in numerous variations, including the K98k double claw sniper rifle featured below.

An extremely rare, documented German SS Proofed WW2 Steyr "bnz" code K98k double claw bolt action sniper rifle with scope.

One of the most common WW2 weapons issued to the Imperial Japanese Army, the Type 99 bolt action short rifle was a progression of the previous Type 38, re-chambered for the 7.7x58 mm Arisaka cartridge. After its adoption in 1939, the Type 99 served as the standard issue infantry rifle for Japanese forces. The Kokura Arsenal 23rd series Type 99 pictured below was recovered from the battlefield in 1945 and includes an Imperial Japanese Jinsen Arsenal Type 30 bayonet, leather sling, a period shipping crate, and an assortment of Imperial Japanese military artifacts.

One of the standout WW2 guns for sale, this exceptional WW2 field captured Japanese Type 99 rifle includes its shipping crate, bayonet, and artifacts attributed to a U.S.M.C. veteran.

After serving as America's infantry standard during WW1, the bolt action Springfield Model 1903 continued to be fielded alongside the M1 Garand throughout the Second World War. One of the WW2 weapons closely associated with the American sniper, the M1903A4 variation was produced by Remington and excluded iron sights in favor of a Redfield scope mount and scope.

A Remington U.S. 1903-A4 sniper rifle manufactured in 1942 with a Redfield scope mount and a Lyman M73B1 scope numbered "7669611".

WW2 Pistols

For collectors of WW2 weapons, the sidearms of the conflict offer a wide assortment of styles and variants to pursue. An evolution of the C93 Borchardt, the Luger pistol hit the scene in 1900 and became one of the most recognizable guns in history. More than a million Lugers saw combat during WW1 and the famous pistol continued to serve Germany in a wide range of roles during the Second World War.

Manufactured in 1937, this is one of approximately 2,500 Lugers manufactured by Krieghoff that year for the German Luftwaffe, just prior to WW2.

Due to the steep cost of the Luger P08, the German Army searched for more affordable alternatives. The Walther P38, among the first successful semi-automatic pistol models to use a double action/single action trigger, offered the Reich an effective sidearm that could be produced in quantity. 1939 saw the introduction of the Walther "concealed extractor" Zero Series of test pistols, which helped refine the P38 design before formal adoption.

One of the finest WW2 guns for sale, this early production, exceptional Walther Zero Series P38 pistol, serial number "0268", includes an experimental holster, an extra magazine, and a U.S. capture certificate.

Japanese designer Kojirõ Nambu developed numerous Japanese weapons used in WW2, including the Nambu family of pistols. The 7mm Type B "Baby" Nambu was a more compact iteration of the earlier Type A "Grandpa" and "Papa" Nambu designs. While too expensive to be formally adopted, nearly all Baby Nambu pistols were purchased by Japanese officers.

An excellent Tokyo Arsenal Baby Nambu pistol rig with matching magazine and holster, one of the classic WW2 weapons of the Japanese Empire.

After serving with distinction in WW1, the M1911 pistol underwent a series of small external refinements for what would be dubbed the M1911A1. No significant changes were made to the pistol's internals, speaking to the reliability of John Moses Browning's iconic .45 ACP design. The 1911A1 ranks as the most widely carried American pistol of the war, with the Singer variant representing one of the scarcest and most desirable WW weapons for collectors.

An immensely rare, unserialized WW2 Singer Manufacturing Co. prototype/presentation model 1911A1 with a unique factory-polished, in-the-white finish.

WW2 Shotguns

Often one of the lesser noted WW2 weapons, trench shotguns served a key role in America's combat arsenal, particularly in the Pacific theater where they helped clear Japanese bunkers and earthen fortifications. Famous models included the Winchester M1897, Winchester M1912, Ithaca Model 37, and Stevens Model 520-30.

A U.S. Stevens Model 52030 (top) and a Winchester Model 97 (bottom), two powerful American trench weapons used in WW2.

Some of the most elegant WW2 weapons were issued to the German Luftwaffe, including the Merkel O/U shotgun and the famous M30 drilling. Luftwaffe General Adolf Josef Ferdinand Gallan stated that the M30 drilling was widely equipped to German aces in 1942 and 1943 operating in North Africa. Primarily intended as a survival weapon, Gallan recounted, “We also used it for trap shooting during our obligatory exercise training to sharpen our eyes and reflexes of the fighter pilots.”

One of the rarest WW2 guns, this M30 drilling includes its original case, accessories, and a large inlaid aluminum plaque insignia of the Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" on the right side of the buttstock and a large inlaid aluminum plaque on the left of Group II, a Luftwaffe squadron that operated on all the German fronts.

WW2 Guns for Sale

The extensive range of WW2 weapons manufactured throughout the conflict has led to one of the most popular genres in historic arms collecting, and we've only just scratched the surface here. From the M3A1 Stuart tank to the M3 grease gun, Rock Island Auction Company's May 17-19 Premier Firearms Auction offers a wealth of options to WW2 collectors of all aspirations and interests.

One of the most prolific WW2 weapons, the 25mm Hotchkiss Model 1934 anti-tank gun saw use with various countries including France, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Finland, Romania, and Spain.

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A documented Walther PPK with scarce "Party Leader" grips, Party Leader holster, presentation Case, extra magazine, and flag.