The Weapons: Russia
Mosin Nagant M1891
The basic infantry rifle of the Russian Imperial Army was the Three Line Rifle Model of 1891, commonly known as the Mosin Nagant M1891. This was a long infantry rifle, featuring a straight bolt handle and a single stack internal magazine for its five rimmed 7.62x54mm cartridges. The handguard was attached to the weapon as an aftertought and was notoriously weak (indeed, the example seen aove is missing its handguard), which could prove problematic in a Russian Army that placed a heavy emphasis on the use of the bayonet. This was a cruciform spike that locked onto the front sight, and by doctrine was always attached to the rifle.
Type: Infantry Rifle
Action: Cock on Open Rotating Bolt
Overall Length: 51 inches
Weight: 9.5 pounds
Cartridge: 7.62x54mm
Magazine Capacity: 5 Cartridges
Feed System: Charger Clip
Country of Origin: Russian Empire
Year: 1891
The Dragoon Model of the Mosin Nagant rifle was in many ways as close to a carbine as many Russian soldiers would get. Although a dedicated carbine (the M1907) had been introduced, it was produced in small numbers and not widely available. The Dragoon was approximately three inches shorter than the infantry model, and notably featured a handguard from the outset, which was thus better attached than the retrofitted M1891 models. The Russian Dragoons were mounted infantry, and rode into battle on horesback before dismounting to fight, and like the infantry were expected to keep their bayonets fitted at all times. The Dragoon rifle was also issued to the mounted Cossacks, although theirs were not issued with bayonets and were sighted accordingly.
Type: Infantry Rifle
Action: Cock on Open Rotating Bolt
Overall Length: 49 inches
Weight: 8.8 pounds
Cartridge: 7.62x54mm
Magazine Capacity: 5 Cartridges
Feed System: Charger Clip
Country of Origin: Russian Empire
Year: 1893
Berdan II
The Berdan II was a black powder bolt action rifle of American origin that had been the standard issue arm of the Russian Army before the adoption of the Mosin Nagant. Despite production at three domestic arsenals as well as in France by 1914 there still were not sufficient Mosin rifles available, and some of the Tsar’s soldiers marched to war with the outdated Berdans. A simple single-shot weapon, it remained effective at relatively short range, but was heavily outclassed by other German and Russian weapons.
Type: Infantry Rifle
Action: Cock on Close Rotating Bolt
Overall Length: 53 inches
Weight: 9 pounds
Cartridge: 10.75x58mm (Black Powder)
Magazine Capacity: 1 Cartridge
Feed System: Single Shot
Country of Origin: United States
Year: 1870
Nagant M1895
The Nagant M1895 was the standard issue sidearm to the Russian Imperial Army in 1914, and was issued in both a single-action model for other ranks and a single/double action for officers. The weapon used an interesting gas seal mechanism combined with its unique cartridge to squeeze additional velocity out of its relatively small 7.62mm projectile (chosen to allow the use of cut down factory second Mosin rifle barrels to ease production. In addition to lower power the pistol had a rather laborious loading system, especially when compared to the German P08.
Type: Service Pistol
Action: Double/Single Action Revolver
Overall Length: 10.5 inches
Weight: 1.8 pounds
Cartridge: 7.62x38mm
Magazine Capacity: 7 Cartridges
Feed System: Gate Loaded Cylinder
Country of Origin: Belgium
Year: 1895
Smith & Wesson No.3 Russian
Just as the older Berdan rifle remained in Russian service, so did the older Smith and Wesson No3 revolver. This was a variant of the famous Schofield design, and as such was a top-break design with simultaneous ejection but a single action only mechanism. It fired the powerful .44 Russian black powder cartridge, and at close range was still a very effective weapon.
Type: Service Pistol
Action: Single Action Revolver
Overall Length: 12.2 inches
Weight: 2.5 pounds
Cartridge: .44 Russian (Black Powder)
Magazine Capacity: 6 Cartridges
Feed System: Single Load
Country of Origin: United States
Year: 1870
Maxim M1910
Russian interest in Hiram Maxim’s machine gun began in 1895 with the purchase of a small batch of weapons chambered for the same black powder cartridge as their Berdan rifles. This would last until 1910, when a new version chambered in the smokeless 7.62x54mm cartridge entered production to equip the Imperial Army. With almost double the number available to the Germans, the Russians could bring a significant amount of firepower to bear on the Germans in East Prussia, but due to a poor industrial base making these guns very difficult to build Russian commanders guarded them jealously, and were hesitant to actually deploy them for fear of losing them.
Type: Machine Gun
Action: Fully Automatic (600RPM)
Overall Length: 43 inches
Weight: 149 pounds*
Cartridge: 7.62x54mm
Magazine Capacity: 250 Cartridges
Feed System: Canvas Belt
Country of Origin: Russian Empire
Year: 1910
*Weight of weapon in ready condition, with mount and full water jacket
M1902 Divisional Field Gun
Built with rapid fire in mind in a similar vein to the French 75mm, the M1902 was the standard field gun of the Imperial Russian Army during the First World War. Notably, the weapon made a minimal use of high quality steel in order to expedite production, and in service it was an effective weapon that was popular with the troops. Battle proven in the Russo-Japanese War, the M1902 was considered a match for the German FK96 series.
Type: Field Gun
Rate of Fire: 12 rpm (Maximum)
Crew: 5
Range: 5,500 meters
Country of Origin: Russian Empire
Year: 1902
M1910 Howitzer
WIKIMEDIA
A French designed heavy howitzer, the M1910 had been created by Schneider specifically for a requirement by the Tsar’s army. Produced under license at the Putilov factory, it was one of the main heavy artillery weapons in the Russian arsenal in 1914. Conventional in almost all respects, it could be expected to perform its duties admirably.
Type: Howitzer
Rate of Fire: 4 rpm (Maximum)
Crew: 5
Range: 7,700 meters
Country of Origin: French Republic
Year: 1910