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===== Points of Divergence : Small arms, armour and equipment =====

Points of divergence dealing with alternate developments of various personal weapons. Entries in all of the POD sections are sorted as chronologically as possible.

==== General discussions ====

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/wi-weapons-used-when-practical.81555/|Weapons used when practical or only when the technology and manufacturing matures ?]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/basic-weapons.91832/|Weapon developments without Romans, Byzantines, Chinese and Persians ?]]**

Know of any PODs or POD discussions ? Feel free to add them. 

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==== Melee small arms ====

**[[pods:metallurgy_and_metalworking|Metallurgy and Metalworking PODs]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/bronze-age-advanced-weaponry.373624/|Bronze age advanced weaponry]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=349460|WI: Philip of Macedon reforms his troops to use "Manipular" system]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=360299|Why the spatha ?]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/could-a-wootz-steel-sword-have-inspired-excalibur.391476/|Could a Wootz steel sword have inspired Excalibur ?]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=290232|Challenge: Mandatory sword carrying in public]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/ahc-stop-ranged-weapons-being-so-dominant-on-the-battlefield.308952/|Challenge: Stop ranged weapons being so dominant on the battlefield]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/earlier-invention-of-the-bayonet.25094/|Earlier invention of the bayonet (1)]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/what-if-the-bayonet-was-invented-earlier.185217/|Earlier invention of the bayonet (2)]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/medieval-weapons-remain-in-lartgescale-use-into-gunpowder-age.64756/|Medieval weapons remain in larger scale use into gunpowder age]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/ahc-empires-by-the-sword-literally.201951/|Challenge: Great global empires created by conquests without guns and explosives]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/if-native-americans-had-bronze-age-or-iron-age-weaponry-what-would-it-look-like.404356/|If Native Americans had Bronze Age or Iron Age weaponry, what would it look like ?]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/what-if-japans-great-sword-hunt-failed.122050/|What if Japan's Great Sword Hunt failed ?]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/honor-by-sword-alone.113612/|Renaissance POD idea, only swords accepted for duelling]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=284296|Challenge: Carrying a sword still considered acceptable in western world]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/challenge-save-dueling.260942/|Challenge: Duelling surviving as a practice (1)]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/wi-dueling-never-outlawed.259868/|Challenge: Duelling surviving as a practice (2)]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/ahc-dueling-survives-to-present-day.221288/|Challenge: Duelling surviving as a practice (3)]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/ahc-dueling-continues-to-this-day.198301/|Challenge: Duelling surviving as a practice (4)]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/dueling.34555/|Challenge: Duelling surviving as a practice (5)]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/ahc-keep-dueling-as-a-form-of-resolving-disputes.320392/|Challenge: Duelling surviving as a practice (6)]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/ah-challenge-keep-polearms-more-prevalent-in-warfare-after-napoleonic-wars.123979/|Challenge: Keep polearms more prevalent in warfare after Napoleonic Wars]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/reintroduction-of-melee-weapons.400358/|Reintroduction of melee weapons in the future]]**

Know of any PODs or POD discussions ? Feel free to add them. 

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==== Projectile small arms : Mechanical ====

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/bow-and-arrow-never-develops.86902/|The bow and arrow never develops]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=261776|Alternate projectile weapons]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/no-one-leaves-africa-without-his-bow.407160/|Plausibility check: Bows in use by the time humanity starts spreading from Africa]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/what-makes-the-crossbow-so-powerful.251932/|What makes the crossbow so powerful ?]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/wi-crossbows-in-250-bc-effects-in-armies.394401/|Effects of crossbows on armies if they were around in 250 BC ?]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/heavy-repeating-crossbow.300182/|Plausibility check: Performance of heavy repeating crossbows]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/romans-invent-the-repeating-crossbow.31520/|Plausibility check: Romans inventing the repeating crossbow ?]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/ahc-wi-heian-period-japanese-warriors-focused-on-the-crossbows-instead-of-mounted-archery.476472/|AHC/WI: Heian period Japanese warriors focused on the crossbows instead of mounted archery]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/plausibility-check-native-americans-developing-crossbows-and-their-spread-in-the-new-world.447967/|Plausibility check: Native Americans developing crossbows (and their spread in the New World)]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/ahc-wi-heian-period-japanese-warriors-focused-on-the-crossbows-instead-of-mounted-archery.476472/|Heian period Japanese warriors focused on crossbows instead of mounted archery]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/ahc-empires-by-the-sword-literally.201951/|Challenge: Great global empires created by conquests without guns and explosives]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/high-middleages-without-gunpowder.300425/|High and Late Middle Ages warfare without gunpowder weaponry]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/rifled-arrows.92270/|Plausibility check: Rifled arrows ?]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/what-if-the-magazine-fed-bow-had-been-invented-in-the-middle-ages.484916/|WI the magazine-fed bow had been invented in the Middle Ages ?]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/impact-of-early-development-of-the-compound-bow.76437/|Impact of early development of the compound bow ?]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/wi-europe-imports-the-repeating-crossbow.325842/|Plausibility check: European repeating crossbows ?]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/earlier-pike-and-shot-with-crossbows.348062/|Plausibility check: Earlier Pike and Shot with crossbows ?]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/how-good-can-you-make-a-crossbow.494642/|How good can you make a crossbow?]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/where-was-european-military-doctrine-headed-if-not-for-the-introduction-of-gunpowder.504702/|Where was European military doctrine headed if not for the introduction of gunpowder?]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/if-like-many-here-argue-that-the-longbow-was-considered-an-outdated-weapon-by-the-16th-century-then-why-did-the-mary-rose-sink-with-250-of-them.495908/|If the longbow was considered an outdated weapon by the 16th century, then why did the Mary Rose sink with 250 of them?]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=127915|Longest continued use of the longbow possible ?]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=73733|Better Aztec bows]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=167413|Was archery abandoned too soon ?]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=104564|Challenge: The Bow and Arrow survives]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=73321|Challenge: Timeline with technology where bows remain the preferred projectile weapons]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=32650|Military Tactics Without Gunpowder]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/food-fight-coconut-grenades-bombs-in-warfare.436243/|Plausibility check: Coconut-based grenades/bombs in warfare ?]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/american-frontiersmen-use-longbows-as-well-as-muskets-rifles.63923/|Challenge: American frontiersmen use longbows as well as muskets/rifles]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/in-a-world-without-gunpowder-pneumatic-weapons.370394/|Pneumatic weapons in a world without gunpowder ?]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=101624|Longbows in the Peninsular Campaign]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=196724|Bows and Arrows in the American Civil War]]**

Know of any PODs or POD discussions ? Feel free to add them. 

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==== Projectile small arms : Firearms ====

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=261776|Alternate projectile weapons]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=201458|An alternative technology to guns ?]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=276498|Plausibility check: Wooden guns]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=307252|Weirdest plausible firearms]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=274078|Flintlocks and Roman legions]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=305940|Pluasibility check: Nerf guns in a way that 19th century military technology will be lagging behind]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/could-the-modern-world-have-developed-without-gunpowder.413485/|Could the modern world have developed without gunpowder?]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=32650|Military Tactics Without Gunpowder]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=107850|WI Europe rejects gunpowder ?]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/what-would-colonization-of-the-new-world-without-gunpowder-look-like.376294/|What would colonization of the New World without gunpowder look like ?]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=124653|Alternate muskets]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/earliest-viable-repeating-gun.481210/|Earliest viable repeating gun?|]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=55698|No Colt revolver]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=317045|American Civil War with cartridge rifles]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/pc-wi-a-more-widespread-gatling-gun-specifically-in-europe.408824/|Plausibility check/Challenge: A more widespread Gatling Gun, specifically in Europe]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=258952|WI: The British chose another rifle over the Martini-Henry]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/mini%C3%A9-ball-was-not-invented-earlier.286027/|Minié ball not invented earlier]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/wi-amerindian-guncotton.337224/|WI: Amerindian guncotton]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=265014|Automatic Rifles from 1890]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=279292|Plausibility check: Repeating rifles with pump/slide-action instead of bolt-action ?]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/earliest-invention-and-deployment-of-fully-automatic-machine-gun.411298/|Plausibility check: Earliest invention and deployment of a fully-automatic machine gun]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=308390|WI: No M1911 semi-auto pistol ?]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=355767|Was the .45 ACP M1911 inevitable ?]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/pc-assault-rifles-in-world-war-i.470480/|Plausibility check:Assault rifles in World War I?]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=322510|WI Goddard "Bazooka" in WWI ?]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=331827|Dunlop John, or the British Bazooka]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=77579|Challenge: A British WWII assault rifle]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/best-possible-smg-with-1943-technology.427716/|Best possible SMG with 1943 technology ?]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=348997|Post-WWII Czechoslovak arms industry if it remains non-communist]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=325917|No AK-47]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=97156|WI: Main battle rifles upgraded and mass-produced to this day]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=135558|The British adopt the EM-2 assault rifle]]**

**[[http://alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=12147|WI: 7 x 44mm NATO cartridge]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=223337|WI the US military retains the M-14 rifle ? (1)]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=143144|WI the US military retains the M-14 rifle ? (2)]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=183243|WI the US adopted the FN FAL ?]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=257467|SIG 226 beating out the Beretta 92 as the US service pistol]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=113864|ASB WI: "Guns of the..." firearm ISOT]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=140695|ASB WI: Guns fail]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=97414|The future of the AK-47 ?]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/the-official-alternate-small-arms-and-armor-thread.397989/|Various alternate and fantasy firearm ideas]]**

Know of any PODs or POD discussions ? Feel free to add them. 

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==== Body armour ====

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/medieval-armour-chemistry-help.289503/|Non-metal medieval Asian armour (and related chemistry and artisan questions)]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=278136|Challenge: A longer, true age of chivalry (medieval armour developments)]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/are-two-sword-like-knee-spikes-on-armor-functional.400509/|Plausibility check: Are two sword-like knee spikes on armour functional ?]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=289720|Why no plate armor in the Islamic world ?]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/cast-iron-armor-and-mantlets-mantelets.408646/#post-14153520|Plausibility check: Cast iron armour and mantlets]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/armor-muskets-and-french-army-museum.365032/|Armour, muskets and a French Army museum]]**

**[[http://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=262203|Personal Armor in 19th century warfare]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/plausibility-check-ceramic-armour.314523/|Plausibility check: Ceramic armour]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/how-would-a-kevlar-vest-fare-against-a-75-caliber-flintlock-musket.225767/|How would a kevlar vest fare against a .75 caliber flintlock musket ?]]**

Know of any PODs or POD discussions ? Feel free to add them. 

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==== See Also ====

**[[pods:infantry and cavalry|Points of Divergence : Infantry and Cavalry Tech and Tactics]]**

**[[pods:metallurgy_and_metalworking|Points of Divergence : Metallurgy and Metalworking]]**

**[[gunpowder|Points of Divergence : Gunpowder]]**

**[[resources:military|Useful Resources about Military History]]**

**[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/historical-handheld-weaponry-historical-martial-arts-and-weapon-wielding-discussion-thread.413473/|Historical (Handheld) Weaponry, Historical Martial Arts and Weapon Wielding Discussion Thread]]**

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==== Navigation ====

**[[pods:military technology|Military Technology PODs Main Directory]]**

**[[pods:scientific discoveries and inventions|Scientific Discoveries and Inventions PODs Main Directory]]**

**[[pods:pods|Points of Divergence Main Directory]]**