Sniper Pyotr Sobolevsky ) serves in the Russian Expeditionary Force in France where he is chosen for his marksmanship and trained as a skilled sniper. After the Russian Revolution, the soldier returns home while his commander (Boris Shlikhting ) fights against the newly-founded Soviet Union. In 1930, the former soldier works in a factory and is also the instructor at a shooting club. His town near the Soviet border is attacked by foreign troops (the hostile state isn't named, but the uniforms of the soldiers resemble ones worn by the Finnish). The character meets his former commander once more, who now serves in the invading forces.
The following weapons were used in the film Sniper (1931) :
Revolvers Nagant M1895 Most revolvers, seen in the hands of Russian, French, and British officers during WWI, appear to be Russian Nagant M1895s .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Russian Nagant 1895, produced 1920s. The rounded front sight is a sign of revolvers produced from 1890s until 1930 - 7.62x38N Error creating thumbnail: File missing A French officer leads his soldiers in attack with a revolver and a sword in hands. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A British officer holds a revolver during the attack. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A French officer in charge of a firing squad holds a revolver. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Captain (Boris Shlikhting ) holds a Nagant during the battle in the final scene. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Captain is shot by The Soldier. Unidentified revolver In one scene, a British officer is seen with a revolver. This scene is supposed to be documentary footage.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A British officer holds a revolver. Rifles Ross M1910 The Soldier (Pyotr Sobolevsky ) and The Captain (Boris Shlikhting ) both use Ross M1910 rifles with sniper scopes. Standard Ross rifles are also seen in hands of Russian and British soldiers. The moviemakers most likely made use of the large stock of Ross M1910s that were captured during the Russian Civil War and used in the USSR for target shooting in the 1920s and 1930s.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Ross Mk III Model 1910 Error creating thumbnail: File missing A soldier trains with a Ross rifle in sniper school. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A close-up view of the trigger. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Soldier takes a Ross with a sniper scope during training. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Soldier aims. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Ross rifles are seen in the hands of British soldiers. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Russian soldier holds a Ross rifle during close combat. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Soldier cleans his Ross. The bolt is removed and seen on the table next to The Soldier. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Captain fires at Russian soldiers who declined to participate in the war. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Soldier shows the bolt and sniper scope of the Ross to his students at the shooting club. Error creating thumbnail: File missing During the battle in the final scene, one of the civilian volunteers fires a Ross rifle with removed rear sight. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Soldier aims in the final scene. Mauser Gewehr 1898 Imperial German Army soldiers are armed with Mauser Gewehr 1898 rifles. Mauser 98 rifles are also seen in the hands of Triple Entente troops.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Mauser Gewehr 1898 - 7.92x57mm Mauser Error creating thumbnail: File missing The German sniper (Pyotr Kirillov ) leaves his hidden position. He holds a Mauser 98 rifle. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Mauser 98 is seen next to the sniper's body. Note the bolt handle. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A British soldier holds a Mauser 98 rifle during the close combat. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another British soldier with a Mauser 98 in attack. Error creating thumbnail: File missing German soldiers in gas masks attack with Mauser 98 rifles in hands. Mosin Nagant M1891 During the battle in the final scene, Red Army soldiers and civilian volunteers carry Mosin Nagant M1891 Infantry rifles.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Mosin Nagant M1891 Infantry Rifle - 7.62x54mm R Error creating thumbnail: File missing Russian soldiers of the Expeditionary Force carry M91 Infantry rifles. This is incorrect as they were armed in France with French weapons, mostly Berthier rifles . Error creating thumbnail: File missing A civilian volunteer holds an M91 Infantry rifle with early model sights. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another volunteer is armed with an M91 Infantry with M1910 sights. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Red Army soldiers fire Mosin Nagant rifles. Enfield P14 Some Enfield Pattern 14 rifles are also seen in the hands of British soldiers.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Pattern M1914 (P 14) Enfield - .303 UK Error creating thumbnail: File missing What appears to be an Enfield P14 is seen at the left. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another view of the supposed P14 in center. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A British soldier in attack with an Enfield rifle. Winchester Model 1895 A Winchester Model 1895 rifle is seen in the hands of a Russian soldier.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Russian contract Model 1895 in 7.62x54 Russian. Note the loading bridge over the reciever Error creating thumbnail: File missing TOZ-1 During training at the shooting club in 1930, numerous small caliber rifles are seen. They are supposed to be .22 caliber single-shot TOZ-1 rifles that were used in the late 1920s to the early 1930s for basic shooting training, until replaced with the improved TOZ-7.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A drawing of TOZ-1 - .22LR Error creating thumbnail: File missing Five small caliber rifles. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Young men and women at the shooting range. Kropatschek Mle 1884-1885 Rifles that appear to be French Kropatschek Mle 1884-1885 are seen in several scenes.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Portuguese Kropatschek Model 1886 - 8x60mmR. French Kropatschek Mle 1884-1885 in 11mm caliber looks similar. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Soldier (Pyotr Sobolevsky ) in the trenches. The rifle, seen next to him, looks like a Kropatschek. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A French firing squad executes mutineers. The soldiers are armed with rifles that appear to be Kropatschek. Error creating thumbnail: File missing In the scene in 1930, a border guard of the hostile state carries a rifle that also appears to be a Kropatschek. Error creating thumbnail: File missing An enemy soldier fires at a Soviet border guard. Error creating thumbnail: File missing An enemy soldier with a rifle in action. Error creating thumbnail: File missing He reloads. Machine Guns Maxim M1910 Maxim M1910 machine guns are used during the battle in the final scene by both Red Army soldiers and the invading troops.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Maxim 1910, simplified version with smooth water jacket - 7.62x54mmR Error creating thumbnail: File missing An enemy soldier fires his machine gun. Next to him, The Captain (Boris Shlikhting ) is watching with binoculars for the results of the shooting. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A closer view of the muzzle. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Red Army soldiers move a Maxim into position. Error creating thumbnail: File missing They return fire. Maxim-Tokarev In the scene of the attack by the Russian troops in Summer 1917, a Maxim-Tokarev machine gun stands in for a German machine gun.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Maxim-Tokarev light machine gun - 7.62x54mm R Error creating thumbnail: File missing A closer view of the barrel. Other Weapons Flamethrower In one scene, a flamethrower is seen in the hands of a British soldier. It is hard to identify the exact model.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A soldier checks his weapon prior to attack. Livens Projector In one scene, a British soldier loads a Livens Projector mortar with a gas bomb. It could be a genuine weapon, not a mockup (although the bomb is a dummy of course).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A soldier brings a bomb to the projector that is seen in center. 
