In the decades following World War I, the standard battle rifle used by armies around the world had been growing shorter, either by redesign or by the general issue of carbine versions instead of full-length rifles.
Beberapa dekade sebelum Perang Dunia I, senapan standar yang digunakan angkatan bersenjata di dunia memiliki ukuran lebih pendek karena didesain ulang atau banyaknya versi karabin yang dibagikan ketimbang senapan laras panjang.