A carbine from France, a long gun with a barrel shorter than a rifle or rifle. Many carbines are shortened versions of full-length rifles that can fire the same ammunition, while other carbines can fire less powerful ammunition, including ammunition designed specifically for pistols.

The smaller size and lighter weight of carbines make them easier to operate. They are usually sent to highly mobile units such as special forces soldiers and paratroopers, as well as to people who do not need rifles in bulk, artillery, logistics or other areas, although this trend is increasingly being used to issue carbines to front-line soldiers to offset the increase in the weight of other issued equipment. The U.S. Army's M4 carbine is an example. It's standard equipment.

Carbines were originally developed as lighter, shortened weapons for cavalry. The carbines are short enough to be loaded and fired from the horse's back, but they rarely do so - moving horses are very unstable platforms, and once stopped, soldiers can load and fire more easily if they dismount, which also makes them smaller targets (Napoleon's and early cavalry did fight from the horse's back, but they used sabres and Muzzles Large pistols are called because their large size means they are the easiest to fit in saddle holster, just like the colt Walker revolvers later on. After the Napoleonic War, cavalry began to dismount and fight, using horses only to improve mobility, which is now known as the early form of mechanized infantry. After the civil war, cavalry became the main rule. The main advantage of carbines is that their length makes them very portable. If you only ride from a to B, the unit can carry rifles long enough on the horse's back (this is the practice of primitive dragoons and other infantry). The proper cavalry (the "horse regiment") must be agile, and must wave swords or chase infantry with the opposing cavalry, so carrying anything for a long time can be dangerous. Carbines are usually nothing more than jacketed sabres, which can be hung on the elbows and legs of a rider just like jacketed sabres.