Karabin

Karabin is a short-barreled shoulder-fired firearm derived from a rifle. The term, used in many languages including Polish, describes a weapon designed for greater mobility than a full-length rifle while preserving firepower. The name traces to the French carabine, itself from earlier names for light firearms carried by cavalry.

Historically, carbines emerged for mounted troops and skirmishers in the early modern period. With improvements in metallurgy and cartridges, they evolved from light personal weapons into standardized shorter variants of service rifles. In the 19th and 20th centuries the category broadened to include shortened versions of battle rifles, as well as specialized firearms for police, scouts, and paratroopers. In modern use, many carbines are chambered for intermediate rifle cartridges and may be semi-automatic or select-fire.

Design and use: A carbine typically has a shorter barrel and overall length, lighter weight, and often a reduced sight radius. The compact size enhances maneuverability in restrictive spaces, vehicle operations, and close-quarters combat, while retaining much of the effective range of a full rifle. Modern carbines may feature accessory rails, telescoping stocks, and various optics. They are common in military, policing, and civilian markets, in both military surplus and contemporary civilian sporting configurations.

Notable examples include the M1 Carbine of World War II fame and various carbine variants of the AR-15/M16 family, as well as Kalashnikov-based carbine designs and other short rifles. The term also encompasses civilian and law-enforcement carbines that share the same lineage and design philosophy.

Carbines remain a flexible option where balance between portability and firepower is needed; regulations regarding ownership and use vary by country.