Weapon

Just weapons? They're an extension of ourselves! They're a part of us! Oh, they're so cool.

The weapons of various characters in RWBY are used to fight enemies and monsters throughout Remnant.

Most often, they are based on real-life weapons, but they can be combined with other weapons or given additional features to increase their versatility and effectiveness in combat.

Transformations
Though standard weapons exist, the majority of weapons shown in RWBY are usually designed to be transformable, using a foldable frame - a framework capable of shifting various sections to change the weapon from one form into another. Weapons with a foldable frame possess two or more selected forms, and the wielder is capable of freely swapping between each weapon state depending on their needs.

Typically, such weapons would have both a melee state and a ranged combat state, but are not necessarily limited to those specific types of attacks while in each state. Weapons can also have an inactive state known as a "sheathed" form, locking and securing the weapon while outside of combat, similar to the safety catch of a firearm. For example, Crescent Rose and Ember Celica shrink down to be holstered and carried easily, while Crocea Mors and Gambol Shroud both have separate sheaths to make them easy to carry.

Dust


Some weapons are shown to be fueled by Dust for a more "magical" style of combat. By doing so, effects like object enchantment and weather and nature manipulation are used in combination with brute force.

All of the known weapons incorporate Dust into their designs, either by utilizing Dust into an attack, as seen with Myrtenaster, or using Dust in the form of bullets or ammunition. It is implied that all "firearms" in Remnant use Dust ammunition.

Personalization
These weapons, while all but impossible to create in reality, seem to be moderately easy to construct for the denizens of Remnant. Ruby had to design and build her weapon during her time at Signal Academy, and she expressed surprise at Jaune Arc for not making his own, indicating this is a common practice among future Huntsmen in Remnant.

Other Weapons

 * Handgun - Handguns used by the Henchmen, Vale Police Department detectives, White Fang Goons, Atlesian soldiers and the representation of the Atlas in the World of Remnant episode "Vytal Festival Tournament".
 * Tommy Gun - The standard firearm wielded by the DJ in Junior's Club.
 * Red-gray rifle- Briefly used by a Henchman in "Ruby Rose" and also used by White Fang Goons.
 * Rifle - Standard issue for the Atlesian military. Used by the Atlesian Knight-200 series in "Breach". Also seen slung over the backs of Atlesian soldiers.
 * Swords - Used by White Fang Goons, Atlesian soldiers, the representation of Vale in the "Vytal Festival Tournament", a yellow and four gray figures representing huntsman in "Huntsmen".
 * Fire Sword - Mentioned by Ruby in "The Shining Beacon" as being wielded by an unseen Beacon Academy student.
 * Sickle sword - Used by White Fang member in "Battle of Beacon".
 * Axes and red swords - The various weapons wielded by the Henchmen.
 * A large two-handed double-bladed axe wielded by a neutral huntsman in "Huntsman"
 * Staves - Used by Vytal Festival Tournament contestants in "Vytal Festival Tournament".
 * Collapsible Staff - Mentioned by Ruby in "The Shining Beacon" as being wielded by an unseen Beacon Academy student.
 * Spears - Used by Vytal Festival Tournament contestants and the representation of Vacuo in "Vytal Festival Tournament".
 * Flail - Used by a Vytal Festival Tournament contestant from Atlas in "Vytal Festival Tournament".
 * Kitten Killer 9000 - Used by Cinder's Faction In RWBY Chibi.
 * Death Ray - Used by Neopolitan and Roman Torchwick in Episode 20 of RWBY Chibi.

Trivia

 * When asked by a fan at the RTX 2013 RWBY Panel if there were going to be any weapons that would not double as a gun, Kerry Shawcross asked why they would want that, and then the panel continued on to state that they should actually create a "Gun-Gun".
 * There is an entire weapons magazine that seems to be dedicated on articles regarding weapons, of which Ruby is apparently a fan, as she read through Issue 228 at From Dust Till Dawn.