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 in mere seconds. 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, Huntsmen combine the brute force of the weapons themselves with effects like object enchantment and elemental attacks such as weather and nature manipulation.

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 citizens 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.

Li Ren's Bow


Li Ren was the father of Lie Ren and a resident of Kuroyuri. He and his bow appeared in the episode "Kuroyuri". He was a hunter that gathered food for the city and used a bow. He used the bow when the Nuckelavee and other Grimm attacked the city. He faced the Nuckelavee, but it was ineffective and he was killed. Years later one of his arrows was found by Ren and Nora in the Nuckelavee's cave.

The bow is green, brown and gold and shares the aesthetic that Li, An and Ren all have. The arrow resembles a fleur-de-lis.

Li Ren's Dagger
Lie Ren used a dagger passed down from his father, Li Ren, when the Nuckelavee attacked Kuroyuri.

The dagger is small and curved, with a dark green handle and a red grip. It has a very specific silhouette that Ren incorporated into his own weapons Stormflower

The dagger was used by the hunter Li Ren. When he was injured in the Grimm attack on Kuroyuri, he rescued his son from their collapsed house and gave him the dagger to protect himself before being confronted and killed by the Nuckelavee. During the travels through Anima, Ren carried the dagger in his boot. When faced with the monster that took his parents Ren used the dagger to deliver the finishing blow to the Grimm. When the group arrived to Atlas, Ren started carrying the dagger in a sheath on his shoulder.

The dagger appears in "Kuroyuri" and "No Safe Haven".

Shay's Pistol
Shay D. Mann is a member of the Branwen bandit tribe and uses a pistol cobbled together from different parts.

The revolver appears to have been damaged multiple times as it has scratches all over and is partially held together by bits of wire. The handle has knuckle guards and the bottom features a blade for melee combat. The entire handle section is held together with string and wire.

The pistol has a tendency to jam, which happened when he attacked Yang Xiao Long with some other bandits.

Dee's Club
Dee was a huntsman seen in "Argus Limited" that worked on the Argus Limited train. He used a large club that was able to expand, spin and generate electricity. The weapon was ineffective against the fast, flying Manticores which lead to his death at their claws.

The club resembles the Japanese Kanabō club.

Dudley's Rifle
Dudley is a a huntsman seen in "Argus Limited" that worked on the Argus Limited train. His weapon of choice was a rifle and he used it to defend the train against the Manticores.

Firearms

 * 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.
 * Revolver Knife - Shay D. Mann uses a revolver with a knife strapped on it in "Lighting the Fire".
 * 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.

Bladed weapons

 * 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"

Polearms

 * 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".
 * Kunai - Used by a mercenary in Mistral (WoR episode).

Other

 * Flail - A "ball-and-chain" was used by a Vytal Festival Tournament contestant from Atlas in "Vytal Festival Tournament".

Artillery

 * Chaingun - The Atlesian Dropship is equipped with chin-mounted Gatling cannons.
 * Cannons - The Ship has port cannons and a heavy cannon for dealing with Grimm out at sea.
 * Turrets - Used by the Argus Limited as a defense against Grimm.
 * Atlesian Beam Turret - Developed by Atlas after the Fall of Beacon.
 * Atlesian Burrow Gun - Developed by Atlas after the Fall of Beacon
 * Dust Cannon - The right arm of the Colossus.
 * Missle Laucher - On the Colossus' right arm.

RWBY Chibi

 * Kitten Killer 9000 - Used by Cinder's Faction in RWBY Chibi.
 * Death Ray - Used by Neo and Roman Torchwick in "Roman's Revenge", the 20th episode 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.