Just recently, I bought Fallout, Fallout 2, and Fallout: Tactics (although I've had Fallout 3 for my Xbox since february). I noticed a lot of real-world, present-day weapons in Tactics and Fallout 2. I've also read on this wiki that those weapons are considered cannonically incorrect due to the alternate timeline. However, is it possible that many of our present day weapons WERE developed in the alternate timeline? Or is it assumed that because of the divergence NOTHING could have happened the same way as it did in our universe? I pick the former. Not to mention, some things surely did occur in both timelines.
Although I can't say the Korean war DID happen in the fallout universe, there is no evidence to suggest it didn't. And with that occuring fairly shortly after the timeline divergance, it could be very likely that it did. In the real world, the use of human-wave tactics by the Chinese prompted the development of the Claymore mine in the US. So, it could be argued that it is very likely the Claymore existed in the Fallout universe.
Likewise, what about the M-14? It was a development of the M1, which did exist in the alternate timeline, due to the fact that the M1 Garand existed before the divergence.
Wouldn't the same basic needs for a combat soldier be the same in either universe? What would suggest that instead of inventing a new gun, the military did not do the same thing it did in our universe, and chose to further develop the Garand? Maybe these issues are because I tend to think that while many, many things did change, not every person would have been so totally affected by it that he would not take the same actions he did in our universe, such as inventing a particular gun.
I would think that almost every weapon developed in the 1950's in our universe was in developed in the Fallout universe. This would include such prolific weapons as the AKM (a much more numerous improvement on the AK-47 design; most "AK-47"s are actually AKMs) and the M16 (which wasn't adopted until the 1960s, by which time the differences from our universe and teh fallout universe would have been much more apparent; the weapon was developed in teh 50's, however). Developed in the 1960's, the Hekler & Koch MP5 was developed from the G3, which did exist in the Fallout Universe (as evidenced by a derivitive in Fallout 3). Wouldn't it therefore be likely that the MP5 existed in the Fallout Universe as well? And wouldn't its reliablity make it prevelant even into the time of the Great War (suggested by the numbers of the weapon still around in our universe; if it was developed in the Fallout universe, wouldn't sufficent numbers have survived into the future?). Perhaps I'm crazy, but I do think its worth mentioning that many of our real world weapons would be in the fallout world. I know I'm probably YEARS late to join what was once probably a spirited arguement, but I've been thinking about all this for some time.
Although it is worth mentioning that weapons like the Desert Eagle may not have been developed...but perhaps a similar .44 magnum automatic was.
Mobius 22 23:23, 30 June 2009 (UTC)
Interesting question as to whether or not Israel exists in the divergent timeline. As for your question, there is no guarantee that the only divergence was post-WWII. There could have been smaller changes that took place in prior years without drastically changing the timeline.
Having said that, you're talking about weapons from 200-250 years in the past. How many functioning muskets from 1750 are hanging around in the modern era, and how many would there be if large swathes of the country were nuked tomorrow? My guess is that the weapons that exist are made from 21st century ultratech materials based on SCIENCE! They are designed to be durable and simple to use, but are made of tougher stuff than modern firearms. They also seem to be standardized on a much smaller set of calibers than in the real world, possibly due to centralized production. DreadPirateMurphy 21:03, 23 July 2009 (UTC)
First, Israel did exist, check the timeline for Tel Aviv, which was destroyed by a terrorist (i.e. Palestinian) nuclear weapon. Second, the weapon question. Mobius, while you do raise a few interesting questions, the discussion is pretty much moot, as the year tech development stopped in the Fallout world was 2077, what's more, tech development is constrained by the aesthetic - retrofuturistic, based on 1950s pulp scifi and tech. It's reasonable to assume that weapons in the 1950s, maybe 1960s have developed the same as in our timeline, however, it's more than likely that more modern guns, from the 1970s and 1980s did not.
Look at existing Fallout weapons. While in our world, the tendency is towards synthetic materials and lightweight metals, the firearms, big guns and energy weapons have one thing in common - they are heavy. Wood and metal, not composites and alloys. Many of the modern weapons in Fallout 2 and Fallout Tactics are taken directly from our reality and jammed into Fallout's world, not fitting in.
Which brings me back to my original point. The year was 2077. Our designs would already be dated, 80, 90, 100 years old. Tell me, just how many Winchester carbines, Mauser '98 bolt action rifles or Thompson M1928s are in widespread use nowadays, eh? 
Tagaziel (call!) 22:41, 23 July 2009 (UTC)
Actually, the bigger weapons in Fallout 3 are pretty light. The minigun is the obvious example, even ignoring the magical weightless ammunition. But other weapons are ALSO lighter than in real life. The assault rifle weighs 7 lbs. According to Wikipedia, the real life G3 weighs about 10 lbs., depending on the version. The AR15, made with synthetics, is listed as "5.5-8.5 lbs.," presumably based upon manufacturer, barrel length, and kit. That suggests that the in-game weapon would be made with synthetics. The weight deviance seems to go up the larger the weapon. Loaded weight for a broomhandle Mauser or even a Beretta M92 is actually about 3 lbs., like in the game. Likely, this is for purposes of playability. Who would bother to use the missile launcher if it really required a two or three man team to transport and/or operate? DreadPirateMurphy 14:30, 24 July 2009 (UTC)