Red Dead Redemption 2 features over 50 different weapons divided into different categories. Each category has its own specific uses which make them better for certain tasks over the others. The bow, for example, is the weapon to use while hunting, but it’s far from being the best choice when confronting enemies all guns blazing.
We have already covered which weapons are the best, but one wouldn’t be a true outlaw if he or she didn’t try to find all the weapons in Red Dead Redemption 2.
Here, we will list how to obtain each and every one of them and get a good boost on your total completion percentage.
Article Contents
Bow
The bow is one of the weapons that cannot be missed in the game. It is obtained during “The Aftermath of Genesis” mission, where Arthur goes hunting together with Charles. While there’s only one bow type, the different arrow types that can be obtained – Regular, Improved, Small Game, Poison, Fire and Dynamite arrows – alter the weapon’s performance.
Melee Weapons
Antler Knife
The Antler Knife feels like the regular Hunting Knife, making the differences between the two weapons merely aesthetic. The weapon can be found West of Hanging Dog Ranch, above Little Creek River. Upon reaching the ranch, players need to go North-West from the big barn, where they will find a bear carcass. Searching the carcass will reveal the knife.
Broken Pirate Sword
The Broken Pirate Sword doesn’t differ much from the machete regarding stats, but it’s definitely a cool looking weapon. It can be found in a wrecked boat located near the islands south of Saint Denis’ southern bridge.
Civil War Knife
The Civil War Knife is yet another aesthetic variant of the regular Hunting Knife. The weapon is located in the basement of Fort Brennand, South-West of Van Horn. The weapon is on a crate in the basement.
Cleaver
If the other melee weapons feel too tame, the Cleaver is the best one to make a crazy impression on enemies. The weapon can be bought from fences from Chapter 5 onward after completing the “Dear Uncle Tacitus” mission.
Double Bit Hatchet
The Double Bit Hatchet doesn’t differ much from the regular hatchet, so use what you like best. The weapon can be found North-West of Wallace Station, inside a tree stump.
Hatchet
The Hatchet is an OK melee weapon that deals decent damage. It can be purchased from fences from Chapter 5 onward after completing the “Dear Uncle Tacitus” mission.
Hewing Hatchet
Like the Double Bit Hatchet, the differences with the regular Hatchet are only aesthetic. The weapon can be found in a stump located on the southern shore of Moonstone Pond. The pond is found north of Emerald Ranch.
Hunter Hatchet
Another aesthetic variant of the regular Hatchet, the Hunter Hatchet can be found in a stump south of Window Rock, located to the west of Fort Wallace.
Hunting Knife
The Hunting Knife is part of Arthur’s inventory at the beginning of the game and therefore cannot be missed! While the weapon is mostly used to skin dead animals, it can be used to perform stealth kills.
Jawbone Knife
The Jawbone Knife is a variant of the Hunting Knife and has no stats difference with it. It’s obtained by completing the “A Test of Faith” side mission.
Machete
The Machete is a solid melee weapon featuring slightly better range and damage than knives. It can be purchased by fences from Chapter 5 onward, after completing the “Dear Uncle Tartarus” mission.
Rusted Double Bit Hatchet
The Rusted Double Bit Hatchet is yet another aesthetic variant of the regular Hatcher, featuring no stats difference with it. The weapon is found in a stump located in Annesburg.
Rusted Hunter Hatchet
The Rusted Hunter Hatchet is similar to the regular Hatchet, featuring only decorative differences. The weapon is found in a stump close to a shack located between O’Creagh’s Run and Elysian Pool.
Stone Hatchet
The Stone Hatchet is a special weapon that cannot be obtained in Red Dead Redemption 2 directly. It can only be obtained by completing five special Bounty Hunt missions in Grand Theft Auto Online
Viking Hatchet
Yet another variant of the regular Hatchet, the Viking Hatchet is found in a tomb northeast of Beaver Hollow. It may not be all that different from the Hatchet, but bringing the wrath of the Norsemen down on the enemies is sure to bring a different type of satisfaction.
Wide-Blade Knife
The Wide-Blade Knife isn’t different from the Hunting Knife, only featuring some aesthetic differences. It’s found inside Beryl’s Dream Mine,located to the west of Mount Shann.
Pistols
Algernon’s Revolver
The Algernon’s Revolver is one of the unique weapons found in Red Dead Redemption 2 and, as such, it cannot be customized. The weapon is obtained automatically by completing the “Duchess and Other Animals” mission.
Calloway’s Revolver
The Calloway’s Revolver is another unique weapon and it cannot be customized in any way. It can be looted from Jim Calloway, the fifth and final gunslinger of “The Noblest of Men, and a Woman” side mission.
Cattleman Revolver
A staple of the Wild West, the Cattleman Revolver is a reliable, but not particularly powerful revolver. It’s impossible to miss, as it’s part of Arthur’s arsenal since the beginning of the game. An additional Cattleman Revolver can be purchased from any gunsmith if you’d like to dual wield (just remember you’ll need an upgraded holster too).
Double-Action Revolver
The Double-Action Revolver is a weapon featuring a better fire rate compared to other revolvers, thanks to the double-action. It can be purchased from all gunsmiths after completing the “A Strange Kindness” mission in Chapter 2. It can also be obtained in Chapter 3 during a robbery.
Flaco’s Revolver
Flaco’s Revolver is a unique weapon and it cannot be customized in any way. It can be obtained by looting Flaco Hernandez after killing him during “The Noblest of Men, and a Woman” side-mission.
Granger’s Revolver
Granger’s Revolver is yet another unique weapon that cannot be customized. It’s obtained by looting Emmet Granger’s body after winning the duel against him during “The Noblest of Men, and a Woman” mission.
Mauser Pistol
The Mauser Pistol is an excellent pistol, not for its damage, but for its high accuracy, fire rate and reload speed. It can be purchased from the Valentine and Saint Denis gunsmiths from Chapter 5 onward after completing the “That’s Murfee County” mission.
Micah’s Revolver
The signature weapon of the member of the Van der Linde gang is found on Mount Hagen after the “American Venom” mission has been completed. Like other unique weapons, it cannot be customized.
Midnight Pistol
The Midnight Pistol is the gunslinger’s Billy Midnight’s signature weapon, and it can be obtained during “The Noblest of Men, and a Woman” side mission. It cannot be customized.
Otis Miller’s Revolver
The Otis Miller’s Revolver is a unique weapon that cannot be customized. It can be found by taking part in the treasure hunt leading to Rattlesnake Hollow. We have a full guide on the treasure hunt.
Schofield Revolver
The Schofield Revolver is a very solid revolver sporting good damage and the best firing rate for revolvers. It can be purchased by all gunsmiths starting from Chapter 2. It can also be obtained for free by robbing the doctor in Valentine.
Semi-Automatic Pistol
The Semi-Automatic Pistol sports very high fire rate and accuracy. It can be purchased by the gunsmiths in Valentine and Saint Denis after completing the Chapter 4 mission “The Joys of Civilization”.
Volcanic Pistol
The Volcanic Pistol is the highest damaging pistol of the game. It can be purchased from Chapter 2 onward by the gunsmith in Valentine.
Repeaters
Carbine Repeater
The Carbine Repeater is a very solid weapon that deals good damage. Its other stats are quite good as well, making it a good choice in any gunfight. The weapon is obtained during the “Old Friends” mission. It’s also available for purchase by any gunsmith.
Lancaster Repeater
The Lancaster Repeater is a considerably worse repeater than the Carbine Repeater, being inferior to it in all areas except fire rate. It can be purchased by any gunsmith from Chapter 2 onward after completing the “An American Pastoral Scene” mission.
Litchfield Repeater
The Litchfield Repeater is the most damaging repeater of the game, but also the less accurate. It’s obtained after completing the “Goodbye, Dear Friend” mission in Chapter 6. The weapon also becomes purchasable by any gunsmith after the mission has been completed.
Shotguns
Double-Barreled Shotgun
The Double-Barreled Shotgun is a solid shotgun sporting better fire-rate, range, and accuracy than other similar weapons. It can be purchased by gunsmiths after the Chapter 2 mission “Paying a Social Call” has been completed.
Pump-Action Shotgun
The Pump-Action shotgun is a reliable weapon to have during any short-range shootout, sporting good damage but low range. It can be purchased by any gunsmith after completing the “Pouring Forth Oil” mission in Chapter 2.
Rare Shotgun
The Rare Shotgun resembles the Double-Barreled Shotgun, sporting similar stats. It’s the unique weapon of the Hermit and, as such, it cannot be customized. To obtain it, players have to kill the Hermit, who’s located in a cabin found northeast of Rhodes.
Repeating Shotgun
The Repeating Shotgun is a powerful shotgun also sporting fast reload speed and high fire rate. It can be purchased by all gunsmiths after completing the “Visiting Hours” mission in Chapter 6.
Sawed-Off Shotgun
The Sawed-Off Shotgun is an extremely powerful shotgun that can be dual-wielded together with another revolver or pistol. It’s obtained automatically during “The Aftermath of Genesis” mission. An additional one can be purchased by any gunsmith from Chapter 2 onward.
Semi-Auto Shotgun
The Semi-Auto Shotgun can be a handy weapon thanks to good fire-rate and reload speed. The weapon can be purchased from all gunsmiths from Chapter 4 onward after completing the “A Fine Night in Debauchery” mission.
Rifles
Bolt-Action Rifle
The Bolt-Action Rifle has extremely good range, reload time and fire rate, making it one of the best rifles to use against multiple enemies. It’s obtained automatically during the “Preaching Forgiveness as He Went” mission in Chapter 3.
Carcano Rifle
The Carcano Rifle is one of the best rifles of the game, sporting high damage, range, and accuracy. It becomes available for purchase by all gunsmiths after completing the “Goodbye, Dear Friend” mission in Chapter 6.
Rare Rolling Block Rifle
Another excellent choice for long range confrontations thanks to its excellent range, accuracy and damage, the Rare Rolling Block Rifle can be picked up at the end of the “Magicians for Sport” mission in Chapter 3. The weapon is by the sniper and it has to be picked up without leaving the area, as doing so will make it disappear forever.
Rolling Block Rifle
The Rolling Block Rifle and Rare Rolling Block Rifle are pretty similar weapons, so either is good for fighting enemies from a greater distance. It can be purchased by any gunsmith after completing the Chapter 2 mission “Pouring Forth Oil”.
Springfield Rifle
The Springfield Rifle is a standard rifle sporting good damage, range and accuracy but bad fire rate and reload speed. It can be purchased by all gunsmiths right from Chapter 2.
Varmint Rifle
The Varmint Rifle is probably the worst rifle for fighting enemies, as its damage output is the lowest of all rifles. Low damage, however, makes it a good choice for hunting. It can be purchased by all gunsmiths from Chapter 2 onward.
Throwing Weapons
Throwing Knife
A common throwable weapon, the Throwing Knife doesn’t excel in any particular area, but it’s useful for long-range stealth kills. It can be purchased by fences after completing the “Paying a Social Call” mission in Chapter 2.
Improved Throwing Knife
The Improved Throwing Knife is an enhanced version of the regular Throwing Knife, sporting improved damage, range, and accuracy. They can only be crafted at camp with Flight Feathers, which are obtained by hunting eagles and hawks.
Poison Throwing Knife
The Poison Throwing Knife is an improvement over the regular Throwing Knife, as it deals more damage and poisons the enemy. The weapon is obtained through crafting, mixing a Throwing Knife with Oleander Sage.
Tomahawk
The Tomahawk deals slightly better damage than the Throwing Knife, but it’s used in pretty much the same type of situations. It can be purchased by fences after completing the “Americans at Rest” mission in Chapter 2.
Improved Tomahawk
An improved version of the regular Tomahawk, it sports better damage compared to the regular weapon. It can only be crafted at camp, requiring Eagle or Hawk Feathers.
Ancient Tomahawk
The Ancient Tomahawk is a variant of the regular Tomahawk, with just some aesthetic differences. It is found east of the Wapiti Indian Reservation.
Homing Tomahawk
The Homing Tomahawk is the best Tomahawk variant in the game, sporting very good damage and better accuracy. It can only be obtained through crafting, requiring Owl Feathers.
Dynamite
Dynamite is extremely powerful, and it can be used as a throwable weapon to dispose of enemies quickly. It can be purchased by all fences after completing the “Who the Hell is Leviticus Cornwall” mission.
Fire Bottle
Fire Bottles are throwable weapons that can be used to engulf an enemy or location in flames. They can be crafted while resting at a camp or purchased by fences after “The Fine Joys of Tobacco” mission in Chapter 3 has been completed.
Volatile Fire Bottle
Volatile Fire Bottles are much better than regular ones, dealing way more damage and sporting better flames spread. They can be obtained through crafting by combining Fire Bottles with Moonshine. The recipe for the Volatile Fire Bottle is found to the northwest of Horseshoe Outlook, close to a bush fire.
You can inspect the site and also a locked box. Pry open the locked box to find the recipe pamphlet, coffee brew, and a gold nugget. Read the pamphlet from your Satchel to learn the recipe.