There often was a shortage of rifles and other weapons for the Republic. Put another way, there was often more men willing to fight than weapons to equip them. The reasons for this are diverse, but it is enough for gameplay that it was the case (especially early in the War) that squads and platoons of men were equipped with only grenades and/or pistols, with an odd rifle picked up from their dead comrades.*
*
Grenaderos are different from Dinamiteros; Grenaderos used explosives because there were no rifles for them, but there was a surplus of grenades. Dinamiteros used explosives because they were expert in their use.*
*
Militia groups also were sometimes armed only with grenades, again because of a lack of rifles.