An illustrated historical guide to over 500 military, law enforcement and antique firearms. This fully updated encyclopedia of small arms is an authoritative reference work with two superb visual directories. The introductory section details the history of arms development looking at the origins of firearms, beginning with gunpowders and carrying through matchlocks, wheel-locks and flintlocks, culminating in an assessment of today's modern handguns and submachine guns. The main part of the book is made up of two directories of the world's most important small guns, from the Colt .45 and the Lanchester to the Barrett Mx4 Storm submachine gun. Grouped according to country of origin, the entries focus on the features of each gun and the military context in which it was developed. Special information boxes accompany each entry with specifications such as calibre, magazine capacity, barrel length and unloaded weight.