This fully updated encyclopedia of rifles and machine guns is an authoritative reference work with two visual directories of the most important historical and contemporary weapons. It explains the development of rifles and machine guns through the centuries, right up to the 21st century. It includes the history of rifles, such as the Lee Enfield, M1 rifle and the HK G3 rifle, and classic machine guns, such as the Hotchkiss, Bren and Maxim. The book introduces readers to the designers and manufacturers who developed the arms, and the materials and technology involved in their production. The directories are grouped according to country and each gun's features are explained alongside the military and technological context in which the weapon was designed.