This book provides a clear and concise breakdown of 500 handguns and submachine guns from all over the world, including early designs and those being deployed today. The weapons are grouped into two directories: pistols and revolvers, then submachine guns. Both are organixed by country of manufacture, covering the globe from china to CzechRepublic and the United States to Egypt. For each weapon, there is an expert summary of the gun's development, its use in battle or defence, and its subsequent popularity or phasing out. The entries each have a quick-glance statistics box, showing their technical information. Clear and vivid photography of the weapons completes each entry, giving fun enthusiasts a complete, illustrative guide for easy reference. - A colorful and expertly written directory of small arms, fully illustrated with more than 500 specially-commissioned photographs and diagrams - Specification boxes show the calibre, magazine capacity, action, length and weight of each weapon - Features well-known and more unusual weapons, including Demark's famous Walther MPK; the "world's most powerful revolver" from Smith and Wesson; and the Wild West's Colt 45 - Entries are grouped according to country of manufacture, with information about their development and use, and explanations for their popularity or decline