In 15th century Europe, the battlefields were rife with inaccurate weapons; canons and muskets often missed their targets completely and needed to be cleaned after each shot. Soldiers began to experiment with grooved barrels, which required less cleaning and had the added benefit of hitting targets with greater precision. These ?rifled� barrels quickly caught on, and the rifle was born. Rifles explores how rifles changed over time, and how the requirements of the battlefield brought about new developments, including the advent of the semi-automatic rifle during WWI. Filled with over 200 full-color photographs of rifles, this artful book showcases beautiful antique models as well as extreme modern weapons. See all of the rifles made by top manufacturers, including Browning, Marlin Firearms, Winchester, Ruger, and Remington. Learn about different action types, including bold-action, pump-action, and semi-automatic rifles. It also includes helpful information about safe handling and storage solutions for gun owners.