• Detailed examination of the guns and manufacturers • Fully illustrated with photographs and diagrams • By a world authority on firearms In this companion volume to his Military Rifles of Two World Wars, renowned firearms expert John Walter examines in detail the handguns used by all nations that fought in WWII. He covers the full range from the Walther PPK, Luger and Smith and Wessons to the less well-known Turkish parabellum and Finish Lahti. At the end of the nineteenth century the supremacy of the revolver was being threatened by the semi-automatic pistol, the design that would predominate throughout two world wars and beyond. In this book John Walter provides detailed technical specifications and data for every gun manufactured, and gives a history of its development and use. Every entry is also accompanied by a photograph or technical drawing, and in some cases rare pictures of the guns in combat. John Walter is the author of a number of books including The Greenhill Dictionary of Guns and Gunmakers and The Luger Story.