This study of small arms and ammunition in all major armies of the world was a survey of the competition at a time when the British Army was still in a transitional stage of switching to the Martini Henry, a prototype of the rifle that dominated early 20th century warfare. European development in the 1880s was rapidly leading to bolt action rifles (such as the German Dreyse and Mausers and the French Chassepot and Gras rifles) whilst the US was still wedded to the single shot Remington, despite the success of lever action weapons (such as the Winchester and the Spencer). Waiting In the wings...