For nearly 50 years from 1898 the bolt-action rifles produced by Germany's Mauser company played a central role in infantry combat, in the hands of combatants as diverse as the South African Boers, the German armed forces during the world wars and snipers in the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s. Popular among collectors and central to an understanding of small-unit tactics in the 20th century, the iconic Mauser family of rifles has its story told in detail here, supported by specially commissioned full-colour artwork, gripping first-hand accounts and expert analysis.