Death in Their Hands

No matter what their orders might be, in the forefront of every soldier's mind is the desire to survive. In modern times, nothing has been appreciated more in desperate situations than the pistol.

Of all hand weapons, it is the rifle that has seen the greatest technological advances, as this episode demonstrates. From the times when rifles were little more than cannons on sticks to the era of the ultra-high powered snipers rifles. The programme also looks at the Brown Bess, the Martini Henri, The Lee Enfield, the Springfield and the Carbine.

The firearm, the most important weapon over the last 500 years, has attracted more than its share of attention and has inspired countless of inventors to improve every aspect of its performance. Nothing has motivated inventors more than the overwhelming desire to increase the firearms rate of fire - this is the story assault weapons.

For some 500 years following the invention of the gun, the rate at which one could fire has been limited by the time it takes to reload. With the invention of the machine gun, a gun's rate of fire went from two or three shots per minute to 100 shots per second.

As seemingly indestructible tanks began to devastate war fields, weapons needed to be developed to support the nearly defenseless infantry.

To be one step ahead of your enemy in terms of the arms your soldiers carry can mean the difference between victory and destruction. The arms race has existed since the beginning of war and has consistently changed the face of society.