diff --git a/src/SharpCompress/Archives/ArchiveFactory.cs b/src/SharpCompress/Archives/ArchiveFactory.cs
index 76c0f642..8bb8f3f3 100644
--- a/src/SharpCompress/Archives/ArchiveFactory.cs
+++ b/src/SharpCompress/Archives/ArchiveFactory.cs
@@ -15,6 +15,36 @@ namespace SharpCompress.Archives
 {
     public static class ArchiveFactory
     {
+        private static readonly HashSet<IArchiveFactory> archiveFactories;
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Gets the collection of registered archive factories
+        /// </summary>
+        public static IReadOnlyCollection<IArchiveFactory> Factories => archiveFactories;
+
+        static ArchiveFactory()
+        {
+            archiveFactories = new HashSet<IArchiveFactory>();
+
+            RegisterFactory(new Zip.ZipArchiveFactory());
+            RegisterFactory(new Rar.RarArchiveFactory());
+            RegisterFactory(new SevenZip.SevenZipArchiveFactory());
+            RegisterFactory(new GZip.GZipArchiveFactory());
+            RegisterFactory(new Tar.TarArchiveFactory());
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Registers an archive factory.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="factory">The factory to register.</param>
+        /// <exception cref="ArgumentNullException"><paramref name="factory"/> must not be null.</exception>
+        public static void RegisterFactory(IArchiveFactory factory)
+        {
+            factory.CheckNotNull(nameof(factory));
+
+            archiveFactories.Add(factory);
+        }
+
         /// <summary>
         /// Opens an Archive for random access
         /// </summary>
@@ -28,28 +58,10 @@ namespace SharpCompress.Archives
             {
                 throw new ArgumentException("Stream should be readable and seekable");
             }
+
             readerOptions ??= new ReaderOptions();
 
-            ArchiveType? type;
-            IsArchive(stream, out type); //test and reset stream position
-
-            if (type != null)
-            {
-                switch (type.Value)
-                {
-                    case ArchiveType.Zip:
-                        return ZipArchive.Open(stream, readerOptions);
-                    case ArchiveType.SevenZip:
-                        return SevenZipArchive.Open(stream, readerOptions);
-                    case ArchiveType.GZip:
-                        return GZipArchive.Open(stream, readerOptions);
-                    case ArchiveType.Rar:
-                        return RarArchive.Open(stream, readerOptions);
-                    case ArchiveType.Tar:
-                        return TarArchive.Open(stream, readerOptions);
-                }
-            }
-            throw new InvalidOperationException("Cannot determine compressed stream type. Supported Archive Formats: Zip, GZip, Tar, Rar, 7Zip, LZip");
+            return FindArchiveFactory(stream).Open(stream, readerOptions);
         }
 
         public static IWritableArchive Create(ArchiveType type)
@@ -84,29 +96,7 @@ namespace SharpCompress.Archives
             fileInfo.CheckNotNull(nameof(fileInfo));
             options ??= new ReaderOptions { LeaveStreamOpen = false };
 
-            ArchiveType? type;
-            using (Stream stream = fileInfo.OpenRead())
-            {
-                IsArchive(stream, out type); //test and reset stream position
-
-                if (type != null)
-                {
-                    switch (type.Value)
-                    {
-                        case ArchiveType.Zip:
-                            return ZipArchive.Open(fileInfo, options);
-                        case ArchiveType.SevenZip:
-                            return SevenZipArchive.Open(fileInfo, options);
-                        case ArchiveType.GZip:
-                            return GZipArchive.Open(fileInfo, options);
-                        case ArchiveType.Rar:
-                            return RarArchive.Open(fileInfo, options);
-                        case ArchiveType.Tar:
-                            return TarArchive.Open(fileInfo, options);
-                    }
-                }
-            }
-            throw new InvalidOperationException("Cannot determine compressed stream type. Supported Archive Formats: Zip, GZip, Tar, Rar, 7Zip");
+            return FindArchiveFactory(fileInfo).Open(fileInfo, options);
         }
 
         /// <summary>
@@ -124,31 +114,10 @@ namespace SharpCompress.Archives
             if (files.Length == 1)
                 return Open(fileInfo, options);
 
-
             fileInfo.CheckNotNull(nameof(fileInfo));
             options ??= new ReaderOptions { LeaveStreamOpen = false };
 
-            ArchiveType? type;
-            using (Stream stream = fileInfo.OpenRead())
-                IsArchive(stream, out type); //test and reset stream position
-
-            if (type != null)
-            {
-                switch (type.Value)
-                {
-                    case ArchiveType.Zip:
-                        return ZipArchive.Open(files, options);
-                    case ArchiveType.SevenZip:
-                        return SevenZipArchive.Open(files, options);
-                    case ArchiveType.GZip:
-                        return GZipArchive.Open(files, options);
-                    case ArchiveType.Rar:
-                        return RarArchive.Open(files, options);
-                    case ArchiveType.Tar:
-                        return TarArchive.Open(files, options);
-                }
-            }
-            throw new InvalidOperationException("Cannot determine compressed stream type. Supported Archive Formats: Zip, GZip, Tar, Rar, 7Zip");
+            return FindArchiveFactory(fileInfo).Open(fileInfos, options);
         }
 
         /// <summary>
@@ -159,36 +128,18 @@ namespace SharpCompress.Archives
         public static IArchive Open(IEnumerable<Stream> streams, ReaderOptions? options = null)
         {
             streams.CheckNotNull(nameof(streams));
-            if (streams.Count() == 0)
+            Stream[] streamsArray = streams.ToArray();
+            if (streamsArray.Length == 0)
                 throw new InvalidOperationException("No streams");
-            if (streams.Count() == 1)
-                return Open(streams.First(), options);
-
+            Stream firstStream = streamsArray[0];
+            if (streamsArray.Length == 1)
+                return Open(firstStream, options);
 
+            firstStream.CheckNotNull(nameof(firstStream));
             options ??= new ReaderOptions();
 
-            ArchiveType? type;
-            using (Stream stream = streams.First())
-                IsArchive(stream, out type); //test and reset stream position
-
-            if (type != null)
-            {
-                switch (type.Value)
-                {
-                    case ArchiveType.Zip:
-                        return ZipArchive.Open(streams, options);
-                    case ArchiveType.SevenZip:
-                        return SevenZipArchive.Open(streams, options);
-                    case ArchiveType.GZip:
-                        return GZipArchive.Open(streams, options);
-                    case ArchiveType.Rar:
-                        return RarArchive.Open(streams, options);
-                    case ArchiveType.Tar:
-                        return TarArchive.Open(streams, options);
-                }
-            }
-            throw new InvalidOperationException("Cannot determine compressed stream type. Supported Archive Formats: Zip, GZip, Tar, Rar, 7Zip");
-        }
+            return FindArchiveFactory(firstStream).Open(streamsArray, options);            
+        }        
 
         /// <summary>
         /// Extract to specific directory, retaining filename
@@ -203,6 +154,44 @@ namespace SharpCompress.Archives
             }
         }
 
+        private static IArchiveFactory FindArchiveFactory(FileInfo finfo)
+        {
+            finfo.CheckNotNull(nameof(finfo));
+            using (Stream stream = finfo.OpenRead())
+            {
+                return FindArchiveFactory(stream);
+            }
+        }
+
+        private static IArchiveFactory FindArchiveFactory(Stream stream)
+        {
+            stream.CheckNotNull(nameof(stream));
+            if (!stream.CanRead || !stream.CanSeek)
+            {
+                throw new ArgumentException("Stream should be readable and seekable");
+            }
+
+            long startPosition = stream.Position;
+
+            foreach (var factory in Factories)
+            {
+                stream.Seek(startPosition, SeekOrigin.Begin);
+
+                if (factory.IsArchive(stream))
+                {
+                    stream.Seek(startPosition, SeekOrigin.Begin);
+
+                    return factory;
+                }
+            }
+
+            var extensions = Factories
+                .Select(item => item.Name)
+                .Aggregate((a, b) => a + ", " + b);
+
+            throw new InvalidOperationException($"Cannot determine compressed stream type. Supported Archive Formats: {extensions}");
+        }
+
         public static bool IsArchive(string filePath, out ArchiveType? type)
         {
             filePath.CheckNotNullOrEmpty(nameof(filePath));
diff --git a/src/SharpCompress/Archives/GZip/GZipArchiveFactory.cs b/src/SharpCompress/Archives/GZip/GZipArchiveFactory.cs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0d52d6ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/SharpCompress/Archives/GZip/GZipArchiveFactory.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.IO;
+using System.Linq;
+
+using SharpCompress.Readers;
+
+namespace SharpCompress.Archives.GZip
+{
+    public class GZipArchiveFactory : IArchiveFactory
+    {
+        /// <inheritdoc/>
+        public string Name => "GZip";
+
+        /// <inheritdoc/>
+        public IEnumerable<string> GetSupportedExtensions()
+        {
+            yield return "gz";
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc/>
+        public bool IsArchive(Stream stream, string? password = null)
+        {
+            return GZipArchive.IsGZipFile(stream);
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc/>
+        public IArchive Open(Stream stream, ReaderOptions? readerOptions = null)
+        {
+            return GZipArchive.Open(stream, readerOptions);
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc/>
+        public IArchive Open(FileInfo fileInfo, ReaderOptions? readerOptions = null)
+        {
+            return GZipArchive.Open(fileInfo, readerOptions);
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc/>
+        public IArchive Open(IEnumerable<Stream> streams, ReaderOptions? readerOptions = null)
+        {
+            return GZipArchive.Open(streams, readerOptions);
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc/>
+        public IArchive Open(IEnumerable<FileInfo> fileInfos, ReaderOptions? readerOptions = null)
+        {
+            return GZipArchive.Open(fileInfos, readerOptions);
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/SharpCompress/Archives/IArchiveFactory.cs b/src/SharpCompress/Archives/IArchiveFactory.cs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5674307d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/SharpCompress/Archives/IArchiveFactory.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.IO;
+
+using SharpCompress.Common;
+using SharpCompress.Readers;
+
+namespace SharpCompress.Archives
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Represents a factory used to identify and open archives.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <remarks>
+    /// Currently implemented by:<br/>
+    /// <list type="table">
+    /// <item><see cref="Tar.TarArchiveFactory"/></item>
+    /// <item><see cref="Rar.RarArchiveFactory"/></item>
+    /// <item><see cref="Zip.ZipArchiveFactory"/></item>
+    /// <item><see cref="GZip.GZipArchiveFactory"/></item>
+    /// <item><see cref="SevenZip.SevenZipArchiveFactory"/></item>
+    /// </list>
+    /// </remarks>
+    public interface IArchiveFactory
+    {
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Gets the archive Type name
+        /// </summary>
+        string Name { get; }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// returns the extensions typically used by this archive type.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <returns></returns>
+        IEnumerable<string> GetSupportedExtensions();
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Returns true if the stream represents an archive of the format defined by this type.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="stream"></param>
+        /// /// <param name="password">optional password</param>
+        bool IsArchive(Stream stream, string? password = null);
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Opens an Archive for random access.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="stream">An open, readable and seekable stream.</param>
+        /// <param name="readerOptions">reading options.</param>
+        IArchive Open(Stream stream, ReaderOptions? readerOptions = null);
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Constructor with a FileInfo object to an existing file.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="fileInfo">the file to open.</param>
+        /// <param name="readerOptions">reading options.</param>
+        IArchive Open(System.IO.FileInfo fileInfo, ReaderOptions? readerOptions = null);
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Constructor with IEnumerable FileInfo objects, multi and split support.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="streams"></param>
+        /// <param name="readerOptions">reading options.</param>
+        IArchive Open(IEnumerable<Stream> streams, ReaderOptions? readerOptions = null);
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Constructor with IEnumerable Stream objects, multi and split support.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="fileInfos"></param>
+        /// <param name="readerOptions">reading options.</param>
+        IArchive Open(IEnumerable<System.IO.FileInfo> fileInfos, ReaderOptions? readerOptions = null);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/SharpCompress/Archives/Rar/RarArchiveFactory.cs b/src/SharpCompress/Archives/Rar/RarArchiveFactory.cs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a049275c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/SharpCompress/Archives/Rar/RarArchiveFactory.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.IO;
+using System.Linq;
+
+using SharpCompress.Readers;
+
+namespace SharpCompress.Archives.Rar
+{
+    public class RarArchiveFactory : IArchiveFactory
+    {
+        /// <inheritdoc/>
+        public string Name => "Rar";
+
+        /// <inheritdoc/>
+        public IEnumerable<string> GetSupportedExtensions()
+        {
+            yield return "rar";
+            yield return "cbr";
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc/>
+        public bool IsArchive(Stream stream, string? password = null)
+        {
+            return RarArchive.IsRarFile(stream);
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc/>
+        public IArchive Open(Stream stream, ReaderOptions? readerOptions = null)
+        {
+            return RarArchive.Open(stream, readerOptions);
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc/>
+        public IArchive Open(FileInfo fileInfo, ReaderOptions? readerOptions = null)
+        {
+            return RarArchive.Open(fileInfo, readerOptions);
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc/>
+        public IArchive Open(IEnumerable<Stream> streams, ReaderOptions? readerOptions = null)
+        {
+            return RarArchive.Open(streams, readerOptions);
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc/>
+        public IArchive Open(IEnumerable<FileInfo> fileInfos, ReaderOptions? readerOptions = null)
+        {
+            return RarArchive.Open(fileInfos, readerOptions);
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/SharpCompress/Archives/SevenZip/SevenZipArchiveFactory.cs b/src/SharpCompress/Archives/SevenZip/SevenZipArchiveFactory.cs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..153fb431
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/SharpCompress/Archives/SevenZip/SevenZipArchiveFactory.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.IO;
+using System.Linq;
+
+using SharpCompress.Readers;
+
+namespace SharpCompress.Archives.SevenZip
+{
+    public class SevenZipArchiveFactory : IArchiveFactory
+    {
+        /// <inheritdoc/>
+        public string Name => "7Zip";
+
+        /// <inheritdoc/>
+        public IEnumerable<string> GetSupportedExtensions()
+        {
+            yield return "7z";
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc/>
+        public bool IsArchive(Stream stream, string? password = null)
+        {
+            return SevenZipArchive.IsSevenZipFile(stream);
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc/>
+        public IArchive Open(Stream stream, ReaderOptions? readerOptions = null)
+        {
+            return SevenZipArchive.Open(stream, readerOptions);
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc/>
+        public IArchive Open(FileInfo fileInfo, ReaderOptions? readerOptions = null)
+        {
+            return SevenZipArchive.Open(fileInfo, readerOptions);
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc/>
+        public IArchive Open(IEnumerable<Stream> streams, ReaderOptions? readerOptions = null)
+        {
+            return SevenZipArchive.Open(streams, readerOptions);
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc/>
+        public IArchive Open(IEnumerable<FileInfo> fileInfos, ReaderOptions? readerOptions = null)
+        {
+            return SevenZipArchive.Open(fileInfos, readerOptions);
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/SharpCompress/Archives/Tar/TarArchiveFactory.cs b/src/SharpCompress/Archives/Tar/TarArchiveFactory.cs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fb9c170c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/SharpCompress/Archives/Tar/TarArchiveFactory.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.IO;
+using System.Linq;
+
+using SharpCompress.Readers;
+
+namespace SharpCompress.Archives.Tar
+{
+    public class TarArchiveFactory : IArchiveFactory
+    {
+        /// <inheritdoc/>
+        public string Name => "Tar";
+
+        /// <inheritdoc/>
+        public IEnumerable<string> GetSupportedExtensions()
+        {
+            yield return "tar";
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc/>
+        public bool IsArchive(Stream stream, string? password = null)
+        {
+            return TarArchive.IsTarFile(stream);
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc/>
+        public IArchive Open(Stream stream, ReaderOptions? readerOptions = null)
+        {
+            return TarArchive.Open(stream, readerOptions);
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc/>
+        public IArchive Open(FileInfo fileInfo, ReaderOptions? readerOptions = null)
+        {
+            return TarArchive.Open(fileInfo, readerOptions);
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc/>
+        public IArchive Open(IEnumerable<Stream> streams, ReaderOptions? readerOptions = null)
+        {
+            return TarArchive.Open(streams, readerOptions);
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc/>
+        public IArchive Open(IEnumerable<FileInfo> fileInfos, ReaderOptions? readerOptions = null)
+        {
+            return TarArchive.Open(fileInfos, readerOptions);
+        }
+
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/SharpCompress/Archives/Zip/ZipArchiveFactory.cs b/src/SharpCompress/Archives/Zip/ZipArchiveFactory.cs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..68c3f2b6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/SharpCompress/Archives/Zip/ZipArchiveFactory.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.IO;
+using System.Linq;
+
+using SharpCompress.Readers;
+
+namespace SharpCompress.Archives.Zip
+{
+    public class ZipArchiveFactory : IArchiveFactory
+    {
+        /// <inheritdoc/>
+        public string Name => "Zip";
+
+        /// <inheritdoc/>
+        public IEnumerable<string> GetSupportedExtensions()
+        {
+            yield return "zip";
+            yield return "zipx";
+            yield return "cbz";
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc/>
+        public bool IsArchive(Stream stream, string? password = null)
+        {
+            long startPosition = stream.Position;
+
+            if (ZipArchive.IsZipFile(stream, password)) return true;
+
+            stream.Seek(startPosition, SeekOrigin.Begin);
+
+            //test the zip (last) file of a multipart zip
+            if (ZipArchive.IsZipMulti(stream)) return true;
+
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc/>
+        public IArchive Open(Stream stream, ReaderOptions? readerOptions = null)
+        {
+            return ZipArchive.Open(stream, readerOptions);
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc/>
+        public IArchive Open(FileInfo fileInfo, ReaderOptions? readerOptions = null)
+        {
+            return ZipArchive.Open(fileInfo, readerOptions);
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc/>
+        public IArchive Open(IEnumerable<Stream> streams, ReaderOptions? readerOptions = null)
+        {
+            return ZipArchive.Open(streams, readerOptions);
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc/>
+        public IArchive Open(IEnumerable<FileInfo> fileInfos, ReaderOptions? readerOptions = null)
+        {
+            return ZipArchive.Open(fileInfos, readerOptions);
+        }
+    }
+}