diff --git a/src/com/esotericsoftware/kryo/io/ByteBufferInput.java b/src/com/esotericsoftware/kryo/io/ByteBufferInput.java
index cec6d4db6..1db08a005 100644
--- a/src/com/esotericsoftware/kryo/io/ByteBufferInput.java
+++ b/src/com/esotericsoftware/kryo/io/ByteBufferInput.java
@@ -352,6 +352,30 @@ public void readBytes (byte[] bytes, int offset, int count) throws KryoException
 		}
 	}
 
+	public int readInt (int count) {
+		if (count < 0 || count > 4) throw new IllegalArgumentException("count must be >= 0 and <= 4: " + count);
+		require(count);
+		position += count;
+		ByteBuffer byteBuffer = this.byteBuffer;
+		switch (count) {
+			case 1:
+				return byteBuffer.get();
+			case 2:
+				return byteBuffer.get() << 8
+					| byteBuffer.get() & 0xFF;
+			case 3:
+				return byteBuffer.get() << 16
+					| (byteBuffer.get() & 0xFF) << 8
+					| byteBuffer.get() & 0xFF;
+			case 4:
+				return byteBuffer.get() << 24
+					| (byteBuffer.get() & 0xFF) << 16
+					| (byteBuffer.get() & 0xFF) << 8
+					| byteBuffer.get() & 0xFF;
+		}
+		throw new IllegalStateException(); // impossible
+	}
+
 	// int:
 
 	public int readInt () throws KryoException {
diff --git a/src/com/esotericsoftware/kryo/io/ByteBufferOutput.java b/src/com/esotericsoftware/kryo/io/ByteBufferOutput.java
index 4061f16db..07bdc9d30 100644
--- a/src/com/esotericsoftware/kryo/io/ByteBufferOutput.java
+++ b/src/com/esotericsoftware/kryo/io/ByteBufferOutput.java
@@ -276,6 +276,33 @@ public void writeBytes (byte[] bytes, int offset, int count) throws KryoExceptio
 		}
 	}
 
+	public void writeInt (int bytes, int count) {
+		if (count < 0 || count > 4) throw new IllegalArgumentException("count must be >= 0 and <= 4: " + count);
+		require(count);
+		position += count;
+		ByteBuffer byteBuffer = this.byteBuffer;
+		switch (count) {
+			case 1:
+				byteBuffer.put((byte)bytes);
+				break;
+			case 2:
+				byteBuffer.put((byte)(bytes >> 8));
+				byteBuffer.put((byte)bytes);
+				break;
+			case 3:
+				byteBuffer.put((byte)(bytes >> 16));
+				byteBuffer.put((byte)(bytes >> 8));
+				byteBuffer.put((byte)bytes);
+				break;
+			case 4:
+				byteBuffer.put((byte)(bytes >> 24));
+				byteBuffer.put((byte)(bytes >> 16));
+				byteBuffer.put((byte)(bytes >> 8));
+				byteBuffer.put((byte)bytes);
+				break;
+		}
+	}
+
 	// int:
 
 	public void writeInt (int value) throws KryoException {
diff --git a/src/com/esotericsoftware/kryo/io/Input.java b/src/com/esotericsoftware/kryo/io/Input.java
index 78c1d284c..dd72768fe 100644
--- a/src/com/esotericsoftware/kryo/io/Input.java
+++ b/src/com/esotericsoftware/kryo/io/Input.java
@@ -373,6 +373,44 @@ public void readBytes (byte[] bytes, int offset, int count) throws KryoException
 		}
 	}
 
+	/** Reads count bytes and returns them as int, the last byte read will be the lowest byte in the int. */
+	public int readInt (int count) {
+		if (count < 0 || count > 4) throw new IllegalArgumentException("count must be >= 0 and <= 4: " + count);
+		require(count);
+		int p = position;
+		position = p + count;
+		switch (count) {
+			case 1:
+				return buffer[p];
+			case 2:
+				return buffer[p] << 8
+					| buffer[p+1] & 0xFF;
+			case 3:
+				return buffer[p] << 16
+					| (buffer[p+1] & 0xFF) << 8
+					| buffer[p+2] & 0xFF;
+			case 4:
+				return buffer[p] << 24
+					| (buffer[p+1] & 0xFF) << 16
+					| (buffer[p+2] & 0xFF) << 8
+					| buffer[p+3] & 0xFF;
+		}
+		throw new IllegalStateException(); // impossible
+	}
+
+	/** Reads count bytes and returns them as long, the last byte read will be the lowest byte in the long. */
+	public long readLong (int count) {
+		if (count < 0 || count > 8) throw new IllegalArgumentException("count must be >= 0 and <= 8: " + count);
+		if (count <= 4) {
+			return readInt(count);
+		} else {
+			require(count);
+			long highBytes = ((long) readInt(count - 4)) << 32;
+			long lowBytes = ((long) readInt(4)) & (1L << 32) - 1;
+			return highBytes | lowBytes;
+		}
+	}
+
 	// int:
 
 	/** Reads a 4 byte int. */
diff --git a/src/com/esotericsoftware/kryo/io/Output.java b/src/com/esotericsoftware/kryo/io/Output.java
index b1d351c69..dc7e6ac4a 100644
--- a/src/com/esotericsoftware/kryo/io/Output.java
+++ b/src/com/esotericsoftware/kryo/io/Output.java
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@
 package com.esotericsoftware.kryo.io;
 
 import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.KryoException;
-import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.io.KryoBufferOverflowException;
 import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.util.Pool.Poolable;
 import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.util.Util;
 
@@ -274,6 +273,48 @@ public void writeBytes (byte[] bytes, int offset, int count) throws KryoExceptio
 		}
 	}
 
+	/** Writes count bytes from long, the last byte written is the lowest byte from the long.
+	 *  Note the number of bytes is not written. */
+	public void writeInt (int bytes, int count) {
+		if (count < 0 || count > 4) throw new IllegalArgumentException("count must be >= 0 and <= 4: " + count);
+		require(count);
+		int p = position;
+		position = p + count;
+		switch (count) {
+			case 1:
+				buffer[p] = (byte)bytes;
+				break;
+			case 2:
+				buffer[p] = (byte)(bytes >> 8);
+				buffer[p+1] = (byte)bytes;
+				break;
+			case 3:
+				buffer[p] = (byte)(bytes >> 16);
+				buffer[p+1] = (byte)(bytes >> 8);
+				buffer[p+2] = (byte)bytes;
+				break;
+			case 4:
+				buffer[p] = (byte)(bytes >> 24);
+				buffer[p+1] = (byte)(bytes >> 16);
+				buffer[p+2] = (byte)(bytes >> 8);
+				buffer[p+3] = (byte)bytes;
+				break;
+		}
+	}
+
+	/** Writes count bytes from long, the last byte written is the lowest byte from the long.
+	 *  Note the number of bytes is not written. */
+	public void writeLong (long bytes, int count) {
+		if (count < 0 || count > 8) throw new IllegalArgumentException("count must be >= 0 and <= 8: " + count);
+		if (count <= 4) {
+			writeInt((int) bytes, count);
+		} else {
+			require(count);
+			writeInt((int) (bytes >> 32), count - 4);
+			writeInt((int) bytes, 4);
+		}
+	}
+
 	// int:
 
 	/** Writes a 4 byte int. */
diff --git a/src/com/esotericsoftware/kryo/serializers/DefaultSerializers.java b/src/com/esotericsoftware/kryo/serializers/DefaultSerializers.java
index 32e5cffa8..e442f10cc 100644
--- a/src/com/esotericsoftware/kryo/serializers/DefaultSerializers.java
+++ b/src/com/esotericsoftware/kryo/serializers/DefaultSerializers.java
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 
 import static com.esotericsoftware.kryo.Kryo.*;
 import static com.esotericsoftware.kryo.util.Util.*;
+import static java.lang.Long.numberOfLeadingZeros;
 
 import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.Kryo;
 import com.esotericsoftware.kryo.KryoException;
@@ -282,27 +283,15 @@ public void write (Kryo kryo, Output output, BigDecimal object) {
 		}
 
 		// compatible with writing unscaled value represented as BigInteger's bytes
-		private static void writeUnscaledLong(Output output, long unscaledLong) {
-			if (unscaledLong >>> 7 == 0) { // optimize for tiny values
-				output.writeVarInt(2, true);
-				output.writeByte((byte) unscaledLong);
-			} else {
-				byte[] bytes = new byte[8];
-				int pos = 8;
-				do {
-					bytes[--pos] = (byte) (unscaledLong & 0xFF);
-					unscaledLong >>= 8;
-				} while (unscaledLong != 0 && unscaledLong != -1); // out of bits
-
-				if (((bytes[pos] ^ unscaledLong) & 0x80) != 0) {
-					// sign bit didn't fit in previous byte, need to add another byte
-					bytes[--pos] = (byte) unscaledLong;
-				}
+		private static void writeUnscaledLong (Output output, long unscaledLong) {
+			int insignificantBits = unscaledLong >= 0
+					? numberOfLeadingZeros(unscaledLong)
+					: numberOfLeadingZeros(~unscaledLong);
+			int significantBits = (64 - insignificantBits) + 1; // one more bit is for the sign
+			int length = (significantBits + (8 - 1)) >> 3; // how many bytes are needed (rounded up)
 
-				int length = 8 - pos;
-				output.writeVarInt(length + 1, true);
-				output.writeBytes(bytes, pos, length);
-			}
+			output.writeByte(length + 1);
+			output.writeLong(unscaledLong, length);
 		}
 
 		public BigDecimal read (Kryo kryo, Input input, Class<? extends BigDecimal> type) {
@@ -313,15 +302,11 @@ public BigDecimal read (Kryo kryo, Input input, Class<? extends BigDecimal> type
 			if (length == NULL) return null;
 			length--;
 
-			byte[] bytes = input.readBytes(length);
 			if (length > 8) {
+				byte[] bytes = input.readBytes(length);
 				unscaledBig = new BigInteger(bytes);
 			} else {
-				unscaledLong = bytes[0];
-				for (int i = 1; i < bytes.length; i++) {
-					unscaledLong <<= 8;
-					unscaledLong |= (bytes[i] & 0xFF);
-				}
+				unscaledLong = input.readLong(length);
 			}
 
 			int scale = input.readInt(false);
diff --git a/test/com/esotericsoftware/kryo/io/InputOutputTest.java b/test/com/esotericsoftware/kryo/io/InputOutputTest.java
index 5cb29e261..5b48be080 100644
--- a/test/com/esotericsoftware/kryo/io/InputOutputTest.java
+++ b/test/com/esotericsoftware/kryo/io/InputOutputTest.java
@@ -348,6 +348,25 @@ private void runIntTest (Output write) throws IOException {
 		write.writeInt(-268435455);
 		write.writeInt(-134217728);
 		write.writeInt(-268435456);
+		write.writeInt(0, 1);
+		write.writeInt(63, 1);
+		write.writeInt(64, 1);
+		write.writeInt(127, 1);
+		write.writeInt(128, 2);
+		write.writeInt(8192, 2);
+		write.writeInt(16384, 2);
+		write.writeInt(2097151, 3);
+		write.writeInt(1048575, 3);
+		write.writeInt(134217727, 4);
+		write.writeInt(268435455, 4);
+		write.writeInt(134217728, 4);
+		write.writeInt(268435456, 4);
+		write.writeInt(-2097151, 3);
+		write.writeInt(-1048575, 3);
+		write.writeInt(-134217727, 4);
+		write.writeInt(-268435455, 4);
+		write.writeInt(-134217728, 4);
+		write.writeInt(-268435456, 4);
 		assertEquals(1, write.writeVarInt(0, true));
 		assertEquals(1, write.writeVarInt(0, false));
 		assertEquals(1, write.writeVarInt(63, true));
@@ -417,6 +436,25 @@ private void runIntTest (Output write) throws IOException {
 		assertEquals(-268435455, read.readInt());
 		assertEquals(-134217728, read.readInt());
 		assertEquals(-268435456, read.readInt());
+		assertEquals(0, read.readInt(1));
+		assertEquals(63, read.readInt(1));
+		assertEquals(64, read.readInt(1));
+		assertEquals(127, read.readInt(1));
+		assertEquals(128, read.readInt(2));
+		assertEquals(8192, read.readInt(2));
+		assertEquals(16384, read.readInt(2));
+		assertEquals(2097151, read.readInt(3));
+		assertEquals(1048575, read.readInt(3));
+		assertEquals(134217727, read.readInt(4));
+		assertEquals(268435455, read.readInt(4));
+		assertEquals(134217728, read.readInt(4));
+		assertEquals(268435456, read.readInt(4));
+		assertEquals(-2097151, read.readInt(3));
+		assertEquals(-1048575, read.readInt(3));
+		assertEquals(-134217727, read.readInt(4));
+		assertEquals(-268435455, read.readInt(4));
+		assertEquals(-134217728, read.readInt(4));
+		assertEquals(-268435456, read.readInt(4));
 		assertTrue(read.canReadVarInt());
 		assertTrue(read.canReadVarInt());
 		assertTrue(read.canReadVarInt());
@@ -477,11 +515,15 @@ private void runIntTest (Output write) throws IOException {
 			write.writeInt(value);
 			write.writeVarInt(value, true);
 			write.writeVarInt(value, false);
+			int numOfBytes = (i % 4) + 1;
+			write.writeInt(value, numOfBytes);
 
 			read.setBuffer(write.toBytes());
 			assertEquals(value, read.readInt());
 			assertEquals(value, read.readVarInt(true));
 			assertEquals(value, read.readVarInt(false));
+			int numOfBytesMask = numOfBytes == 4 ? -1 : (1 << numOfBytes * 8) - 1;
+			assertEquals(value & numOfBytesMask, read.readInt(numOfBytes) & numOfBytesMask);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -511,6 +553,25 @@ private void runLongTest (Output write) throws IOException {
 		write.writeLong(-268435455);
 		write.writeLong(-134217728);
 		write.writeLong(-268435456);
+		write.writeLong(0, 1);
+		write.writeLong(63, 1);
+		write.writeLong(64, 1);
+		write.writeLong(127, 1);
+		write.writeLong(128, 2);
+		write.writeLong(8192, 2);
+		write.writeLong(16384, 2);
+		write.writeLong(2097151, 3);
+		write.writeLong(1048575, 3);
+		write.writeLong(134217727, 4);
+		write.writeLong(268435455, 4);
+		write.writeLong(134217728, 4);
+		write.writeLong(268435456, 4);
+		write.writeLong(-2097151, 3);
+		write.writeLong(-1048575, 3);
+		write.writeLong(-134217727, 4);
+		write.writeLong(-268435455, 4);
+		write.writeLong(-134217728, 4);
+		write.writeLong(-268435456, 4);
 		assertEquals(1, write.writeVarLong(0, true));
 		assertEquals(1, write.writeVarLong(0, false));
 		assertEquals(1, write.writeVarLong(63, true));
@@ -574,6 +635,25 @@ private void runLongTest (Output write) throws IOException {
 		assertEquals(-268435455, read.readLong());
 		assertEquals(-134217728, read.readLong());
 		assertEquals(-268435456, read.readLong());
+		assertEquals(0, read.readLong(1));
+		assertEquals(63, read.readLong(1));
+		assertEquals(64, read.readLong(1));
+		assertEquals(127, read.readLong(1));
+		assertEquals(128, read.readLong(2));
+		assertEquals(8192, read.readLong(2));
+		assertEquals(16384, read.readLong(2));
+		assertEquals(2097151, read.readLong(3));
+		assertEquals(1048575, read.readLong(3));
+		assertEquals(134217727, read.readLong(4));
+		assertEquals(268435455, read.readLong(4));
+		assertEquals(134217728, read.readLong(4));
+		assertEquals(268435456, read.readLong(4));
+		assertEquals(-2097151, read.readLong(3));
+		assertEquals(-1048575, read.readLong(3));
+		assertEquals(-134217727, read.readLong(4));
+		assertEquals(-268435455, read.readLong(4));
+		assertEquals(-134217728, read.readLong(4));
+		assertEquals(-268435456, read.readLong(4));
 		assertEquals(0, read.readVarLong(true));
 		assertEquals(0, read.readVarLong(false));
 		assertEquals(63, read.readVarLong(true));
@@ -624,11 +704,15 @@ private void runLongTest (Output write) throws IOException {
 			write.writeLong(value);
 			write.writeVarLong(value, true);
 			write.writeVarLong(value, false);
+			int numOfBytes = (i % 8) + 1;
+			write.writeLong(value, numOfBytes);
 
 			read.setBuffer(write.toBytes());
 			assertEquals(value, read.readLong());
 			assertEquals(value, read.readVarLong(true));
 			assertEquals(value, read.readVarLong(false));
+			long numOfBytesMask = numOfBytes == 8 ? -1 : (1L << numOfBytes * 8) - 1;
+			assertEquals(value & numOfBytesMask, read.readLong(numOfBytes) & numOfBytesMask);
 		}
 	}