Paul Martin, a world-renowned scholar of Japanese swords, takes us on a journey of discovery of samurai culture through an examination of valuable weapons and armor belonging to thirty of Japan's most celebrated warriors, many of which are classified as Important Cultural Propertiesor National Treasures and therefore rarely seen by the public.

Japanese Swords and Armor covers the entire development of the samurai class, from the 10th to the 19th centuries, and offers a compelling journey into the minds and aesthetic sensibilities of the legendary warriors through a wealth of iconography with art images, exclusive photographs and life-size reproductions of some of the most prestigious swords in history.

Get a close-up look at scores of magnificent blades, fittings and armor which belonged to thirty of the most famous warriors and leaders in Japanese history including:

• A wooden sword commissioned and owned by Miyamoto Musashi -- Japan's greatest swordsman; an exact replica of the sword he wielded at the legendary duel on Ganryu-jima Island
• The tachi blade worn by Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate and the powerful unifier of Japan--which was later presented to the Meiji Emperor
• The katchu (armor) belonging to Minamoto no Yoshitsune, hero of the Genpei Wars and later gifted as a votive offering to the Kasuga Shrine in Nara
• The naginata (halberd) said to be the favored weapon of Tomoe Gozen, Japan's famous female Samurai, that was immortalized in the classic book Tale of the Heike
• And many more!

This book by military strategist Andrew F. Krepinevich, Jr., is the definitive take on the race for military dominance in the twenty-first century. It shows how militaries that successfully pursue disruptive innovation can gain a major advantage over their rivals, while those that fail to do so risk exposing their countries to great danger.

The Precision Warfare Revolution introduced by the U.S. military in the First Gulf War found the United States enjoying a near monopoly in this form of warfare for several decades. But now other powers have these capabilities. The U.S. military also confronts an emerging military revolution driven by advances across a wide range of technologies--from artificial intelligence and synthetic biology to quantum computing and additive manufacturing.

To stay competitive, the U.S. military must pursue disruptive innovation in a race with other militaries to exploit war's changing character. Clues exist as to the winner's identity. They are revealed by militaries that went beyond the bounds of mere innovation to overturn the existing forms of warfare, changing the course of history and the fate of nations. Through exploring their experiences, Krepinevich shows how the U.S. military can win the race to identify and exploit the next big thing in warfare.

The fully illustrated distilled knowledge of W.E. Fairbairn, legendary SOE instructor in unarmed combat, and co-inventor of the Sykes-Fairbairn knife, who learned his deadly skills in 30 years on the Shanghai waterfront. It has been suggested that Fairbairn was the inspiration for Q Branch, in Ian Fleming's fictional books about the British Secret Service agent James Bond.

Get Tough is the fully illustrated manual of lethal unarmed combat methods taught to British and US Special Forces in the Second World War by Major W.E. Fairbairn, co-inventor of the Sykes-Fairbairn knife, and senior instructor to WW2's Special Forces. The methods used in this book should only be employed when life is in danger from an attacker, since correctly applied they can kill or maim an opponent.

All-In Fighting shows how to deliver deadly blows with hand, fist, knee and boot; wrist, bear and strangle holds (and how to break them); how to throw an enemy, and how to break their backs; how to disarm a pistol-wielding attacker; and securing a prisoner.

Actual incidents provided the basis for Shooting to Live; this is an instruction manual on life-or-death close-quarters shootouts with the pistol. The emphasis is on training to fight with no notice, at very close ranges, in poor lighting and in unexpected environments.

Originally published during the Second World War, Hands Off shows the emancipated woman how to deal with any 'unpleasant'situation which would immeasurably increase their efficiency in the War effort. The methods of self-defence were especially selected for use by women, taking into account their disadvantages of weight, build and strength.

Scientific Self-Defence is the hand-to-hand combat system based on practical experience mixed with jujutsu and boxing that Fairbairn developed to train the Shanghai Municipal Police and was later taught in expanded form to the Office of Strategic Services and Special Operations Executive members during World War II.

Defendu is the classic hand-to-hand combat system based on practical experience mixed with jujutsu and boxing that Fairbairn developed to train the Shanghai Municipal Police.

The era of autonomous weapons has arrived. Today around the globe, at least thirty nations have weapons that can search for and destroy enemy targets all on their own. Paul Scharre, a leading expert in next-generation warfare, describes these and other high tech weapons systems--from Israel's Harpy drone to the American submarine-hunting robot ship Sea Hunter--and examines the legal and ethical issues surrounding their use. A smart primer to what's to come in warfare (Bruce Schneier), Army of None engages military history, global policy, and cutting-edge science to explore the implications of giving weapons the freedom to make life and death decisions. A former soldier himself, Scharre argues that we must embrace technology where it can make war more precise and humane, but when the choice is life or death, there is no replacement for the human heart.

This book by military strategist Andrew F. Krepinevich, Jr., is the definitive take on the race for military dominance in the twenty-first century. It shows how militaries that successfully pursue disruptive innovation can gain a major advantage over their rivals, while those that fail to do so risk exposing their countries to great danger.

The Precision Warfare Revolution introduced by the U.S. military in the First Gulf War found the United States enjoying a near monopoly in this form of warfare for several decades. But now other powers have these capabilities. The U.S. military also confronts an emerging military revolution driven by advances across a wide range of technologies--from artificial intelligence and synthetic biology to quantum computing and additive manufacturing.

To stay competitive, the U.S. military must pursue disruptive innovation in a race with other militaries to exploit war's changing character. Clues exist as to the winner's identity. They are revealed by militaries that went beyond the bounds of mere innovation to overturn the existing forms of warfare, changing the course of history and the fate of nations. Through exploring their experiences, Krepinevich shows how the U.S. military can win the race to identify and exploit the next big thing in warfare.

A finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize

A magisterial work of narrative history and original reportage . . . You can feel the tension building one cold, catastrophic fact at a time . . . A virtually unprecedented achievement. --Mike Spies, The New York Times Book Review (Editors' Choice)

A Washington Post top 50 nonfiction book of 2023 Short-listed for the Zócalo Book Prize

One of The New York Times' 33 nonfiction books to read this fall One of Esquire's best books of fall A Kirkus Reviews best nonfiction book of 2023

Named a most anticipated book of the fall by The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and Bloomberg

American Gun: The True Story of the AR-15 presents the epic history of America's most controversial weapon.

In the 1950s, an obsessive firearms designer named Eugene Stoner invented the AR-15 rifle in a California garage. High-minded and patriotic, Stoner sought to devise a lightweight, easy-to-use weapon that could replace the M1s touted by soldiers in World War II. What he did create was a lethal handheld icon of the American century.

In American Gun, the veteran Wall Street Journal reporters Cameron McWhirter and Zusha Elinson track the AR-15 from inception to ubiquity. How did the same gun represent the essence of freedom to millions of Americans and the essence of evil to millions more? To answer this question, McWhirter and Elinson follow Stoner--the American Kalashnikov--as he struggled mightily to win support for his invention, which under the name M16 would become standard equipment in Vietnam. Shunned by gun owners at first, the rifle's popularity would take off thanks to a renegade band of small-time gun makers. And in the 2000s, it would become the weapon of choice for mass shooters, prompting widespread calls for proscription even as the gun industry embraced it as a financial savior. Writing with fairness and compassion, McWhirter and Elinson explore America's gun culture, revealing the deep appeal of the AR-15, the awful havoc it wreaks, and the politics of reducing its toll. The result is a moral history of contemporary America's love affair with technology, freedom, and weaponry.

Includes 8 pages of black-and-white images.

In 1916, the British built a vehicle that could pound the battlefield impervious to enemy fire, crushing obstacles and barbed wire in its path. The first tank, or Mother as it was known, had arrived. In Tank you can view it in detail, along with other iconic models including the German Panzer, the legendary Tiger, the Vickers Medium Mark II, the Centurion, and the Hellcat - the fastest armored fighting vehicle ever.

This comprehensive volume takes you through the most exciting story in recent military history with the development of heavy artillery, anti-tank weaponry, and the men - such as Mikail Koshkin and Sir William Tritton - who designed these awe-inspiring beasts.

Produced with The Tank Museum, Tank traces the tank's development in response to two world wars, Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War and many other conflicts. It shows each model in detail, highlighting details such as their performance, specification, armor, weaponry, and much more.

If you are interested in modern warfare, Tank is truly unmissable reading.

This beautifully illustrated definitive military guide charts the evolution of battlefield technology. Here's what you'll find inside:

- It includes objects taken from collections that are not available to the public or have never been photographed before
- Features comprehensive catalogs of the key weapons, armor, equipment and military technologies of each period, along with full specification details and information about special features
- Includes stunning close-up virtual tours on subjects as diverse as a Roman fort, a medieval castle, a WWI trench system, a WWII tank and a modern aircraft carrier, to name a few
- Narrative spreads and timelines provide historical context for the emerging use of, or key shifts in, certain technologies, explaining their impact on troops, tactics and fortifications

The Military History Book profiles key arms and armaments and conveys technologies and tactics across hundreds of pages of dramatic photography and accessible text. Find out how war is waged between battleships at sea, tanks on the battlefield and fighter planes in the skies. Climb siege towers, drive chariots, enter medieval fortresses, fly unmanned drones and detect stealth bombers.

You will also experience virtual tours of iconic vehicles, including the T-34 tank, the F-117 Nighthawk stealth bomber and the AH-64 Apache helicopter. Uncover military history from iconic battles, leaders and weapons of war that changed the course of history and shaped our modern world.

This engrossing visual account of military history builds on the bestselling, international success of Weapon, Battle, Soldier and War, and is an essential purchase for all military enthusiasts or anyone intrigued by the history of military warfare and weaponry.

Patented in 1836, the Colt pistol with its revolving cylinder was the first practical firearm that could shoot more than one bullet without reloading. For many reasons, Colt's gun had a profound effect on American history. Its most immediate impact was on the expansionism of the American west, where white emigrants and US soldiers came to depend on it, and where Native Americans came to dread it. The six-shooter became the iconic weapon of gun-slingers, outlaws, and cowboys--some willing to pay $500 out west for a gun that sold for $25 back east.

In making the revolver, Colt also changed American manufacturing--his factory revolutionized industry in the United States. Ultimately, Colt and his gun-making brought together the two most significant forces of change before the Civil War--the industrial revolution in the east, Manifest Destiny in the west.

Written with a journalist's sense of color and a historian's eye for the revealing detail (The Wall Street Journal), Revolver brings the brazenly ambitious and profoundly innovative industrialist and leader Samuel Colt to vivid life. In the space of his forty-seven years, he seemingly lived five lives: he traveled, womanized, drank prodigiously, smuggled guns to Russia, bribed politicians, and supplied the Union Army with the guns they needed to win the Civil War. Colt lived during an age of promise and progress, but also of slavery, corruption, and unbridled greed, and he not only helped to create this America, he completely embodied it. By the time he died in 1862 in Hartford, Connecticut, he was one of the most famous men in nation, and one of the richest.

Offering a panoramic view of American culture during Colt's life (LA Review of Books) Revolver is a rollicking and informative account that] will delight American history buffs (Publishers Weekly).

This encyclopedia traces the fascinating history of knives,

daggers, bayonets, swords, sabres and lances, from their

Palaeolithic origins through to the 21st century. Weapons

from around the world are examined, such as the

decorated daggers of Persia and the exquisite knives

of Japan. A superb directory features 750 examples of

sharp-edged weapons, describing the origins, capabilities

and specifications of each one. With 1500 photographs

and illustrations, and written by leading experts in the

field, this beautiful guide is an indispensable resource for

the serious collector and amateur enthusiast alike, and will

fascinate anyone with an interest in historical weapons.

- An authoritative guide to sharp-edged weapons,

from their origins in the Stone Age through to the

21st century, with 1500 color photographs

- Describes ancient and modern weapons, such as

the first flint daggers, the spears of ancient Greece,

Samurai swords, knightly swords, fencing blades,

and the bayonets of World War II

- Includes a comprehensive visual directory of over

750 blades arranged by period, with expert descriptions

and details of origin, date and length

An epic, 4,000-year illustrated volume, Weapon: A Visual History of Arms and Armor traces the evolution of the entire spectrum of weaponry through stunning photography and authoritative coverage. All the major arms through the ages including edged weapons, clubs, projectiles, and firearms can be found in the guide.

This comprehensive book covers ancient Egyptian axes, bows, and spears of early societies in Africa, Oceania, and the Americas, and guns and missiles of modern infantry forces. Richly detailed catalogs showcase many weapons at their actual size, outlining the timeframe, weight, size, and country of origin to create comprehensive fact files.

Also profiled are the world's top fighting forces, from the ancient Greek hoplites to today's US Navy Seals.

Created in association with the Smithsonian Institution, this weapon encyclopedia presents in vivid detail the tools that have been at the cutting edge of history, helping determine the rise of kingdoms and the fall of empires.

Although the world's attention has shifted to drone-controlled bombing and cyberwarfare, the threat of nuclear war still exists. There are now fourteen thousand nuclear weapons in the hands of the nine declared nuclear powers. Even though the world survived the Cold War, we need to understand what it means to live with nuclear weapons. In this volume in the MIT Press Essential Knowledge series, Mark Wolverton offers a primer on nuclear weapons, from the science of fission and fusion to the pursuit of mutual assured destruction, the SALT and START agreements, and the Bomb in pop culture.

Wolverton explains the basic scientific facts, offers historical perspective, and provides a nuanced view of the unique political, social, and moral dilemmas posed by nuclear weapons. He describes the birth of the Bomb in 1945 and its use against the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; explains how a nuclear bomb works; recounts episodes when the world came close to waging nuclear war, including the Cuban missile crisis in 1962; discusses nuclear policy and nuclear treaties; and traces the influence of such films as On the Beach, Dr. Strangelove, and The Day After.

Saps, Blackjacks and Slungshots: A History of Forgotten Weapons discovers and preserves the story of the most forgotten weapons from history for the first time in history. These unique fighting tools were feared for centuries and embraced equally by the law and the lawless like nothing else had been or would be until firearms became commonly available. They are best remembered, when at all, for being favored by real life muggers and fictional private detectives. They were however also used by police, soldiers, sailors, spies, cowboys and duelists in various times and countries. Following their trail takes the reader from New York City's infamous Bowery to the San Francisco Gold Rush, Paris's Moulin Rouge to Georgian era London and beyond. Encountered along the way is a cast of characters from the noble (Abraham Lincoln) to the ignoble (Al Capone), the literary (Shakespeare) to the musical (Frank Sinatra). For centuries they were an essential part of any tough guy's arsenal, the last vestige of this portrayed in classic noir films and books.

Despite all this, their tale remained untold until now. Robert Escobar had never found a subject with less available information. Looking to correct this, he searched everywhere imaginable for their fading footprints, including...pulp comics - medieval illustrations - court records - Victorian self-defense manuals - police and criminal histories - etymology guides - historical naval accounts - newspaper stories - ancient ballads - medical journals - government reports - archeological excavations - hobo memoirs - folkloric studies - interviews conducted by the author.

Fortunately the sum of it all doesn't just fill a gap in the understanding of countless historical incidents and personages, it entertains. Saps, blackjacks and slungshots were rough tools used by tough people in tough times. Those times and their dangers have passed but should be accurately remembered. To do that, these strange weapons have to be as well.

John Bainbridge, Jr.'s Gun Barons is a narrative history of six charismatic and idiosyncratic men who changed the course of American history through the invention and refinement of repeating weapons.

Love them or hate them, guns are woven deeply into the American soul. Names like Colt, Smith & Wesson, Winchester, and Remington are legendary. Yet few people are aware of the roles these men played at a crucial time in United States history, from westward expansion in the 1840s, through the Civil War, and into the dawn of the Gilded Age. Through personal drive and fueled by bloodshed, they helped propel the young country into the forefront of the world's industrial powers.

Their creations helped save a nation divided, while planting seeds that would divide the country again a century later. Their inventions embodied an intoxicating thread of American individualism--part fiction, part reality--that remains the foundation of modern gun culture. They promoted guns not only for the soldier, but for the Everyman, and also made themselves wealthy beyond their most fevered dreams.

Gun Barons captures how their bold inventiveness dwelled in the psyche of an entire people, not just in the minds of men who made firearm fortunes. Whether we revere these larger-than-life men or vilify them, they helped forge the American character.

There have been numerous books which describe the design and use of the gun motor carriages fielded by the U.S. Army's Tank Destroyer branch in WWII. This book is unparalleled in bringing to light the development process of these tank destroyers and the various prototypes which the Army specified, designed, built, and tested. The descriptions have been compiled from the original Ordnance Branch records; other sources include the proving ground reports and the reports of various service boards. Many of the photographs included in this book are published here for the first time.
Can Openers is an incomparable resource for a detailed history of the anti-tank developments of the U.S. Army during WWII.

Immediately following the Civil War, the United States Ordnance Department reported it had purchased 128,575 Remington revolvers during the conflict. During the Franco-Prussian War in 1870-71, Samuel Remington acted as an agent to acquire arms for the French War Ministry. Fifteen to twenty thousand Remington New Model Army revolvers were purchased from the Ordnance Department and sent to France.

Donald Ware devoted twenty-five years of research in the Ordnance Department archives, the Remington factory's records, and Army and Navy records to assemble this detailed examination of the development and evolution of Remington revolvers from the beginning of the Civil War through the end of the Indian wars.

In addition to information about the revolvers themselves, Ware shares tidbits that he uncovered along the way. For example, part of the equipment issued the Civil War soldier was a bullet mold for his revolver. During the War, the Ordnance Department issued combustible ammunition for revolvers, making the mold a superfluous appendage. To avoid carrying the extra weight, the mold was usually tossed away. In 1863 the Ordnance Department notified Remington there was no need to furnish molds with the revolvers and therefore saved the government eighteen cents on each revolver.

The Remington Society of America hereby endorses, and takes pleasure in recommending, Remington Army and Navy Revolvers, 1861-1888 by Don Ware. . . . this book is well researched, documented, factual, and quite informative. It reflects an enormous amount of research in primary documents and is a highly definitive work on these firearms. It will be a valuable asset for students and collectors of the Remington large frame revolvers field of antique arms and should become a standard reference.--Richard J. Shepler, President, Remington Society of America

With mountains of documentation, mostly from government and corporate sources, Sutton shows that Soviet military technology is heavily dependent on U.S. and allied gifts, peaceful trade and exchange programs. We've built for, sold or traded, or given outright to the Communists everything from copper wiring and military trucks to tank technology, missile guidance technology, computers - even the Space Shuttle. Peaceful trade is a myth ... to the Soviets all trade is strategic. The paradox is that we spend $300 billion a year on a defense against an enemy we created and continue to keep in business. The deaf mute blindmen, as Lenin called them, are the multi-national businessmen who see no further than the next contract, who have their plants defended by Marxist troops (in Angola); who knowingly sell technology that comes back to kill and maim Americans.

This edition does not feature the World of Tanks bonus and invitation codes. Purchase ISBN 9781635617610 instead.

Featuring hundreds of photos from the national archives, diagrams, and detailed specifications, Hunnicutt's Firepower remains the definitive developmental history of the heavy tank for the military historian, professional soldier, and tank restorer.
This ambitious entry in R.P. Hunnicutt's 10-volume compendium of American tank history details the development of the heavy tanks from its initial conception in World War I to its final development in the 1960s. First developed after WWI, various iterations of the heavy armored military vehicle have served as a crucial component of American military operations in all manner of engagements.
Hunnicutt spares no detail as he examines the origins and deployment of the Mark VIII and TI and M6 in the 1930s and 1940s. First conceived as a vehicle to be used for infantry support, by the end of WWI, the heavy tank had evolved into the modern concept with a powerful turret mounted antitank gun protected by heavy armor--a fighting machine in its own right.
Hunnicutt provides detailed technical information about these vehicles and their role in the U.S. Army and Marines. The M103A product-improved descendant of the T43 tanks and its many variations is also treated with exacting detail by Hunnicutt, who takes us through the numerous and important variations on the heavy tank design.
Spanning the history of America's most widely used main battle tank, Hunnicutt's Firepower is an absolute must-have for anyone interested in the history of the American military.

Readers interested in related titles from R. P. Hunnicutt will also want to see: Abrams (ISBN: 1626542554), Armored Car (ISBN: 1626541558), Bradley (ISBN: 162654252X), Half-Track (ISBN: 1626541329), Patton (ISBN: 162654879X), Pershing (ISBN: 1626541671), Sheridan (ISBN: 162654154X), Sherman (ISBN: 1626548617), Stuart (History of the American Light Tank, Vol. 1) (ISBN: 1626548625).

Weapons is one of the bestselling books on armament ever published. This definitive guide covers the entire history of weapons, from the earliest, most primitive instruments up to remarkable advances in modern defense and warfare. The new edition includes weapons used in Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq and the Israel-Lebanon conflict, such as:

- Improvised Explosive Devices
- Blackout bombs
- Unmanned aerial vehicles
- TV guided bombs
- Current Small Arms
- Electric Stun Guns
- And more!

Comprehensively illustrated, with hundreds of color diagrams, charts, photographs and much more, Weapons is the encyclopedia of virtually every arsenal ever invented. This guide will appeal to warfare fans, military and history buffs and any reader interested in the invention, development and use of weapons over the course of human history.