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Self-Defense Weapons: Traditional and Modern

Copyright © February 20, 2024 by Robert Wayne Atkins, P.E.
All Rights Reserved.

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Click on Hand-to-Hand Combat to read Chapter Two of this book.

Click on Night Vision to read Chapter Twenty-Five of this book.

ISBN: 979-8989914609
Type of Book: Paperback
Book Size: 6 inches by 9 inches
Number of Pages: 418
Normal Price: $18.95

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Book Description on Amazon.com

This book begins by discussing a variety of reasonable options for self-defense that could be successfully used by almost any person from age 18 to age 80. It also objectively reviews the pros and cons of hand-to-hand combat.

The advantages and disadvantages of a variety of different types of body armor are then reviewed including traditional and modern options.

This is followed by a discussion of the following types of traditional weapons: bucklers, shields, clubs, maces, bullwhips, slings, flails, war hammers, staffs, canes, longbows, recurve bows, compound bows, crossbows, atlatls, spears, javelins, pikes, tridents, knives, daggers, bayonets, swords, rapiers, katanas, machetes, axes, halberds, tomahawks, and hatchets.

The focus of the book then changes to modern weapons and accessories including: laser sights, night vision, flashlights, riflescopes, slings, bipods, derringers, revolvers, pistols, holsters, single-shot rifles, bolt-action rifles, lever-action rifles, semi-automatic rifles, break-barrel shotguns, pump-action shotguns, semi-automatic shotguns, muskets, black powder rifles, and pellet rifles.

There is also a 40 page chapter that carefully explains "how to hit the bullseye of a target."

The final 46 pages of this book explains "how to cast lead bullets and how to reload ammunition."

This book includes information that would be useful to any person who was interested in knowing more about the most popular self-defense weapons that have been used since the beginning of recorded history. This book also clearly explains which of these weapons would be of practical value in the twenty-first century.

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Preface to
Self-Defense Weapons: Traditional and Modern

This Book is Not a Weapon Encyclopedia
This book does not discuss every weapon that has been used during the previous 6,000 years. However, this book does discuss the most common weapons that have been used for combat and for self-defense. This book explains how each of those weapons was used, and the strengths and weaknesses of each type of weapon, and the reasons why some weapons were replaced by better weapons.

This Book is Not a Firearm Encyclopedia
This book does not discuss every firearm that has been manufactured by every company in the world during the last 300 years. However, this book does discuss each of the major categories of firearms. And a few specific firearms in each category are discussed in detail. Once you understand the strengths and weaknesses of each major type of firearm then you can select the type of firearm that appeals to you and you can visit your local gun stores and see exactly what they have available in the type of firearm that you wish to acquire.

Civilian Weapons versus Military Weapons
Most civilians do not have access to military weapons. Therefore most military weapons are not mentioned in this book. For example, grenades and bazookas are not mentioned in this book.

Classification of Weapons and Self-Defense Equipment
This book does not attempt to separate every weapon into either a traditional weapon or a modern weapon. Some weapons, such as knives, have been around for thousands of years and knives are still used for self-defense today. However, there is only one chapter about knives and that chapter appears in the traditional section of this book.

Most people would classify a musket as a traditional weapon. However, muskets are included in the chapter about black powder rifles because those weapons are still popular in the twenty-first century. And modern crossbows are discussed in the chapter with traditional crossbows in order to keep all the information about crossbows in one chapter. And there is only one chapter about body armor and that chapter includes most of the options for protecting your feet, body, and head. Bulletproof vests are included in that chapter even though that chapter is included in the traditional section of this book.

If you are interested in a specific type of weapon then you can look in the index at the end of this book and you will find the page numbers on which that weapon is discussed.

Finally, this book will recommend a few weapons that may be very useful in the twenty-first century depending on your specific self-defense situation and the laws in the area in which you live.

Respectfully,
Robert Wayne Atkins, P.E.
February 20, 2024

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Table of Contents

Chapter		Page
1	Introduction to Self-Defense	1
2	Hand-to-Hand Combat	11
	Traditional Self-Defense Weapons:
3	Body Armor	15
4	Bucklers and Shields	21
5	Bullwhips	37
6	Slings and Slingshots	41
7	Clubs, Maces, Flails, War Hammers	47
8	Staffs and Canes	53
9	Archery Safety Rules	63
10	Introduction to Bows and Arrows	65
11	Longbows and Recurve Bows	73
12	Compound Bows	83
13	Crossbows	89
14	Atlatls or Spear Throwers	95
15	Spears, Javelins, Pikes, Tridents	99
16	Knives, Daggers, Bayonets	105
17	Swords, Rapiers, Katanas, Machetes	113
18	Axes, Halberds, Tomahawks, Hatchets	119
19	How to Sharpen Steel Blades	123
	Modern Self-Defense Weapons:
20	Firearm Safety Rules	125
21	Should You Own a Firearm?	129
22	Concealed Carry of a Firearm	133
23	Laser Sights	137
24	Riflescopes	147
25	Night Vision	157
26	Slings	163
27	Monopods, Bipods, Tripods	171
28	Flashlights	175
29	How to Hit the Bullseye of a Target	177
30	Bullets: Design and Function	217
31	Handgun Bullet Calibers	223
32	Rifle Bullet Calibers	235
33	Firearm Decisions	247
34	The Single Most Important Issue	259
35	Handguns	263
36	Holsters for Handguns	275
37	Shotguns	291
38	Rifles	305
39	Muskets and Black Powder Rifles (Muzzle Loaders)	321
40	Pellet Air Rifles: .177 Caliber and .22 Caliber	327
41	.22LR Caliber Firearms	333
42	Henry AR-7 US Survival Rifle: Semi-Auto .22LR	345
43	Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 Rifle: Semi-Auto .22LR	351
44	Firearm Cleaning and Maintenance	355
45	Affordable Gun Cleaning Oil and Lubricant	359
	Ammunition:
46	How to Reload Ammunition	361
47	Cost Comparison: Factory Loaded - Hand Loaded Ammo	403
	Index	407
	About the Author	412

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Grandpappy's e-mail address is: RobertWayneAtkins@hotmail.com