BLADES & SPIKES
Edged weapons and spikes have been an integral part of mans armoury from the very earliest times, and although other forms of weaponry have been continuously developed into highly sophisticated killing implements, the knife has remained a fairly basic tool. However, everything is not always as it appears to be and this section illustrates how an immense variety of blades and spikes can, at first sight, appear to be somewhat innocuous items. A wound from a blade or spike will fall into one of three categories: an immobiliser, a bleeder or a killer. A power slash or a hook thrust delivered by even a semi-skilled knife fighter to vital targets on the human body can cause death in 10 seconds or less. Other strikes may be fatal but it can take longer before death occurs.

STRIKING WEAPONS
This section illustrates a variety of weapons whose specific purpose is to kill, render a person unconscious or severely impede motor functions by disrupting the internal structure or organs of the body. The simplest form of striking weapon is the primitive club. Over the centuries such weapons have often been made more lethal by the introduction of sharp edges or sharpened points. Every culture has developed striking weapons of some type, the most devastating of which are flails or flexible weapons as they offer greater speed and power for the users effort when compared to a truncheon or knuckle-duster. Practically everything we come into contact with in our daily lives could be used as a striking weapon, however some of the items illustrated here can be particularly awesome in their effect.

PERSONAL DEFENCE WEAPONS
Many nations allow their citizens to carry weapons with which to defend themselves in the event of being attacked. The types of weapon allowed varies from country to country, for example firearms can be carried in some parts of the United States by members of the public.
However, in Japan and the United Kingdom all types of weapon are banned. Somewhere in between there are weapons which many countries accept as a non-lethal self defence option, this category will be the focus of this section. Tear gas sprays and electronic stunners are viewed as anti-mugging devices, however they can and have been used offensively, often with fatal consequences.
As these weapons are on open sale in many parts of the world, criminals are able to acquire them easily and exploit their misuse in countries where they are banned.

FIREARMS
This section is not intended to be the definitive, illustrated history of firearms, nor does it attempt to show every firearm that has been produced. Its purpose is however, to illustrate the versatility and ingenuity that has been lavished on firearms design for almost 700 years. The handgun has been produced in a vast variety of shapes and sizes; some are no longer than five or seven centimetres and a few even smaller, weighing only a few grams. Whether you see them as a murderous weapon or a fascinating work of art and masterpiece of engineering, they all have one thing in common; that is they will deliver a bullet which can create permanent and temporary wound cavities of sufficient magnitude to overload the bodys capacity to successfully respond. In other words they will all kill you.

THROWN & PROPELLED WEAPONS
Weapons thrown by hand are a primitive demonstration of aggression. They all originate from sticks and stones, which eventually developed into spears and other simple hand held weapons made specifically for throwing at an enemy or for hunting. Although they are simple in concept, throwing weapons have one thing in common; they all require a high degree of skill and strength to make them efficient. However, once this skill has been acquired, a hand thrown missile can give the user a massive tactical and psychological advantage.
The power and effective range of this type of weapon can be considerably enhanced by the use of a number of simple devices such as catapults and slings, which concentrate the power and accuracy of the discharged missile. Thrown and propelled weapons have been highly efficient killing tools for thousands of years, and still are today.

WEAPON CONCEALMENT
For thousands of years assassins, spies and the like have resorted to the 'cloak and dagger' method of carrying weapons between locations for storage and action. Today that term is a metaphor for covert activity and this section will highlight some well-known cloaking techniques which have been used by persons carrying weapons. Deep concealment, such as taping a knife to the flesh of the back, will be employed when weapons are required to be smuggled through some form of screening regime. This could be when crossing international borders, or going into prisons and airports where the person may be searched. Alternatively, it may mean concealment about the person in such a way that the weapon can be accessed very quickly for use. A classic example would be a firearm carried in a shoulder holster.

IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES
Since the discovery of gunpowder over a thousand years ago, Improvised Explosive Devices (homemade bombs) have been the classic weapon of the anarchist or revolutionary. They have been used to both damage property and kill people. Improvised devices are made from whatever materials are at hand to the bomb maker, as such devices are not available either ready made or on open sale. Over the past 50 years, millions of lives around the world have been lost due to IED's planted by schoolboys, cranks, protestors, criminals or terrorists. In order to avert disaster it is essential for the security forces to recognise such devices quickly. Although a comprehensive record of IED's is beyond the scope of this section, it does show a selection of well known devices.
The next volume of The Prohibited and Concealable Weapons Manual will be dedicated to that entire topic.