Cold Steel (Paperback or Softback)

This post-war military combatives classic by John Styers showcases how US Marine Corps Close Combat was taught in the 1950's.

1952's Cold Steel is primarily designed for a military audience, with a large proportion of the manual focusing on the art of bayonet fencing, use of the dismounted bayonet and stick.

It also covers the fundamentals of unarmed combat and even a portion on knife throwing for practice and combat. Cold Steel is absolutely military combatives of the early cold war as it looks at evolutions and changes from that hard-won experience. That said one can readily trace many of the techniques and tactics to WW2's warfighting curricula.

Descriptions are concise and easily understood with all sections benefitting from large format and are crystal clear and simple to follow.

The guide is proud of its lineage, crediting the Marine instructors and forebears who helped formulate this curricula including the notable Colonel Biddle. It's stated that over 50,000 US Marines were taught the methods within the book across several national and international bases.