The low-tech, high-impact tomahawk has been carried in every American war, including Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq. Here the author traces the origins of the tomahawk and uses his dynamic drawings to show how it can be utilized singly or with the long knife in both offensive and defensive encounters. Includes fighting scenarios, throwing lessons and applications of the war club.

The 2004 book The Fighting Tomahawk revolutionized modern study of the combat use of the American tomahawk. Now, author Dwight McLemore presents an expanded course in every aspect of this formidable, iconic weapon. In The Fighting Tomahawk, Volume II, McLemore shares additional details, thoughts, and informed speculation on the tomahawk of the American frontier of the 18th and 19th centuries and the explorers, settlers, long hunters, traders, and Indians who used it. He has mined original historical sources from the colonial era to develop more in-depth insight and instruction in such essential areas as cutting, chopping, using the back spike, frontier "rough and tumble" fighting, throwing the hawk, and training with and without a partner. As always, the centerpiece of McLemore's latest book is the hundreds of precise illustrations depicting step-by-step details on wielding the hawk in training and combat. Anyone who uses a tomahawk today—armed professionals, martial artists, historical reenactors, and stage combatants—will gain valuable insights into this hallmark weapon of the traditional American blade arts.

In this third volume of Michael Logusz’s epic study of the Wilderness War of 1777, a sizable British military force, augmented with German and loyalist soldiers, attacks the Northern Army’s southern front in the fall of 1777 in hopes of assisting a much larger British Army that is threatened to the north of New York City in the wilderness region of Saratoga. In previous works on the Wilderness War, Logusz deftly described General John Burgoyne’s efforts in the Saratoga campaign. He covered the exploits of British general Barry St. Leger and the convergence of British, German, Canadian mercenary, loyalist, and Indian forces toward Albany. In this third installment, Logusz presents how British general Sir William Howe was to advance northward from New York City with a force of almost twenty thousand regulars accompanied with a strong river naval force to link up with the two other commanders in Albany. Capturing Albany would not only deny the provincials a vital town on the edge of a wilderness, but also cut off the entire region of New England from the rest of the newly established nation. Instead, Howe decided to pursue Washington in Pennsylvania, leaving behind British general Sir Henry Clinton in New York City to deal with the city's lingering troubles and the events to the north. The book vividly describes the hardships encountered by the patriots fighting for independence and their opponents, along with Clinton’s experiences in and around New York City, West Point, and the Hudson Valley region. Logusz illustrates in depth the terrain, tactics, and terror of the multifaceted Wilderness War of 1777. Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in history--books about World War II, the Third Reich, Hitler and his henchmen, the JFK assassination, conspiracies, the American Civil War, the American Revolution, gladiators, Vikings, ancient Rome, medieval times, the old West, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

McLemore builds on the foundation of Bowie and Big-Knife Fighting System to teach you more complex fighting techniques with the Bowie knife. Using the same highly effective workbook format, McLemore pairs step-by-step instructions with realistic illustrations to make the fighting sequences come alive. His uncanny ability to convey subtle motion and movement in his drawings allows readers to fully understand and learn the dynamic art of knife fighting. Progressive drillscombine techniques into sequences designed to show you how to maximize time, distance and movement to create openings for attacking or defending yourself against one or more opponents.

In 1758, at the height of the French and Indian War, British Brigadier General John Forbes led his army on a methodical advance against Fort Duquesene, French headquarters in the Ohio valley. As his army closed in upon the fort, he sent Major Grant of the 77th Highlanders and 850 men on a reconnaissance in force against the fort. The French, alerted to this move, launched their own counter-raid. 500 French and Canadians, backed by 500 Indian allies, ambushed the highlanders and sent them fleeing back to the main army. With the success of that operation, the French planed their own raid against the English encampment at Fort Ligonier under less than fifty miles away. With only 600 men, against an enemy strength of 4,000, he ordered a daring night attack on the heart of the enemy encampment. This book tells the complete story of these ambitious raids and counter-raids, giving in-depth detail on the forces, terrain, and tactics.

This valuable training guide provides insight into Jim Bowie, the "Bowie knife" and the fighting systems associated with both. Reminiscent of art found in early fencing manuals, the 200+ pen-and-ink drawings in this book are so skillfully executed that they vividly convey the movement of the training sequences. Whether you want to learn to fight with a big blade or just want to find out more about Bowie, this book is for you.

The kukri is one of the oldest combat/utility knives in existence today. Recognized as the national weapon of Nepal, the kukri has been associated with the British Army's fearsome Gurkha brigades since their creation. The unique downward slope of the blade gives the kukri its distinctive look and renowned ability to effect powerful, accurate cuts. In this latest addition to his "Fighting Weapons" series, Dwight McLemore explores the full range of kukri training and deployment. He presents a sprinkling of history with informed discussions of fighting approaches and numerous training exercises on cutting, thrusting, blocking, and the associated movement of a kukri fight. By mixing modern and historical concepts and illustrating the text with hundreds of his highly acclaimed instructional drawings, McLemore has created the first and perhaps ultimate training guide to this unique weapon. The Fighting Kukri is a must for martial artists, blade enthusiasts, historical reenactors, fight directors of stage and screen, and men and women of the armed forces.