Introducing the CIA Boobytraps Field Manual - a gritty, no-nonsense softcover pulled from the era when manuals were written for boots on the ground. This isn't a slick coffee-table reprint that just looks cool. It's a straight shot of old-school field wisdom, based on the classic U.S. Army FM 5-31 "Boobytraps" manual from the 1960s. Inside you'll find how troops were taught to think about traps, how they planned them, the gear they used, and how they stayed alive around them. If you're into real survival history, guerrilla tactics, or you just like learning how things actually worked, this book hits the mark.

Let's set the tone. This manual was built for soldiers. It talks about principles, not fluff. You'll see the big picture first. What a boobytrap is. Why it works. What the "firing chain" is. How pressure, pull, tension release, and chemical delays trigger a blast. It teaches mindset and method. Not movie scenes. When you flip these pages, you get the framework a field engineer would use to plan, place, spot, and neutralize traps in the real world. That's what makes it so useful for preppers and history nerds today.

The early chapters break down how these devices operate. You'll learn how small sensitive parts set off bigger charges, why placement matters, and how simple tricks can mess with a trained enemy. You'll read the same core doctrines soldiers were handed: control curiosity, clean up your sign, and make the enemy doubt every step. That head game is half the battle. Once you get that, the rest of the book clicks.

Then the manual walks through planning and installation. It's blunt. Pick the right spot. Keep records. Coordinate with your team. Arm last. Leave the site clean. If you've ever wondered how a unit actually executes something like this under pressure, this is where you see the process. There's even guidance on reporting, marking, and the chain of command. Sounds dry until you realize why it's there. In the field, sloppy paperwork can get your own people hurt. The manual doesn't let that slide.

One of the most interesting sections is the gear rundown. You'll see period firing devices, pressure triggers, pull igniters, time delays, blasting caps, detonating cord, and shaped charges explained in simple terms. These aren't YouTube gadgets. They're the actual items soldiers trained with, pictured and labeled so you can understand what's what. If you collect surplus or study Cold-War era kit, this chapter alone is worth the read.

After that, the book gets into construction techniques and real scenarios. Minefields. Buildings. Terrain. Doors and windows. Bridges and paths. There's a reason this stuff shows up in stories from World War II to Vietnam. It worked. The manual shows how soldiers were taught to think through choke points, movement patterns, and likely mistakes. It also covers detection and removal. That's huge. Knowing how boobytraps are built is only half the skill. Knowing how to find and defeat them is what keeps you breathing.

This isn't a "how to hurt people" book. It's a historic field manual that shows you the logic of a dangerous environment so you respect it. Modern preppers like it because it teaches pattern recognition. You start seeing why a doorframe is risky, why debris piles make you suspicious, why an "easy" path might be the worst choice. That mindset translates to smarter movement and better risk checking in any rough situation.

We also like it for the comparisons. You get U.S. standards side by side with foreign approaches from the same era. Different armies solved the same problems in different ways. That contrast gives you a broad view of fieldcraft that's rare in newer books. Again, it's not about building anything at home. It's about understanding the playbook so you don't get played.

Real talk. This book reads like a briefing. Short lines. Clear diagrams. No fluff. It's perfect for anyone who loves practical manuals, old tactical doctrine, or Cold-War history. Toss it in your ruck, your truck, or on your workbench. Use it as a study guide, a reference, or just a solid piece of military history. It's a conversation starter, too. People see the skull on the cover and they're going to ask about it. You'll have more than a story. You'll have the source.

A quick anecdote from a weekend field class. We were clearing a mock training site set up with inert traps. Nothing live. Just fishing line, mousetraps, blank igniters, and noise makers. The only team that breezed through didn't charge, didn't overthink, and didn't touch anything they didn't have to. They scanned likely trigger points first. Door headers. Floorboards. Window sash paths. That checklist came straight out of this manual's way of thinking. When your brain runs that playbook, you stay a step ahead. This book teaches that step.

If you're building a survival library or you love old military guides, this is a must-have. It's useful. It's readable. And it's the real thing. Add it to your kit and learn how the pros thought about traps, safety, and survival under pressure.

CIA Boobytraps Field Manual Highlights:

• Softcover reprint of the classic FM 5-31 "Boobytraps" field manual (1965 era source content).
• Covers principles of operation, planning, installation, detection, and removal.
• Includes firing devices, explosives, grenades, mortar rounds, artillery shells, and more for historical study.
• Step-by-step doctrine on site selection, arming last, record-keeping, and safe movement.
• Practical diagrams and straightforward language for fast learning in the field.
• Great for preppers, survival students, reenactors, and Cold-War history fans.
• Compact reference you can stash in a go-bag, glove box, or workshop shelf.

FAQ's:

Is this an instructional bomb book?
It's a historical military field manual reprint. It explains how soldiers were trained to think about boobytraps, including detection and safety, for historical and educational purposes. We recommend handling the content responsibly.

Does the book include modern gear?
No. It focuses on period equipment and doctrine. That's the value. You get original methods and terminology that shaped later training.

Why do preppers like it?
Mindset. It teaches you to spot risk, avoid bad paths, and think like a field engineer. Those habits help in any austere environment, even without explosives in the picture.

Is this legal to own?
It's a historical field manual. Printed books like this are widely available for collectors, students, and historians.

Will it make me an expert?
No book can do that. But it will give you a sharp foundation for understanding how traps are planned, placed, found, and defeated. It's a serious resource, not a toy.

---

• We Ship Fast! Most orders ship within the same day (excluding weekends & holidays).
• Free Shipping on Orders Over $35
• $6.95 Flat-Rate Shipping on Orders Under $35
• California Consumers:
   WARNING: Cancer and Reproductive Harm - https://www.p65warnings.ca.gov/
• Questions? Email Service@KarateMart.com