THE SERVICE REVOLVER AND HOW TO USE IT. By Captain C.D. Tracy, The King's Own Royal Lancaster Regt. The School of Musketry, Bisley.

ND (c.1918) 1st edition. 16mo (112 x 165mm). Pp128. B/w photographs and line drawings. Blue boards, revolver motif and titles printed in black on upper board, spine untitled. Price 3/- net.

"This little book, comprising the leading features of the author's methods of instruction in the use of the Service Revolver, has been compiled in response to the repeated and pressing representations of his brother officers in the Service. As these methods are conveyed by lectures and individual oral instruction, and demonstrations, to large numbers of pupils, it is held desirable that authentic details should be embodied in print, so as to guard against undesirable, often unintentional innovations, or departures from practices of proved value." Contents include:- Revolver versus automatic pistol; Practical method; Characteristics of the revolver; Correct habit; The standard grip; The fit of the pistol to the hand; Sizes of stocks; Selecting a revolver; Stance; Eyes; Pointing; Faults; Developing the pointing sense; Preliminary instruction in pointing, grip, and vertical lift; Exactitude of grip; Firmness of grip; Strength of grip; Vertical lift; Common faults; Trigger pressing; The squeeze of the hand; Diagrams on targets; Faults in trigger pressing; Range drill; Loading and unloading; Clearing a jam; Manipulation and faults; The point of aim; Two ways of firing; The off hand method; Advantage of off hand method; Common faults; Flinching; Tests; Off hand firing instruction; Grouping; Tin shooting; Application; Deliberate aim; Prone method; Long ranges; Angles of elevation; Deliberate aim (standing); Double action; Rapid fire; Double or trigger action; Firing in a wind; Moving targets; Holsters; The draw; How to draw the pistol; How to practise the draw; Hip shooting; Other ways of firing at close quarters; The offensive spirit; Doors and how to enter; Shooting in the dark; On active service; Selecting rounds; The trench attack practice; Hints to instructors at the firing point; The pistol hand; Handling two pistols at the same time; Speed shooting; The stop watch; The "Webley" pistol; Weight of trigger pull; Care and cleaning; Cartidge carriers; "Prideaux" loader; Revolver bayonets; Cartridges; Lanyards; Revolver practice ranges; Danger areas; Range appliances; Range rules; Muscle exercise; Empty pistol exercises; Mounted firing. Charles Dunlop Tracy, born in Chichester, 1870, died in Ipswich, 1948, was an artist of some note specialising mainly in seascapes. He enlisted in the Royal Artillery in 1914 eventually rising to the rank of Captain. He was an expert on the use of the handgun in First World War trench warfare.