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A manual of arms was an instruction book for handling and using weapons in 
Typical examples of rules and procedures can be found in the 1764 manual. It was used by both sides at the start of the
formation
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, whether in the field or on parade. Such manuals were especially important in the matchlock
A matchlock or firelock is a historical type of firearm wherein the gunpowder is ignited by a burning piece of rope that is touched to the gunpowder by a mechanism that the musketeer activates by pulling a lever or trigger with his finger. Befor ...
and flintlock
Flintlock is a general term for any firearm that uses a flint-striking ignition mechanism, the first of which appeared in Western Europe in the early 16th century. The term may also apply to a particular form of the mechanism itself, also know ...
eras, when loading and firing was a complex and lengthy process typically carried out in close order. When capitalized, the term has reference to one of several important manuals, such as the British
British may refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies.
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Army manual of 1764, the manual of Frederick the Great
Frederick II (german: Friedrich II.; 24 January 171217 August 1786) was King in Prussia from 1740 until 1772, and King of Prussia from 1772 until his death in 1786. His most significant accomplishments include his military successes in the S ...
or Von Steuben's ''Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States
''Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States'' was a drill manual written by Inspector General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben during the American Revolutionary War. Commissioned to train troops at Valley Forge, Steu ...
'', adopted by the Continental Army in 1777. The positions and evolutions contained in such manuals have become the standard for parade drill throughout most of the world.
Typical examples of rules and procedures can be found in the 1764 manual. It was used by both sides at the start of the American Revolution
The American Revolution was an ideological and political revolution that occurred in British America between 1765 and 1791. The Americans in the Thirteen Colonies formed independent states that defeated the British in the American Revoluti ...
.
*Stance: stand straight, head right, shoulders square, stomach in, chest out, heels close, toes turned out a little.
*Holding the weapon: on the left shoulder, forefinger and thumb to the side of the stock, the other three holding the butt.
*Timing: each motion to be done on a count of "one, two".
Such manuals contain various evolutions, such as the twelve or so steps needed to load, ready and fire, and steps for fixing bayonets, forming line (for firing), column (for bayonet charges) or square
In Euclidean geometry, a square is a regular quadrilateral, which means that it has four equal sides and four equal angles (90- degree angles, π/2 radian angles, or right angles). It can also be defined as a rectangle with two equal-length a ...
(for repelling cavalry).
A second example is the manual used for training of Union troops in 1861. While not always dictating the stance (as reference is made to loading from horseback), specific instructions were given for drawing on command (specifically the rifle and pistol), loading, firing, cease-firing, inspecting and returning the weapons to their carrying position (slinging the carbine, or holstering the revolver).
During World War I, Askari
An askari (from Somali, Swahili and Arabic , , meaning "soldier" or "military", which also means "police" in the Somali language) was a local soldier serving in the armies of the European colonial powers in Africa, particularly in the African G ...
troops under General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck
Paul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck (20 March 1870 – 9 March 1964), also called the Lion of Africa (german: Löwe von Afrika), was a general in the Imperial German Army and the commander of its forces in the German East Africa campaign. For four ye ...
in German East Africa were taught the German manual of arms. In 1964 the West German government decided to pay the survivors for their service long ago, and set up an office in Tanganyika for this purpose. Hundreds of old men arrived and asked for their money, but almost none could provide physical evidence of having served. The bankers tested each by giving him a broomstick and ordering him in German to perform the manual of arms. They all passed.
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