Mantrapping

by Ragnar Benson

Softcover. black and white illustrations. Based on Ragnar's own mantrapping experiences while on special assignments in Asia, Africa, North and South America and Cuba.

Genres: Survival

83 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1981

Reviews

[Eric Martindale · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually read this book years ago, but just stumbled onto it while book-surfing here on Goodreads. This is a good book, and it includes some pretty simple traps and snares; however, many of them are unrealistically difficult to build outside of a workshop. True, most employ very simple materials (sticks, twine, wire, etc.), but they do require a degree of precision in order to gain any degree of efficiency or reliability.

I have read other books by Ragnar Benson, and if you do a bit of research, he is the "real deal". He truly draws from a wealth of real-world experience, and any of us would be fortunate to find ourselves next to him in any number of survival scenarios.

I do need to note that although there might be some value in using one of these in a survival situation, I can't for the life of me think of what one is supposed to do with a man once he traps him.

[James · Rating 1 out of 5]

The idea of the boobytrapper is much more entertaining than the sad lonely reality of the boobytrapper, a neglected artist, whittling away at pointed sticks, and for who? Will not anyone come and deploy his traps? I'm going to let my kids read this one day. I think it could be fun for youngsters. For the grownups they should write a better book about castle traps and call it Castle Traps, with big elaborate killing mechanisms, indoors, with like pits and chutes for the remains, and maybe also a spinoff TV show contest for rich Europeans to see who could have the best hometraps. Fuck I'm brilliant.