A hardback copy of "The SPIW: The Deadliest Weapon that Never Was" by Stevens and Ezell in very good condition overall with the original dust sleeve. "The SPIW: The Deadliest Weapon That Never Was" is a highly regarded military history book by authors R. Blake Stevens and Edward C. Ezell. Published in 1985, it chronicles the United States Army's Cold War-era program to develop a futuristic, flechette-firing combat rifle.The book details the fascinating, decade-long SPIW (Special Purpose Individual Weapon) program, which ran from the early 1950s through the late 1960s. The Army wanted a lightweight, revolutionary infantry rifle that could fire bursts of tiny, lethal darts (flechettes) and incorporate a piggyback 40mm grenade launcher, all while weighing less than the standard M1 Garand. Despite massive investments, the technology was never fully perfected and the program was ultimately canceled without replacing the M16. Used copies of this book sell on Amazon for $224.95 right now. Bidders are welcome to preview items in person during our normal operating hours Tuesday through Saturday 11am-6pm. Estimated shipping parcel size (LxWxH) 18 inches x 14 inches x 4 inches. Please note, shipping estimates are provided for LiveShipping calculations only and may vary based on weight and location. The auction house will combine multiple lots to reduce shipping cost. Please inform the auction house prior to paying your invoice for special shipping requests. Our primary method of shipping is via UPS Ground.