In regards to improvised weapons, here is a link to an older book which I found to be an excellent primer on improvised weapons when I was a newly minted street cop.
http://www.amazon.com/Equalizers-Bla..._bxgy_b_text_c
The prose can be a little dramatic and a couple of ideas are perhaps a little overly optimistic , but overall I found it to be a a good book that really opened my eyes to the utility of everyday items as weapons when I was young and naive.
The knowledge and mindset I gained from this book saved me from injury a few times when I was working the street.