Limpistol

Limpistol is a term used primarily in science fiction, gaming, and speculative design to denote a pistol-like device that delivers non-lethal or incapacitating effects rather than conventional ballistic ammunition. It is not a real-world, standardized firearm, and there is no single canonical model associated with the term.

In fictional settings, limpistols can employ a variety of technologies. Common concepts include electrical or sonic discharges, chemical or aerosol agents, adhesive or gel projectiles that immobilize a target, or compressed-gas mechanisms that produce disabling effects. Designs typically emphasize temporary incapacitation, reduced harm, and non-penetrating operation, though depictions vary widely in power, range, and safety features.

Limpistols appear in cyberpunk and dystopian narratives, role-playing games, and indie video games as tools for containment, crowd control, or surveillance rather than lethal force. They are often used to explore ethical questions about escalation, civil liberties, and the balance between security and personal safety within fictional worlds.

Because limpistol is a concept rather than a real, standardized device, there are no universally accepted specifications or performance metrics. The term serves as a flexible label for pistol-like devices designed to incapacitate or deter without traditional lethality.

See also: non-lethal weapons, stun devices, tasers, pepper spray, gel rounds.