pistol

A pistol is a handheld firearm designed to be fired with one hand, though many shooters brace it with the other. Pistols are a subset of handguns and differ from long guns by their shorter barrel and grip. They are chambered to fire metallic cartridges and are operated by a trigger.

The two principal configurations are revolvers and semi-automatic pistols. Revolvers use a rotating cylinder holding multiple cartridges and deliver a single shot per trigger pull. Semi-automatic pistols eject the spent cartridge and chamber a new one with each trigger pull, using a magazine as a source.

In terms of mechanism, pistols can be hammer-fired or striker-fired, and can use blowback or locked-breech actions depending on caliber. Modern pistols commonly employ polymer frames and stainless-steel or aluminum components.

Historically, early pistol designs appeared in the 16th–17th centuries as single-shot flintlock or percussion pistols. The development of cartridges and repeating mechanisms in the 19th century led to modern revolvers and semi-automatic pistols. The 20th century saw standard-issue military pistols and widespread civilian ownership, with models such as the Colt 1911 and Glock families becoming highly influential.

Pistols are used in law enforcement, military, sport shooting, competition, and personal defense. They are subject to varying legal restrictions by country and region, including licensing, age limits, and storage requirements. Safety practices emphasize proper training, safe handling, and secure storage.