Jump to content

Handgun

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the firearm. For the film, seeHandgun (film).For the songs, seeHandgun (DaBaby song)andHandgun (YG song).
"Handguns" redirects here. For the band, seeHandguns (band).
Modern handguns (clockwise from top left)Glock 22*Glock 21*Kimber Stainless Raptor II*Dan Wesson Commander Classic Bobtail*Smith and Wesson 340PD*Ruger Blackhawk*Ruger SP101*SIG Sauer P220 Combat.

Ahandgunis afirearmdesigned to be usable with only one hand.[1]It is distinguished from along gun(i.e.carbine,rifle,shotgun,submachine gun,ormachine gun) which needs to be held by both hands and braced against the shoulder. Handguns have shortereffective rangescompared to long guns, and are much harder to shoot accurately. While most early handguns aresingle-shotpistols,the two most common types of handguns used in modern times arerevolversandsemi-automatic pistols,although other handguns such asderringersandmachine pistolsalso see infrequent usage.

Before commercialmass production,handguns were often considered abadgeof office – comparable to aceremonialsword– as they had limited utility and were more expensive than the long guns of the era. In 1836,Samuel Coltpatented theColt Paterson,the first practical mass-produced revolver, which was capable of firing five shotsin rapid successionand quickly became a popular personal weapon, giving rise to the saying, "God created men, but Colt made them equal."[2][3]Today, in most of the world, handguns are primarily used bypoliceandmilitary officersassidearms.However, in theUnited Statesand some other countries that allowgun ownership,handguns are also available to civilians asself-defenseweapons.

Definition[edit]

TheEncyclopaedia Britannicadefines a handgun as "any firearm small enough to be held in one hand when fired";[4]while the AmericanWebster's Dictionarydefines it as "a firearm (such as arevolverorpistol) designed to be held and fired with one hand ".[5]

Among theAnglophone countries,neither theBureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives(ATF), which is part of theUnited States Department of Justiceor theGovernment of the United Kingdom,who are in charge of American and Britishfirearms licensingrespectively, offer any specific legal definitions of a handgun. The ATF, however, does separately define "handgun – pistol" and "handgun – revolver" under its "Terminology & Nomenclature" section, both with the "pistol-type" description of "a weapon originally designed, made, and intended to fire aprojectile(bullet) from one or more barrels when held in one hand ".[6]

TheCanadian Criminal Codedefines a handgun as "a firearm that is designed, altered or intended to be aimed and fired by the action of one hand, whether or not it has been redesigned or subsequently altered to be aimed and fired by the action of both hands".[7]

TheAustralian gun laws,which are based on theNational Firearms Agreement(1996) and interpreted and enforced independently by eachstate or territory,consider a "handgun" a firearm that:

  1. is reasonably capable of being carried or concealed about the person; or
  2. is reasonably capable of being raised and fired by one hand; or
  3. does not exceed 65 centimetres (26 in) in length measured parallel to the barrel.[8]

History[edit]

Hand cannons[edit]

Main articles:Hand cannonandHuochong
Hand cannonfrom the ChineseYuan dynasty(1271–1368).

Firearmsstarted inChinawheregunpowder was first developed.The oldest known bronze barrel handgun is theHeilong gian g hand cannonin 1288.[9]It is 34 cm (13.4 inches) long without a handle and weighs 3.55 kg (7.83 pounds). The diameter of the powder chamber is 6.6 cm (2.6 inches)[10]while the diameter of the interior at the end of thebarrelis 2.5 cm (1.0 inch).[11]The barrel is the lengthiest part of the hand cannon at 6.9 inches long.[12]

The hand cannon has a bulbous base at thebreechcalled theYoshi(Dược thất), orgunpowderchamber, where the explosion that propels theprojectileoccurs.[9][13]The walls of the powder chamber are noticeably thicker to better withstand the explosive pressure of the gunpowder.[13]The powder chamber also has atouch hole,a small hole for the fuse that ignites the gunpowder.[14]Behind the gunpowder chamber is a socket shaped like a trumpet where the handle of the hand cannon is inserted.[12]The bulbous shape of the base gave the earliest Chinese and Western cannons a vase-like or pear-like appearance, which gradually disappeared when advancements inmetallurgicaltechnology made the bulbous base obsolete.[15]

In 1432,Joseondynasty under the reign ofSejong the Greatintroduced the world's first handgun named se-chongtong (세총통). Se-chongtong has a total length of 13.8 cm, an inner diameter of 0.9 cm, and an outer diameter of 1.4 cm. Se-chongtong is held by cheolheumja (철흠자, iron tong-handle), which allows quick change barrel for the next shot, and fires chase-jeon (차세전, a type of standardized arrow of Joseon) with a maximum fatal range of 200 footsteps (≈250 meters). Initially, Joseon considered the gun as a failed project due to its short effective range, but se-chongtong quickly saw usage after fielding to the frontier provinces starting in June 1437. Se-chongtong was used by both soldiers of different units and civilians, including women and children, as a personal defense weapon. The gun was notably used by chetamja (체탐자, special reconnaissance), whose mission was to infiltrate enemy territory, and bycarabinierscarrying multiple guns benefited from its compact size.[16][17][18]

Matchlocks[edit]

Main article:Matchlock
Early Germanmusketwith serpentine lock

Thematchlockappeared in Europe in the mid-15th century.[19] The matchlock was the first mechanism invented to facilitate the firing of a hand-held firearm. The classic European matchlock gun held a burning slow match in a clamp at the end of a small curved lever known as the serpentine. Upon the pulling of a lever (or in later models a trigger) protruding from the bottom of the gun and connected to the serpentine, the clamp dropped down, lowering the smoldering match into the flash pan and igniting the priming powder. The flash from the primer traveled through thetouch holeigniting the main charge of propellant in the gun barrel.

On the release of the lever or trigger, the spring-loaded serpentine would move in reverse to clear the pan. For obvious safety reasons, the match would be removed before reloading the gun. Both ends of the match were usually kept alight in case one end should be accidentally extinguished.

Wheellocks[edit]

Main article:Wheellock
A wheellock pistol orPuffer,Augsburg,c. 1580

The wheellock was the next major development in firearms technology after thematchlockand the first self-igniting firearm. Its name comes from the rotating steel wheel which generates the ignition. Developed in Europe around 1500, it was used alongside the matchlock.

The wheellock works by spinning a spring-loaded steel wheel against a piece ofpyriteto generate intense sparks, which ignite gunpowder in a pan, which flashes through a small touchhole to ignite the main charge in the firearm's barrel. The pyrite is clamped invisejaws on a spring-loaded arm (or "dog" ), which rests on the pan cover. When the trigger is pulled, the pan cover is opened, and the wheel is rotated, with the pyrite pressed into contact.

A close modern analogy of the wheellock mechanism is the operation of acigarette lighter,where a toothed steel wheel is spun in contact with a piece of sparking material to ignite the liquid or gaseous fuel.

A wheellock firearm had the advantage that it could be instantly readied and fired even with one hand, in contrast to the then-common matchlock firearms, which required an operator to prepare a burning cord ofslow matchand demanded the operator's full attention and two hands to operate. On the other hand, wheellock mechanisms were complex to make, making them relatively expensive.

Flintlocks[edit]

Main article:Flintlock
Sparks generated by a flintlock mechanism
A flintlock pistolc. 1700–1730

A flintlock is a general term for any firearm that uses aflint-striking ignition mechanism. The term may also apply to a particular form of the mechanism itself, which was introduced in the early 17th century, and rapidly replaced earlier firearm-ignition technologies.

Flintlock pistols were used as self-defense weapons and as military arm. Their effective range was short, and they were frequently used as an adjunct to aswordorcutlass.These pistols were usuallysmoothborealthough somerifledpistols were produced.

Flintlock pistols came in a variety of sizes and styles which often overlap and are not well defined; many of the names used were applied by collectors and dealers long after the pistols were obsolete. The smallest were less than 15 cm (5.9 inches) long and the largest were over 51 cm (20 inches). From around the beginning of the 1700s the larger pistols got shorter so that by the late 1700s the largest were closer to 41 cm (16 inches) long. The smallest would fit into a typical pocket or a hand-warming muff and could easily be carried.

The largest sizes would be carried in holsters across a horse's back just ahead of the saddle. In-between sizes included the coat pocket pistol, or coat pistol, which would fit into a large pocket, coach pistols, meant to be carried on or under the seat of a coach in a bag or box, and belt pistols, sometimes equipped with a hook designed to slip over a belt or waistband. Larger pistols were called horse pistols.

A notable mechanical development of the flintlock pistol was the Englishduelling pistol;it was highly reliable, water resistant, and accurate. External decoration was typically minimal but the internal works were often finished to a higher degree of craftsmanship than the exterior. Duelling pistols were the size of the horse pistols of the late 1700s, around 41 cm (16 inches) long and were usually sold in pairs along with accessories in a wooden case with compartments for each piece.

Caplocks[edit]

Main article:Percussion cap
A typical caplock

The caplock mechanism or percussion lock was developed in the early 19th century and used apercussion capstruck by the hammer to set off the main charge, rather than using a piece of flint to strike a steelfrizzen.They succeeded theflintlock mechanisminfirearmtechnology.

The rudimentary percussion system was developed by ReverendAlexander John Forsythas a solution to the problem that birds would startle when smoke puffed from the powder pan of his flintlock shotgun, giving them sufficient warning to escape the shot.[20]

His invention of afulminate-primed firing mechanism deprived the birds of their early warning system, both by avoiding the initial puff of smoke from the flintlock powder pan, as well as shortening the interval between the trigger pull and the shot leaving the muzzle. Forsyth patented his ignition system in 1807. However, it was not until after Forsyth's patents expired that the conventional percussion cap system was developed.

The caplock offered many improvements over the flintlock. The caplock was easier to load, more resistant to weather, and was much more reliable than the flintlock. Many older flintlock weapons were later converted into caplocks so that they could take advantage of this increased reliability.[20]

The caplock mechanism consists of a hammer, similar to the hammer used in a flintlock, and a nipple (sometimes referred to as a "cone" ), which holds a small percussion cap. The nipple contains a tube that goes into the barrel. The percussion cap contains a chemical compound calledmercury fulminateor fulminate of mercury, the chemical formula of which is Hg(ONC)2.[20]It is made from mercury,nitric acid,and alcohol. When the trigger releases the hammer, it strikes the cap, causing the mercuric fulminate to explode. The flames from this explosion travel down the tube in the nipple and enter the barrel, where they ignite the main powder charge.[20]

Revolvers[edit]

Main article:Revolver

Percussion era[edit]

Colt Navy Mod 1851, cal.36

In 1836,Samuel Coltpatented theColt Paterson,the first practical mass-producedrevolver.It uses a revolvingcylinderwith multiplechambersaligned with a single, stationarybarrel.Initially, this 5-shot revolver was produced in.28caliber,with a.36 caliber model following a year later. As originally designed and produced, no loading lever was included with the revolver; a user had to partially disassemble the revolver to re-load it. Starting in 1839, a reloading lever and a capping window were incorporated into the design, allowing reloading without requiring partial disassembly of the revolver. This loading lever and capping window design change was also incorporated into most Colt Paterson revolvers that had been produced from 1836 until 1839.[21]Unlike later revolvers, a foldingtriggerwas incorporated into the Colt Paterson. The trigger only became visible upon cocking thehammer.

Colt would go on to make a series of improved revolvers. TheColt Walker,was asingle-actionrevolver with a revolving cylinder holding six charges ofblack powderbehind six bullets (typically.44 caliber lead balls). It was designed in 1846 as a collaboration betweenCaptain Samuel Hamilton Walkerand American firearms inventorSamuel Colt.The 1847 Colt Walker was the largest and most powerful black powder repeating handgun that was ever made.

TheColt 1851 Navy Revolveris acap and ballrevolverthat was designed bySamuel Coltbetween 1847 and 1850. The six-round.36 caliber Navy revolver was much lighter than the contemporaryColt Dragoon Revolversdeveloped from the.44Walker Coltrevolvers of 1847, which, given their size and weight, were generally carried in saddle holsters.[22]It is an enlarged version of the.31 caliberColt Pocket Percussion Revolvers,that evolved from the earlier Baby Dragoon and, like them, is a mechanically improved and simplified descendant of the 1836 Paterson revolver. As the factory designation implied, the Navy revolver was suitably sized for carrying in a belt holster. It became very popular in North America at the time ofWestern expansion.Colt's aggressive promotions distributed the Navy and his other revolvers across Europe, Asia, and Africa. The.36 caliber (.375–.380 inch) round lead ball weighs 80 grains and, at a velocity of 1,000 feet per second, is comparable to the modern.380pistol cartridge in power. Loads consist of loose powder and ball or bullet, metallic foil cartridges (early), and combustible paper cartridges (Civil War era), all combinations being ignited by a fulminatepercussion capapplied to the nipples at the rear of the chamber.

TheColt Army Model 1860is a 6-shotmuzzle-loadedcap & ball.44-calibersingle-actionrevolverused during theAmerican Civil Warmade byColt's Manufacturing Company.It was used as aside armbycavalry,infantry,artillerytroops, andnavalforces. More than 200,000 were manufactured from 1860 through 1873. Colt's biggest customer was the US Government with more than 129,730[23]units being purchased and issued to the troops. The weapon was asingle-action,six-shot weapon, accurate up to 75 to 100 yards, where the fixed sights were typically set when manufactured. The rear sight was a notch in the hammer, only usable when the revolver was fully cocked. The Colt.44-caliber "Army" Model was the most widely used revolver of the Civil War. It had a six-shot, rotating cylinder, and fired a 0.454-inch-diameter (11.5 mm) round spherical lead ball, or a conical-tippedbullet,typically propelled by a 30-grain charge ofblack powder,which was ignited by a small copperpercussion capthat contained a volatile charge offulminate of mercury(a substance that explodes upon being subjected to a sharp impact). The percussion cap, when struck by the hammer, ignited the powder charge. When fired, the balls had a muzzle velocity of about 900 feet per second (274 meters/second), although this depended on how much powder was loaded.

Metallic cartridge era[edit]

Smith & Wesson Army No 2 cal.32 Rimfire, 6-shot.

TheSmith & Wesson Model 1was the first firearm manufactured bySmith & Wesson,with production spanning the years 1857 through 1882. It was the first commercially successful revolver to use metallicrimfirecartridgesinstead of loosepowder,musket ball,andpercussion caps.It is asingle-action,tip-uprevolverholding seven.22 Shortblack powder cartridges.[24]

TheSmith & Wesson Model No. 2 Armyis a 6-shot,.32 caliber revolver, intended to combine the small size and convenience of the Smith & Wesson Model 1.22 rimfire with a larger more effective cartridge. It was manufactured 1861–1874, with a total production of 77,020 units.

TheSmith & Wesson Model 3was a 6-shot,single-action,cartridge-firing,top-breakrevolverproduced bySmith & Wessonfromc. 1870to 1915, and was recently offered again as a reproduction by Smith & Wesson andUberti.The S&W Model 3 was originally chambered for the.44 Americanand.44 Russiancartridges, and typically did not have the cartridge information stamped on the gun (as is standard practice for most commercial firearms). Model 3 revolvers were later produced in an assortment of calibers, including.44 HenryRimfire,.44-40,.32–44,.38–44, and.45 Schofield.The design would influence the smallerS&W.38 Single Actionthat is retroactively referred to as the Model 2.[25]All of these revolvers would automatically eject the spent shell cases when opened.

Colt Model 1873 Single-Action "New Model Army Metallic Cartridge Revolving Pistol"

TheColt Single Action Army,also known as the Single Action Army, SAA, Model P, Peacemaker, M1873, and Colt.45 is asingle-actionrevolverwith a revolvingcylinderholding sixmetallic cartridges.It was designed for the U.S. government service revolver trials of 1872 by Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company – today'sColt's Manufacturing Company– and was adopted as the standardmilitary service revolveruntil 1892. The Colt SAA has been offered in over 30 different calibers and variousbarrellengths. Its overall appearance has remained consistent since 1873. Colt has discontinued its production twice, but brought it back due to popular demand. The revolver was popular with ranchers, lawmen, and outlaws alike, but as of the early 21st century, models are mostly bought by collectors andCowboy Action Shooters.Its design has influenced the production of numerous other models from other companies. The Colt SAA "Peacemaker" revolver is a famous piece ofAmericanaknown as "The Gun That Won the West".[26][27][28]

In 1889, Colt introduced theModel 1889,the first truly modern double action revolver, which differed from earlier double action revolvers by having a "swing-out" cylinder, as opposed to a "top-break" or "side-loading" cylinder. Swing out cylinders quickly caught on, because they combined the best features of earlier designs. Top-break actions gave the ability to eject all empty shells simultaneously and exposed all chambers for easy reloading, but having the frame hinged into two halves weakened the gun and negatively affected accuracy due to lack of rigidity. "Side-loaders", like the earlier Colt Model 1871 and 1873 gave a rigid frame, but required the user to eject and load one cylinder at a time, as they rotated the cylinder to line each chamber up with the side-mounted loading gate.[29]

Smith & Wesson Model 36 is small, concealable, 5 shot,.38 Specialrevolver

Smith & Wesson followed 7 years later with the ''Hand Ejector, Model 1896'' in.32 S&W Longcaliber, followed by the very similar, yet improved,Model 1899 (later known as the Model 10),which introduced the new.38 Special cartridge. The Model 10 went on to become the best selling handgun of the 20th century, at 6,000,000 units, and the.38 Specialis still the most popular chambering for revolvers in the world. These new guns were an improvement over the Colt 1889 design since they incorporated a combined center-pin and ejector rod to lock the cylinder in position. The 1889 did not use a center pin and the cylinder was prone to move out of alignment.[29]

TheSmith & Wesson Model 36is a 5 shot,revolverchambered for.38 Special.It is one of several models of "J-frame" Smith & Wesson revolvers. It was introduced in 1950, and is still in production. The Model 36 was designed in the era just after World War II, when Smith & Wesson stopped producing war materials and resumed normal production. For the Model 36, they sought to design a revolver that could fire the more powerful.38 Specialround in a small, concealable package. Since the older I-frame was not able to handle this load, a new frame was designed, which became the Smith & Wesson J-frame.

Magnum era[edit]

Smith & Wesson Model 19 with its cylinder open, loaded with Norma.357 Magnum ammo.

The inventions of the metallic cartridge and then smokeless powder had allowed for dramatic improvements in handgun ballistics. Standardization and adherence to cartridge standards originating in the black powder cartridge era resulted in cartridge capacity in excess of peak combustion pressure standards.Smokeless powderdid not take up as much volume as black powder and cases like the.38 Specialand.45 Coltwere much larger than9×19mmand.45 ACPwhich had similar ballistics respectively. As metallurgy was improved, handloaders began experimenting with loading the.38 Specialand.44 Specialcartridges with fuller cases of smokeless propellants. By 1929, the ".38-44" cartridge and a large N-framedSmith & Wesson.38/44revolver chambered for this cartridge was available. By the 1930s, automobiles with heavy steel bodies had become popular and the improved ballistics of more powerful handguns was in demand. Colt had similarly introduced the.38 Super,simply a.38 ACPloaded to higher pressure with more powder. In 1935, Smith and Wesson released the Registered Magnum (later referred to as theSmith & Wesson Model 27) which was the first revolver chambered for.357 Magnum.It was designed as a more powerful handgun for law enforcement officers. The Registered Magnum marked the beginning of the "Magnum Era" of handguns. Notably,Elmer Keithcontinued to demonstrate and advocate the use of the.44 Specialat higher pressures. The high point of the Magnum Era was in 1955 when Smith & Wesson released theSmith & Wesson Model 29in.44 Magnum.Two decades later theDirty Harry moviesmade this gun a cultural icon.[30]TheS&W Model 19was also introduced in 1955, it is a.357 Magnum revolver produced by Smith & Wesson on its K-frame design. The Model 19 is smaller and lighter than the original the S&W Model 27.357 Magnums. It was made at the behest of retired Assistant Chief Patrol Inspector of the U.S. Border Patrol, famous gunfighter, and noted firearms and shooting skills writerBill Jordan.

Derringers[edit]

Main article:Derringer
Philadelphia Deringer made by Henry Deringer. This was thepocket pistolused byJohn Wilkes Boothin theAbraham Lincoln Assassination.

The originalPhiladelphia Deringerwas a single-shotmuzzleloadingpercussion cappistol introduced in 1852, byHenry Deringer.In total, approximately 15,000 Deringer pistols were manufactured.[31]All were single barrel pistols with back action percussion locks, typically.41 caliber with rifled bores, and walnut stocks. Barrel length varied from 1 "to 6", and the hardware was commonly a copper-nickel alloy known as "German silver".

The term derringer (/ˈdɛrɪndʒər/) has become a genericized misspelling of the last name ofHenry Deringer.[31]Many copies of the original Philadelphia Deringer pistol were made by other gun makers worldwide, and the name was often misspelled; this misspelling soon became an alternative generic term for anypocket pistol,along with the generic phrasepalm pistol,which Deringer's competitors invented and used in their advertising. With the advent ofmetallic cartridges,pistols produced in the modern form are still commonly called "derringers".[32]

Daniel Moore patented a single shot metallic cartridge.38 Rimfirederringer in 1861. These pistols have barrels that pivoted sideways on the frame to allow access to the breech for reloading. Moore would manufacture them until 1865, when he sold out toNational Arms Companywhich produced single shot.41 Rimfirederringers until 1870, when it was acquired byColt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company.Colt continued to produce the.41 Rimfire derringer after the acquisition, as an effort to help break into the metallic-cartridge gun market,[33]but also introduced its own three single shot Colt Derringer Models, all of them also chambered in the.41 Rimfire cartridge. The last model to be in production, the third Colt Derringer, was not dropped until 1912. The third Colt Derringer Model was re-released in the 1950s for western movies, under the name of Fourth Model Colt Deringer.

TheRemington Model 95derringer was one of the first metallic cartridge handguns. Small and easy to use, Remington manufactured more than 150,000 of these over-under, double-barreled derringers from 1866 until the end of their production in 1935.[34][35]TheRemingtonderringer doubled the capacity of the derringers designed by Daniel Moore, while maintaining a compact size. The Remington Model 95 has achieved such widespread popularity, that it has completely overshadowed its predecessors, becoming synonymous with the word "derringer". The Model 95 was made only in.41 Rimfire.Its barrels pivoted upwards to reload and a cam on the hammer alternated between top and bottom barrels. The.41 Rimfire bullet moved very slowly, at about 425 feet per second (130 m/s), around half the speed of a modern.45 ACP.It could be seen in flight, but at very close range, such as at acasinoorsalooncard table, it could easily kill. There were four models with several variations. The Remington derringer design is still being made; in a variety of calibers from.22 long rifleto.45 Long Coltand.410 gauge,by several manufacturers.[36]The current production of derringers are used byCowboy Action Shootersas well as a concealed-carry weapon.

While the classic Remington design is asingle-actionderringer with a hammer and tip-up action, theHigh Standard D-100introduced in 1962, is a hammer-less, double-action derringer with a half-trigger-guard and a standardbreak actiondesign. These double-barrel derringers were chambered for.22 Long Rifleand.22 Magnumand were available in blued, nickel, silver, and gold plated finishes. Although, they were discontinued in 1984,American Derringerwould obtain the High Standard design in 1990 and produce a larger.38 Specialversion. These derringers called the DS22 and DA38 are still being made and are popular concealed carry handguns.

TheCOP.357is a modern 4-shotDerringer-typepistolchambered for.357 Magnum.Introduced in 1983, it is adouble-actionweapon about twice as wide, and substantially heavier than the typical.25 automatic pistol.Still, it is relatively compact size and a powerful cartridge makes it an effectivedefensive weaponor apolicebackup gun.[37]The COP.357 is quite robust in design and construction. It is made of solid stainless steel components. Cartridges are loaded into the four separate chambers by sliding a latch that "pops-up" the barrel for loading purposes, similar to top-break shotguns. Each of the four chambers has its own dedicated firing pin. It uses an internal hammer, which is activated by depressing the trigger to hit a ratcheting/rotating striker that in turn strikes one firing pin at a time. Older "pepperboxes"also used multiple barrels, but the barrels were the part that rotated. The COP.357 operates similarly to theSharps derringerof the 1850s, in that it uses the ratcheting/rotating striker, which is completely internal, to fire each chamber in sequence.[37]

Semi-automatic pistols[edit]

Main article:Semi-automatic pistol
Mauser C96, the first mass-produced and commercially successful semi-automatic pistol

In 1896,Paul Mauserintroduced theMauser C96,the first mass-produced and commercially successful semi-automatic pistol, which uses therecoilenergy of one shot to reload the next. The distinctive characteristics of the C96 are the integral 10-round, box magazine in front of the trigger, the long barrel, the wooden shoulder stock which gives it the stability of a short-barreled rifle and doubles as a holster or carrying case, and a unique grip shaped like the handle of a broom. The grip earned the gun the nickname "broomhandle" in the English-speaking world, because of its round wooden handle.

ThePistole Parabellum,also known in the United States as just theLuger,[38]is a toggle-lockedrecoil-operatedsemi-automatic pistolproduced in several models and by several nations from 1898 to 1948. It was one of the first semi-auto pistols to use a detachable magazine housed in the pistol-grip. The design was first patented byGeorg Lugeras an improvement upon theBorchardt Automatic Pistol,and was produced as theParabellum Automatic Pistol, Borchardt-Luger Systemby the German arms manufacturerDeutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken(DWM).[39]The first production model was known as theModell 1900 Parabellum.[39]Later versions included the Pistol Parabellum Model 1908 or P08 which was produced by DWM and other manufacturers.[40]The first Parabellum pistol was adopted by the Swiss army in May 1900. In German Army service, the Parabellum was later adopted in modified form as the Pistol Model 1908 (P08) in caliber9×19mm Parabellum.[39]

TheColt Model 1911is a 7+1-round,single-action,semi-automatic,magazine-fed,recoil-operatedpistolchambered for the.45 ACPcartridge.[41]It served as the standard-issuesidearmfor theUnited States Armed Forcesfrom 1911 to 1986, however, due to its popularity, it has not been completely phased out. Designed byJohn Browning,the M1911 is the best-known of his designs to use theshort recoilprinciple in its basic design. The pistol was widely copied, and this operating system rose to become the preeminent type of the 20th century and of nearly all modern centerfire pistols. It is popular with civilian shooters in competitive events such asUSPSA,IDPA,International Practical Shooting Confederation,andBullseyeshooting. Compact variants are popular civilianconcealed carryweapons in the U.S. because of the design's relatively slim width andstopping power[42]of the.45 ACP cartridge.[43]

The Walther PPK is famous as fictional secret agentJames Bondused it in many of thefilmsandnovels:Ian Fleming's choice of the Walther PPK directly influenced its popularity and its notoriety.[44][45]

TheWalther PP(Polizeipistole,or 'police pistol') series were introduced in 1929 and are among the world's first successfuldouble action,blowback-operated,semi-automatic pistolsdeveloped by the GermanarmsmanufacturerCarl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen.[46][47]They feature exposed hammers, a traditionaldouble-actiontrigger mechanism,[48]a single-stack 8-roundmagazine(for.32 ACPversion), and a fixed barrel that also acts as the guide rod for the recoil spring. The Walther PP and smaller PPK models were both popular with European police and civilians for being reliable and concealable. They would remain the standard issue police pistol for much of Europe well into the 1970s and 80s. During World War II, they were issued to the German military, including theLuftwaffe.[47]

TheBrowning Hi Poweris a 13+1-round,single-action,semi-automatichandgun available in9mm.Introduced in 1935, it is based on a design by American firearms inventorJohn Browning,and completed byDieudonné SaiveatFabrique Nationale(FN) ofHerstal,Belgium. Browning died in 1926, several years before the design was finalized. The Hi-Power is one of the most widely used military pistols in history,[49]having been used by over 50 countries' armed forces.[50]The name "Hi Power" alludes to the 13-round magazine capacity, almost twice that of contemporary designs such as theLugerorColt M1911.The Browning was one of the first pistols to use high capacity, detachable magazines.

TheHeckler & Koch VP70is an 18+1 round,9×19mm,blowback-operated,double-action-only,select-fire,polymerframepistolmanufactured by German arms firmHeckler & Koch GmbH,introduced in 1970. The VP70 was a revolutionary pistol, introducing the polymer frame, predating theGlockby 12 years. It also uses a spring-loaded striker, instead of a conventional firing pin and has a relatively heavy double-action-only trigger pull. It also uses a high-capacity 18-round magazine, twice as many rounds as the single-column magazine designs of the era, and 5 more rounds than the Browning Hi-Power. In lieu of a blade front sight, the VP70 uses a polished ramp with a central notch in the middle to provide the illusion of a dark front post. Contrary to a common misconception, the VP70 does indeed have a manual safety. It is the circular button located immediately behind the trigger and it is a common crossblock safety. One unique feature of this weapon involved the combination stock/holster for the military version of the VP70. The stock incorporates a selector switch that, when mounted, allows for a three-round-burst mode of fire. Cyclic rate of fire for the burst is 2200 rounds per minute. When not mounted, the stock acts as a holster. VP stands forVolkspistole[51][52][53](literally 'People's Pistol'), and the designation 70 was for the first year of production: 1970.

TheSmith & Wesson Model 59was a 14+1-round,semi-automatic pistolintroduced in 1971.[54][55]It was the first standarddouble-actionpistol to use a high-capacity 14-round staggered-magazine. It went out of production a decade later in 1980 when the improved second generation series was introduced (the Model 459). The Model 459 was again improved into the third generation series, the 5904. Stainless steel versions of the second and third generation models were also widely popular, and were designated the Models 659 and 5906, respectively. The original Model 59 was manufactured in9×19mm Parabellumcaliber with a wider anodized aluminum frame (to accommodate a double-stack magazine), a straight backstrap, a magazine disconnect (the pistol will not fire unless a magazine is in place), and a blued carbon steel slide that carries the manual safety. The grip is of three pieces made of two nylon plastic panels joined by a metal backstrap. It uses a magazine release located to the rear of the trigger guard, similar to theColt M1911.

TheBeretta 92is a 15+1-round,9mm Parabellum,double-action,semi-automatic pistolintroduced in 1975. It has an openslidedesign, an alloyframeand locking blockbarrel,originally used on theWalther P38,and previously used on theM1951.The grip angle and the front sight integrated with the slide were also common to earlier Beretta pistols. What may be the Beretta 92's two most important advanced design features had first appeared on its immediate predecessor, the 1974.380 caliberModel 84.These improvements both involved the magazine, which featured direct feed; that is,

  • There was no feed ramp between the magazine and the chamber (a Beretta innovation in pistols). In addition, to a 15-round "double-stacked" magazine design,
  • It was the first Beretta design to use a magazine release located to the rear of the trigger guard, similar to theColt M1911.

TheUnited States' militaryreplaced theM1911A1.45 ACPpistol with the Beretta 92FS, designated as theM9in 1985.

TheGlock 17,is a 17+1-round,9mm Parabellum,polymer–framed,safe-action,short recoil-operated, locked-breechsemi-automatic pistoldesigned and produced byGlock Ges.m.b.H.,located inDeutsch-Wagram,Austria. In 1982, the Glock 17 entered theAustrian militaryandpoliceservice after performing the best out of other models in an exhaustive series of reliability and safety tests.[56]Despite initial hesitation from the market to accept a "plastic gun" due to durability and reliability concerns, as well as fears thatmetal detectorsin airports may not detect the polymer frame, Glock pistols have become the company's most profitable line of products, commanding 65% of the market share of handguns forUnited States law enforcementagencies,[57]as well as supplying numerous national armed forces, security agencies, and police forces in at least 48 countries.[58]Glocks are also popular firearms among civilians for recreational and competition shooting, home and self-defense, andconcealed carryoropen carry.[59]

All-black FN Five-seveN USG pistol surrounded by twenty FN 5.7×28mm cartridges – the contents of a standard magazine.

TheFN Five-seveN,is a 20+1-round,semi-automaticpistoldesigned and manufactured by Fabrique Nationale d'Armes de Guerre-Herstal (FN Herstal) in Belgium.[60]The Five-seveN pistol was introduced in 1998.[61]It was developed together with theFN P90personal defense weaponand theFN 5.7×28mmcartridge.[62]Developed as a companion pistol to the P90, the Five-seveN shares many of its design features:

The Five-seveN is currently in service with military and police forces in over 40 nations.[64]In the United States, the Five-seveN is in use with numerous law enforcement agencies, including theU.S. Secret Service.[65][66]In the years since the pistol's introduction to the civilian market in the United States, it has also become increasingly popular with civilian shooters.[67]

Machine pistols[edit]

Main article:Machine pistol

A machine pistol is generally defined as a handgun capable of fully automatic orselective fire.During World War I, theAustriansintroduced the world's first machine pistol, theSteyr Repetierpistole M1912/P16.TheGermanswould quickly follow suit with machine pistol versions of theLuger P08 "Artillery Pistol"and later models of theMauser C96.Their light weight, small size, and extremely high rates of fire made machine pistols difficult to control in full-auto. Most machine pistols support a shoulder stock to improve control, like theHeckler & Koch VP70.Others, such as theBeretta 93Ralso have a forward hand-grip.

3D printed handguns[edit]

Main article:3D printed firearm

3D printed firearms are firearms that can be produced with a 3D printer. These kind of firearms are generally used for prototyping during the development of conventional firearms.

Overview of gun laws by nation[edit]

Main article:Overview of gun laws by nation

Many handguns are easily concealed – this has led to laws applying specifically to civilian handgun ownership and the legality of carrying or concealing a handgun whilst in a public setting. Gun laws broadly group gun types into handgun, long guns and to what degree they are automatic. A large number of countries require reasonable grounds for gun ownership and operate permit systems for different gun types.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"Definition of HANDGUN".merriam-webster.Retrieved2019-04-05.
  2. ^Cary, Lucian (1961).The Colt GunBook.Greenwich, Connecticut, US: Fawcett Publications. p. 3.
  3. ^Hosley, William (1999)."Guns, Gun Culture, and the Peddling of Dreams".In Robert Merrill Muth; Jan E. Dizard; Stephen P. Andrews (eds.).Guns in America: A Reader.New York: NYU Press. pp.47.ISBN0-8147-1879-5.
  4. ^"Handgun".Encyclopaedia Britannica.Retrieved2022-10-15.
  5. ^"Handgun".Merriam-Webster.Retrieved2022-10-15.
  6. ^"Terminology & Nomenclature".Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.Retrieved2022-10-15.
  7. ^"Part III – Firearms and Other Weapons".Department of Justice Canada.Retrieved2022-10-15.
  8. ^"Firearms Act 1996 – Sect 3 Definitions".
  9. ^abNeedham 1987,p. 293.
  10. ^Chase 2003,p. 32.
  11. ^Needham 1987,p. 290.
  12. ^abChase 2003,p. 32;Needham 1987,p. 293.
  13. ^abNeedham 1987,p. 289.
  14. ^Lorge 2008,p. 69;Needham 1987,p. 293.
  15. ^Needham 1987,p. 289;Needham 1987,p. 330.
  16. ^"세총통( tế súng ống ) – 한국민족문화대백과사전".Encyclopedia of Korean Culture.Retrieved2022-02-25.
  17. ^"보물 세총통 ( tế súng ống )".Cultural Heritage Administration(in Korean).Retrieved2022-02-25.
  18. ^【ENG SUB】세계최초 권총형 총통 '세총통' feat. 화력대왕 '세종' Se-Chongtong, the Smallest of Korean Hand Cannons,retrieved2022-02-25
  19. ^Saidel, Benjamin (2000). "Matchlocks, Flintlocks, and Saltpetre: The Chronological Implications for the Use of Matchlock Muskets among Ottoman-Period Bedouin in the Southern Levant".International Journal of Historical Archaeology.4(3): 197.doi:10.1023/A:1009551608190.S2CID141794220.
  20. ^abcdFadala, Sam (2006).The Complete Blackpowder Handbook.Iola, Wisconsin: Gun Digest Books. pp. 159–161.ISBN0-89689-390-1.[permanent dead link]
  21. ^Wilson, R. L. (1985).Colt An American Legend.Atabras.ISBN0-89660-011-4.
  22. ^Hounshell, David A. From the American System to Mass Production, 1800–1932, p. 47
  23. ^Hogg, Ian V. (1987).Weapons of the Civil War.New York: Military. Print.
  24. ^Chicoine, David (2005).Antique Firearms Assembly/Disassembly: The Comprehensive Guide to Pistols, Rifles & Shotguns.Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications. pp. 171–172.ISBN0-87349-767-8.[permanent dead link]
  25. ^Boorman, Dean K. (2002).The History of Smith & Wesson Firearms.Guilford, Conn.: Globe Pequot Press. pp. 31–33, 37.ISBN1-58574-721-1.[permanent dead link]
  26. ^"The Gun that Won the West".Colt.
  27. ^Sapp, Rick (2007).Standard Catalog of Colt Firearms.Iola, Wisconsin: Gun Digest Books. p. 79.ISBN978-0896895348.
  28. ^Venturino, Mike (January 2014)."Colt.45 Peacemaker".Guns Magazine.Archived fromthe originalon 2017-05-26.Retrieved2018-01-09.
  29. ^abKinard, Jeff (2004).Pistols: An Illustrated History of Their Impact.ABC-CLIO. p.163.ISBN978-1-85109-470-7.
  30. ^JL, JB."Stuff You Gotta Watch – Dirty Harry".thestuffyougottawatch.Retrieved20 September2018.
  31. ^abFlayderman, Norm (2007).Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms and Their Values.Iola, Wisconsin: Gun Digest Books.ISBN978-1-4402-2651-9.[permanent dead link]410–412
  32. ^Chapel, Charles Edward (2013).Guns of the Old West: An Illustrated Guide.Courier Dover Publications. pp. 104–106.ISBN978-0-486-42161-2.
  33. ^Rick Sapp (2007).Standard Catalog of Colt Firearms.F+W Media, Inc. pp. 59–60.ISBN978-0-89689-534-8.
  34. ^"Remington.41 Double Derringer".American Rifleman.March 24, 2014.Retrieved2017-07-22.
  35. ^Marcot, Roy M. (2005).The History of Remington Firearms.Lyons Press. p. 32.ISBN978-1-59228-690-4.[permanent dead link]
  36. ^Ramage, Ken (5 August 2008).Gun Digest 2009: The World's Greatest Gun Book.Iola, Wisconsin: F+W Media, Inc. p. 308.ISBN978-0-89689-647-5.[permanent dead link]
  37. ^abAhern, Jerry (2010).Gun Digest Buyer's Guide to Concealed-Carry Handguns.Iola, Wisconsin: Gun Digest Books. pp. 130–132.ISBN978-1-4402-1743-2.[permanent dead link]
  38. ^Fitzsimons, Bernard, ed. (1977). "Luger".The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Weapons and Warfare.Vol. 16. London: Phoebus. p. 1778.
  39. ^abcDatig, Fred A.,The Luger Pistol,Gun Digest, 1957 ed., Chicago Illinois: Edward Keogh Co. Inc. (1956) pp. 164–165
  40. ^"DWM Luger P-08 Pistol".chuckhawks.Retrieved12 May2017.
  41. ^Pistol, Caliber.45, Automatic, M1911 Technical Manual TM 9-1005-211-34 1964 edition.Pentagon Publishing. 1964.ISBN978-1-60170-013-1.
  42. ^durysguns (2006-01-14)."Which Handgun Round Has the Best Stopping Power?".Retrieved2006-01-14.
  43. ^Ayoob, Massad(2007).The Gun Digest Book of Combat Handgunnery.Gun Digest Books. p. 7.ISBN978-0-89689-525-6.
  44. ^Hartink, A. E. (1996).The Complete Encyclopedia of Pistols and Revolvers.Lisse:Rebo. p. 368.ISBN978-9-03661-510-5.
  45. ^"James Bond's Walther PPK".CIA Museum.8 November 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 9 January 2008.Retrieved15 January2015.
  46. ^"About Walther".Walther Arms.Archived fromthe originalon 5 June 2014.Retrieved5 June2014.
  47. ^abBishop, Chris (2002).The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II.Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.ISBN978-1-58663-762-0.
  48. ^"Walther PP and PPK self-loading pistols (Germany)".Jane's Infantry Weapons.Janes. 28 February 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 22 March 2011.Retrieved7 November2012.
  49. ^Arnold, David W. (2010-09-24)."Classic Handguns of the 20th Century: The Browning HI-Power".Handguns Magazine.Retrieved2010-01-19.
  50. ^Miller, David (2001).The Illustrated Directory of 20th Century Guns.Salamander Books Ltd.ISBN1-84065-245-4.
  51. ^Kersten, Manfred; Schmid, Walter (1999).HK- Die Offizielle Geschichte der Oberndorfer Firma Heckler & Koch[The Official History of the Oberndorf Firm Heckler & Koch] (in German). Weispfennig.ISBN978-3000050916.
  52. ^David Higginbotham."The HK VP70 The First Polymer Framed Pistol".Guns. Archived fromthe originalon 2018-06-26.Retrieved2013-11-10.HK says the VP [...] means Volks Pistole or People's Pistol [...] This is where another (erroneous) name for the pistol comes from. Vollautomatische Pistole.
  53. ^Jack Lewis (2007).The Gun Digest Book of Assault Weapons(7th ed.). Iola, Wis.: Gun Digest Books. p. 250.ISBN978-1-4402-2652-6.Around 1970, Heckler & Koch developed the selective-fire VP70 (VolksPistole: People's Pistol) with the reported hope that it would be chosen to arm village militias in Vietnam.[permanent dead link]
  54. ^Trzoniec, Stanley W. (1981).Modern American Centerfire Handguns.Tulsa, Okla.: Winchester Press. p.49.ISBN0876913419.OCLC7572377.
  55. ^Hartink, A. E. (2002).The Complete Encyclopedia of Pistols and Revolvers(first ed.). Edison, N.J.: Chartwell Books. p. 279.ISBN9780785815198.OCLC51024327.
  56. ^Kasler, Peter Alan (1992). Glock: The New Wave in Combat Handguns. Boulder, Col.: Paladin Press. 2–4ISBN9780873646499.OCLC26280979.
  57. ^"GLOCK Police and Law Enforcement Firearms | Police Pistols | GLOCK USA".us.glock.Retrieved2017-10-18.
  58. ^Sweeney, Patrick (2008).The Gun Digest Book of the Glock(2nd ed.). Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications.ISBN978-0896896420.
  59. ^Glock: The Rise of America's Gun by Paul M. Barret
  60. ^"FNH USA Five-seveN Autoloading Pistol Owner's Manual".FNH USA.2009.RetrievedAugust 31,2012.[permanent dead link]
  61. ^Hogg, Ian (2002).Jane's Guns Recognition Guide.Jane's Recognition Guides. Glasgow: Jane's Information Group and Collins Press.ISBN978-0-00-712760-3.
  62. ^Francotte, Auguste; Claude, Gaier; Robert, Karlshausen, eds. (January 2008).Ars Mechanica – The Ultimate FN Book.Vottem: Herstal Group.ISBN978-2-87415-877-3.
  63. ^Bahde, Dave (November 2009)."FNH Five-seveN ODG 5.7×28mm".Combat Handguns.RetrievedNovember 28,2009.
  64. ^Tirans, Ivars (2009). "Baltic Defence Research and Technology 2009 Conference Proceedings". Military Review: Scientific Journal for Security and Defence (ISSN1407-1746), Nr. 3/4 (132/133), p. 103.
  65. ^Wood, J.B. (26 June 2009)."FNH USA Five-seveN Pistol 5.7×28mm".Tactical Life.Archived fromthe originalon 17 February 2012.RetrievedOctober 18,2009.
  66. ^Jones, Richard D.; Ness, Leland S., eds. (January 27, 2009).Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010(35th ed.). Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group.ISBN978-0-7106-2869-5.
  67. ^Grevillius, Nils (September 11, 2006). "One Hot Number".Guns & Ammo,Vol. 50(No. 10): pp 48–53.

Works cited[edit]

  • Chase, Kenneth Warren (2003).Firearms: A Global History to 1700.Cambridge University Press.ISBN978-0-521-82274-9.
  • Lorge, Peter (2008).The Asian Military Revolution: From Gunpowder to the Bomb.Cambridge University Press.ISBN978-0-521-84682-0.
  • Needham, Joseph (1987).Science and Civilisation in China: Military Technology: The Gunpowder Epic, Volume 5, Part 7.Cambridge University Press.ISBN978-0-521-30358-3.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toHandguns.
Look uphandgunin Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Handgun&oldid=1233568510"