The quirks of handgun history

Charles Graff

Moderator Emeritus
P and P, the children in Texas, i.e. those 65 and under would agree with you. That is why I said "real Texans" and not Texans in general, the younger set have become infected with foreign culture. It reminds me of King Solomon who "who lusted after foreign women". :confused:
 

Petrol & Powder

Well-Known Member
The word "Pistol" is often used to describe any handgun and there are regions where the term is used almost exclusively to describe any handgun.

The earliest handguns were all pistols by current definition. A single shot, muzzle loading handgun that had a barrel with a chamber incorporated on the breach end would certainly be a pistol in today's world.
Flint lock handguns, wheel lock handguns and single barreled percussion handguns were all "pistols".
Pepper boxes and derringers complicated things a bit; but each barrel still had an integral chamber.
Revolvers, with one barrel but multiple chambers, were a significant departure from a pistol.

Tradition, language and regional influences play a big role in the terminology used. Spanish influence (such as places in or near Mexico) often cause any handgun to be referred to as a pistol (or Pistola ;) )
I understand the British use the word revolver and pistol interchangeably at times. The Germans use the words revolver and pistole to describe different handgun types.

The ATF classifies a revolver as a handgun with a single barrel, and multiple chambers arranged in a cylinder that rotates to bring each chamber in line with the barrel to fire. Now, ATF isn't the absolute authority on the matter but there is some basis for differentiating a revolver from a pistol.

As for what young verses old Texans call handguns, I will accept what you have taught me.
 

Charles Graff

Moderator Emeritus
In Mexico an autopistol is often times called a "cuadrada" or square. Magazines or clips are called "cargadores" or carriers. Of course Mexico like everywhere else have numerous terms for the same thing. Sometimes as you said, they are all "pistolas".

I am an ornery sort and refuse to accept the Federal Governments definition of anything, simple because it is the Federal government. I am after all an unreconstructed Confederate. Each years that passes adds another layer of ornery to me. Makes life much more simple.
 
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