Handgun

A handgun is a firearm designed to be usable with only one hand. It is distinguished from a long gun (i.e., carbine, rifle, shotgun, submachine gun, or machine gun) which typically is intended to be held by both hands and braced against the shoulder. Handguns have shorter effective ranges compared to long guns, lack stocks, and are much harder to shoot accurately. While most early handguns were single-shot pistols, following the mass production of the Colt Paterson revolver starting in 1836, most handguns today are revolvers and semi-automatic pistols. Before commercial mass production, handguns were often considered a badge of office comparable to a ceremonial sword, as they had limited utility and were more expensive than the long barreled guns of the era. In 1836, Samuel Colt patented the Colt Paterson, the first practical mass-produced revolver, which was capable of firing five shots in rapid succession and quickly became a popular personal weapon. Handguns became defined as a weapon meant for personal defence. They are used today mostly as sidearms by law enforcement.