A pistol is a small gun designed to be held and fired with one hand. Unlike rifles or shotguns, which are usually fired with both hands and rest against your shoulder, a pistol fits in your palm with a grip that your fingers wrap around.

Pistols have played important roles throughout history. In the American Revolution, officers carried flintlock pistols. During the Wild West era, cowboys wore pistols in holsters on their hips. Today, police officers carry pistols as part of their duty equipment, and competitive shooters use them in target shooting sports that require precision and steady hands.