Once & for all, let's get this straight!

[GBExpat]

Before there were any semi-auto handguns there were Horse Pistols.

 

[Don Dayacetah]

"Pistol" is synonymous with "handgun" in my book.

I agree. There's too much parsing of terms.

Unless, of course, it's fully semi-automatic, General.

 

[Mauser lover]

Before there were any semi-auto handguns there were Horse Pistols.

HA! Like... pistols that shoot horses? Or... pistols that SHOOT horses?

F=MA... Horse weighs... alot.... at high velocity... Horse pistols are the best!

Sorry in advance. But that would seem to have quite a bit of... kick.

How did I get here?

 

[Jeb Stuart]

Contrary to Popular Belief The Famous Western Gunfighter John Wesley Hardin DID NOT CARRY A GLOCK.

 

[.308 Norma]

https://idiomation.wordpress.com/2014/04/10/hot-as-a-two-dollar-pistol/

Thanks for that jamesjames! I had always thought "hot-as-a-two-dollar-pistol" referred to stolen property - "hot" property. I thought it came from a pistol that was for sale cheap (for two dollars) because the seller knew it was "hot" (stolen).
I learned something. That always feels good.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Every square is a rectangle but rectangles are not squares.

 

[Catpop]

government says less than 16” barrel.

 

[SwampWolf]

The obvious answer is all handguns are pistols, not just autoloaders.

I have accepted the convincing evidence that this answer is obviously true. However, from childhood (wrongly, it seems) I've always considered the term revolver to mean a, well, revolver; and the term pistol to mean a semi-auto handgun. At my age, I suspect I will go to my grave mistakenly denying that revolvers are pistols-well, they really aren't.

 

[ugaarguy]

It's times like these when I'm reminded that:

View attachment 801122

It's right up there with the monthly Clip VS Mag rant.

It was a tongue in cheek question, so perhaps heed your own advice, Sgt. Hulka.

 

[Chuck R.]

It was a tongue in cheek question, so perhaps heed your own advice, Sgt. Hulka.

I got that, my attempt at humor was aimed at the OP. Hence I "liked" your post.......

 

[ugaarguy]

I got that, my attempt at humor was aimed at the OP. Hence I "liked" your post.......

My apologies, I thought it was aimed at me since you quoted my post. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Tallball]

I personally prefer that "handgun" describes both semi-automatic pistols as well as revolvers... and others such as derringers or what have you.

I also realize that some people use the word "pistol" the way that I use the word "handgun".

And that's fine with me. We don't all have to speak or write exactly the same way, and we generally seem to understand each other.

 

[Jeb Stuart]

I just say my gun. Even though in the Army, I marched to the cadence of "This is my rifle this is my gun, this is for shooting this is for fun.)

 

[Sistema1927]

And then you have reporters who write tripe like this: "...was shot by the officer's Glock Service Revolver."

 

[Mn Fats]

I just say my gun. Even though in the Army, I marched to the cadence of "This is my rifle this is my gun, this is for shooting this is for fun.)

That was real? I remember seeing that in Full Metal Jacket. Gunny R. Lee Ermey brought his own training and knowledge into that film, which was excellent, but I didn't know that "cadence" was actually used other than in the film.

 

[CapnMac]

XP-100? A "hand-held rifle" perhaps?

"Hande gonne" []

 

[jski]

The distinction is not bogus, as most folks, commonly use it as an easy way to differentiate. What is bogus, is random folks on internet forums, thinking they are going to be the single defining factor of how the majority of others relate to various terminology. Most of the time, their threads on that subject are only a narcissistic attempt to impress others, as to how much more intelligent they are, compared to others that don't see things they same way they do. Yep, the OP is really going to change the world's usage of the word pistol. No longer will anyone use that term to describe an semi-auto handgun as opposed to a revolver. Notice I used the term "semi-auto" instead of autoloader, as no firearm I know of, can automatically load the firearm from from the box of ammo, without some form of human intervention. OMG!, another "once and for all!''.

I worked in construction for most of my life. If there's one place where folks use incorrect or ambiguous terminology, it's there. Most of the time, it's very easy to distinguish what folks are talking about. Folks asking to have window sill installed instead of a picture frame, like grandma had in her house with the plants on, one knows they are talking stool, not sill. Folks ask for a type of spindle on their staircase, I knew without asking, they were referring to balusters. Never felt I had to correct them so they would realize "once and for all" how stupid they are by not knowing the "obvious". Same goes for handrail/banister. Whoa, I can already hear the keyboards clicking as folks are wondering what I'm talking about. Still, not for me to belittle them and try to impress others with my superiority. In reality, it's not a big deal as they are only using well used, common terminology that everyone can identify.

Iffin you are getting the idea I have little time for the obvious foolishness of self proclaimed Internet Grammar Nazis, once and for all, it's 'cause I tend to make it obvious.

Dude, cool your jets. I never suspected for a moment that this would resolve this confusion "once and for all". More of an attempt to engage others in the "gentle art of conversation", as David Susskind used to say.

As for my use of autoloader in preference to semiauto, have you checked the forum titles on this website?

 

[chicharrones]

As for my use of autoloader in preference to semiauto, have you checked the forum titles on this website?

I use the term autoloader frequently. After a semi-auto is fired, the gun automatically ejects and loads the next cartridge from the magazine into the chamber. Makes perfect sense and the term rolls nicely off the tongue.

 

[milemaker13]

And then you have reporters who write tripe like this: "...was shot by the officer's Glock Service Revolver."

Didn't know glock was making porcelain revolvers now!

 

[buck460XVR]

As for my use of autoloader in preference to semiauto, have you checked the forum titles on this website?

When you read my statement,

Notice I used the term "semi-auto" instead of autoloader, as no firearm I know of, can automatically load the firearm from from the box of ammo, without some form of human intervention. OMG!, another "once and for all!''.

You missed the point and the sarcasm.
That being how ridiculous it is to waste so much bandwidth on such trivial subjects, such as what folks use to describe their firearms. Especially when it comes to those that are so widely accepted, clearly understood and already heavily debated.

I never suspected for a mement that this would resolve this confusion "once and for all".

I don't know what a mement is, I'm sure another Grammar Nazi will be along to correct it tho. You need to take some of your own advice and read the Title of your thread......Once & for all, let's get this straight!

Ain't tryin' to be a jerk or argue. Maybe just a slow day on the forum and without a better subject to discuss, you tried to make something happen, thus the so called attempt to engage others in the "gentle art of conversation". I don't know. Just that the continuous rehash of old and tired subjects, especially when it's done with the vain attempt to prove what most others accept as correct, is wrong........ gets old.

Really old.

At least to me.

Just sayin'.......

 

[jski]

I don't know what a mement is, I'm sure another Grammar Nazi will be along to correct it tho...

Ya got me dead to rights. Mement is now moment.

BTW, I checked. It is "dead to rights", not "dead to right".

 

[Kano383]

The word “pistol” comes from the French “pistolet” (Italian “pistola”). The most accepted etymology is that it originated from Pistoia, a town famous for its arms making some centuries ago. Originally, the “pistolet” referred to a dagger/knife, that was much smaller than swords.

When someone had the idea of scaling down arquebuses to have a portable firearm, basically inventing handguns, the term was transferred to that new “mini weapon”.

Similarly, “pistolet” was used in France for coins of Spanish origin, smaller than the doublons. In Belgium, it is used to this day to designate a small bread loaf, smaller than the “standard” pound or half-pound loaf.

So, a pistol is a handgun... Which then morphed into revolvers, auto and semi-auto loaders, single shots, you name it.

 

[jar]

Ya got me dead to rights. Mement is now moment.

BTW, I checked. It is "dead to rights", not "dead to right".

There are few things worse than appalin spallin.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

However, the British seem to have created this distinction a long time ago, which is why even the NRA once published books with titles like "The Encyclopedia of Pistols and Revolvers". As I understand it, the distinction was this: A one hand weapon is a pistol if the firing chamber is an integral part of the barrel. Therefore, a revolver is not a pistol.

Merriam-Webster would seem to agree...

Definition of pistol
1 : a handgun whose chamber is integral with the barrel

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pistol

 

[someguy2800]

pistol/handgun, clip/magazine, ketchup/catsup, I don't care one little bit what you want to call stuff.