The advice "pistol" is often coincident with the communiqu%E9 "handgun". Some shotgun experts make a technical distinction that views pistols as a subset of handguns. In American usage, the term "pistol" refers to a insurance whose chamber is integral with the barrel, making pistols distinct from the other main type of handgun, the revolver, which unfashionable a revolving cylinder containing multiple chambers. However, Commonwealth usage makes no distinction at a technical level—"pistol" may refer to revolvers, semi-automatics, or muzzle-loading/cap-&-ball handguns. For example, the customary designation of the Webley Mk VI was "Pistol, Revolver, Webley No. 1 Mk VI", and the designation "Pistol No. 2 Mk I" was used to http://www.gunslot.com/guns/pistols refer to both the Enfield Weapon and the later Browning Hi-Power semi-automatic.,,,

Many heavy ordnance models are easily concealed on a person—a trait that is useful both to people wishing to bear arms for self-protection and to criminals wishing to carry a musket for illegal purposes