A handgun is a short-barrelled firearm that can be held and used with one hand.[1] The two most common handgun sub-types in use today are revolvers and semi-automatic pistols, although other handguns like machine pistols and derringers also see infrequent usage. Buy handguns online

In the days before commercial mass production, they were often considered a badge of office, much the same as a ceremonial sword. As they had limited utility and were more expensive than the long guns of the era, handguns were carried only by the very few who could afford to purchase them. However, in 1836, Samuel Colt patented the Colt Paterson, the first practical mass-produced revolver. It was capable of firing 5 shots in rapid succession and very quickly became a popular defensive weapon, giving rise to the saying, “God created men, but Colt made them equal.”[2][3] Today, in most of the world, they are generally used primarily by police and military officers as sidearms. However, in the United States and some other countries around the world, they are also widely available to civilians and commonly carried for self-defense. Handguns for sale