![Baby Browning](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/Baby_Browning.jpg)
In
American English
American English, sometimes called United States English or U.S. English, is the set of variety (linguistics), varieties of the English language native to the United States. English is the Languages of the United States, most widely spoken lan ...
, a pocket pistol is any small, pocket-sized
semi-automatic pistol
A semi-automatic pistol is a type of repeating single-chamber handgun ( pistol) that automatically cycles its action to insert the subsequent cartridge into the chamber (self-loading), but requires manual actuation of the trigger to actuall ...
(or less commonly referencing either
derringer
A derringer is a small handgun that is neither a revolver nor a semi/ fully automatic pistol. It is not to be confused with mini-revolvers or pocket pistols, although some later derringers were manufactured with the pepperbox configuration. ...
s, or small
revolver
A revolver (also called a wheel gun) is a repeating handgun that has at least one barrel and uses a revolving cylinder containing multiple chambers (each holding a single cartridge) for firing. Because most revolver models hold up to six roun ...
s), and is suitable for
concealed carry
Concealed carry, or carrying a concealed weapon (CCW), is the practice of carrying a weapon (usually a sidearm such as a handgun), either in proximity to or on one's person or in public places in a manner that hides or conceals the weapon's pre ...
in either a coat, jacket, or trouser pocket.
Pocket pistols are sometimes categorized as smaller than sub-compact pistols, but the distinction is not clear-cut as some small sub-compact pistols may be categorized as pocket pistols, and some large pocket pistols may be classified as sub-compact pistols.
Pocket pistols were popular in the United States until the 1960s and 1970s when most states passed laws limiting or prohibiting the
carry of concealed weapons. However, the passage of "
shall issue
Concealed carry, or carrying a concealed weapon (CCW), is the practice of carrying a weapon (such as a handgun) in public in a concealed manner, either on one's person or in close proximity. CCW is often practiced as a means of self-defense. Every ...
" firearms license laws in the 1980s and 1990s resulted in a resurgence in the popularity of pocket pistols in the United States, creating new markets for small, simple, reliable, concealed-carry firearms.
In general use, the term pocket pistol is purely descriptive, but "mouse gun" (used especially for those of the smallest calibers) is often a
pejorative
A pejorative or slur is a word or grammatical form expressing a negative or a disrespectful connotation, a low opinion, or a lack of respect toward someone or something. It is also used to express criticism, hostility, or disregard. Sometimes, a ...
. Likewise, pocket pistols, due to their small size, often are lumped in with
Saturday night special
Saturday night special is a colloquial term in the United States and Canada for inexpensive, compact, small-caliber handguns made of poor quality metal. Sometimes known as junk guns, some states define these guns by means of composition or mate ...
s, another pejorative term, which are typically inexpensive small-caliber handguns.
History
The pocket pistol originated in the mid-17th century as a small, concealable flintlock known as the
Queen Anne pistol
Queen Anne pistols are a type of breech-loading flintlock pistol known as a turn-off pistol, in which the chamber is filled from the front and accessed by unscrewing the barrel. Another distinguishing feature of the design is that the lock-plate ...
, the coat pistol, or the pocket pistol. This was used throughout the 18th century, evolving from a weapon reserved for the wealthy to a common sidearm in broader use as more and more manufacturers made them by the start of the 19th century.
![Remington Double Deringer](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b4/Remington_Double_Deringer.jpg)
The original 19th-century vest-sized pocket pistol was the
Philadelphia Deringer
A derringer is a small handgun that is neither a revolver nor a semi/ fully automatic pistol. It is not to be confused with mini-revolvers or pocket pistols, although some later derringers were manufactured with the pepperbox configuration. ...
. The advent of the metallic cartridge gave us the classic double barrel
.41 Rimfire Remington Model 95
The Remington Model 95 is a double-barrel pocket pistol commonly recognized as a Derringer. The design was little changed during a production run of nearly 70 years through several financial reorganizations of the manufacturer causing repeating s ...
which achieved such widespread popularity, that it has completely overshadowed all other designs, becoming synonymous with the word "Derringer". The Remington double-barrel derringer design is still being manufactured (150 years after they were first introduced) by
American Derringer
American Derringer Corporation is an American manufacturer of firearms, based in Waco, Texas. The company was founded by Robert A. Saunders and Elizabeth Saunders in 1980 and makes a variety of derringers and small pocket pistols.
History
Founde ...
,
Bond Arms
Bond Arms Inc. is an American firearms manufacturer located in Granbury, Texas which makes derringers and the semiautomatic Bullpup 9.
History
Bond Arms was founded by longtime tool and die maker Greg Bond, in Granbury, Texas.
Between the 1860 ...
, and
Cobra Arms
Cobra Firearms, also known as Cobra Arms and officially as Cobra Enterprises of Utah, Inc. was an American firearms manufacturer based in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Cobra Firearms was distantly related to the "Ring of Fire" companies of inexpensive fi ...
, all of whom manufacture derringers in a variety of calibers from
.22 long rifle
The .22 Long Rifle or simply .22 LR or 22 (metric designation: 5.6×15mmR) is a long-established variety of .22 caliber rimfire ammunition originating from the United States. It is used in a wide range of rifles, pistols, revolvers, smo ...
to
.45 Long Colt
The .45 Colt (11.43×33mmR), is a rimmed, straight-walled, handgun cartridge dating to 1872. It was originally a black-powder revolver round developed for the Colt Single Action Army revolver. This cartridge was adopted by the U.S. Army in 187 ...
&
.410 bore
The .410 bore is one of the smallest caliber of shotgun shell commonly available (along with the 9mm Flobert rimfire cartridge, and the less common .22 rimfire shot shell). A .410 bore shotgun loaded with shot shells is well suited for small g ...
.
![Ndwik](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/Ndwik.jpg)
Introduced in the late 19th century,
snubnosed revolver
A snubnosed revolver (colloquially known as a snubbie, belly gun, or bulldog revolver) is a small, medium, or large frame revolver with a short barrel, generally less than 4 inches in length. Smaller such revolvers are often made with "bobbed" or ...
s such as the "Banker Special", "Sheriff's Model", and "Shopkeeper Special" versions of the
Colt Single Action Army
The Colt Single Action Army (also known as the SAA, Model P, Peacemaker, or M1873) is a Trigger (firearms)#Single-action, single-action revolver handgun. It was designed in 1872 for the U.S. government service revolver trials of 1872 by Colt's P ...
revolvers were made by
Colt's Manufacturing Company
Colt's Manufacturing Company, LLC (CMC, formerly Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company) is an American firearms manufacturer, founded in 1855 by Samuel Colt and is now a subsidiary of Czech holding company Colt CZ Group. It is the succ ...
.
The
Smith & Wesson Safety Hammerless
The Smith & Wesson Safety Hammerless or Smith & Wesson New Departure (nicknamed by collectors as the Lemon Squeezer) is a double-action revolver that was produced from 1887 to 1940 by Smith & Wesson. Based on the Smith & Wesson Model 2 double-acti ...
models were produced from 1887 to just before World War II. They were chambered in either
.32 S&W or
.38 S&W with a 5-shot cylinder. They were most often produced with 2-inch, 3-inch, or 3.5-inch barrels.
These
top-break
Break action is a type of firearm action in which the barrel or barrels are hinged much like a door and rotate perpendicularly to the bore axis to expose the breech and allow loading and unloading of cartridges. A separate operation may be requir ...
revolvers were designed for fast reloading and concealed carry as the hammer was internal and would not snag on drawing the revolver from a pocket. They also had a grip safety. They were known as "The New Departure" to reflect the company's new approach to designing revolvers.
[ Compared to other ]revolver
A revolver (also called a wheel gun) is a repeating handgun that has at least one barrel and uses a revolving cylinder containing multiple chambers (each holding a single cartridge) for firing. Because most revolver models hold up to six roun ...
s, this design sacrifices power and range for maneuverability and concealment. Similar "hammerless" designs proved popular with other manufacturers such as Iver Johnson
Iver Johnson was an American firearms, bicycle, and motorcycle manufacturer from 1871 to 1993. The company shared the same name as its founder, Norwegian-born Iver Johnson (1841–1895).
The name was resold, and Iver Johnson Arms opened in ...
and Harrington & Richardson
H&R 1871, LLC, or more commonly known as Harrington & Richardson, is an American brand of firearms and a subsidiary of JJE Capital Holdings. H&R ceased production February 27, 2015.
History
The original H&R firm was in business for over a cent ...
. In 1952, Smith & Wesson introduced the more modern hand ejector
A hand ejector is a revolver design that is used on most double-action revolvers to this day.
Design
A hand ejector is characterized by a cylinder that swings out on a hinge (known as a crane) and requires the pushing of a concentric rod toward ...
model the Smith & Wesson Centennial Model 40.
The Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless
The Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless (not to be confused with the Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammer or the M1903 Springfield rifle) is a .32 ACP caliber, self-loading, semi-automatic pistol designed by John Browning and built by Colt Patent Firearms ...
is a 9-shot, .32 ACP
.32 ACP ( Automatic Colt Pistol, also known as .32 Automatic) is a centerfire pistol cartridge. It is a semi-rimmed, straight-walled cartridge developed by firearms designer John Browning, initially for use in the FN M1900 semi-automatic pi ...
caliber, self-loading, semi-automatic pistol designed by John Browning and built by Colt Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company of Hartford, Connecticut. The Colt Model 1908 Pocket Hammerless is an 8-shot, .380 ACP
The .380 ACP (9×17mm) ( Automatic Colt Pistol) is a rimless, straight-walled pistol cartridge developed by firearms designer John Moses Browning. The cartridge headspaces on the mouth of the case.Wilson, R. K. ''Textbook of Automatic Pisto ...
caliber variant introduced five years later. Despite the title "hammerless
A hammerless firearm is a firearm that lacks an exposed hammer or hammer spur. Although it may not literally lack a hammer, it lacks a hammer that the user can pull directly. One of the disadvantages of an exposed hammer spur is the tendency to ...
", the Model 1903 does have a hammer. It is covered and hidden from view under the rear of the slide. This allows the pistol to be carried in and withdrawn from a pocket quickly and smoothly without snagging.
The first widely used and successfully semi-automatic .25 ACP
The .25 ACP ( Automatic Colt Pistol) (6.35×16mmSR) is a semi-rimmed, straight-walled centerfire pistol cartridge introduced by John Browning
John Moses Browning (January 23, 1855 – November 26, 1926) was an American firearm designe ...
pocket pistols were the FN Model 1905, Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket
The Model 1908 Vest Pocket is a compact, hammerless, striker-fired, semi-automatic single-action pistol. Manufactured by the Colt's Manufacturing Company from 1908 to 1948, it was marketed as a small concealable firearm which could be easily ...
and later the Baby Browning
The 1931 Fabrique Nationale (FN) Baby Browning is a small blowback-operated semi-automatic pistol designed by Belgium-born Dieudonné Saive chambered in .25 ACP (6.35x15 mm). The pistol features a six-round magazine capacity and is a striker-fi ...
. The FN 1905 was designed and marketed along with .25 ACP
The .25 ACP ( Automatic Colt Pistol) (6.35×16mmSR) is a semi-rimmed, straight-walled centerfire pistol cartridge introduced by John Browning
John Moses Browning (January 23, 1855 – November 26, 1926) was an American firearm designe ...
cartridge in 1905. The M1905 is a very small 7-shot, striker-fired, single-action, blow-back operated semi-automatic pistol. It features a grip safety and manual thumb-operated safety that locks the slide in the closed position when engaged.
The FN Model 1910
The FN Model 1910 is a blowback-operated, semi-automatic pistol designed by John Browning and manufactured by Fabrique Nationale of Belgium.
Development
The FN Model 1910, also known as the Browning model 1910, was a departure for Browning. Be ...
, also known as the Browning model 1910, was a departure for Browning. Before, his designs were produced by both FN in Europe and Colt Firearms
Colt's Manufacturing Company, LLC (CMC, formerly Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company) is an American firearms manufacturer, founded in 1855 by Samuel Colt and is now a subsidiary of Czech holding company Colt CZ Group. It is the succ ...
in the United States. Since Colt did not want to produce it, Browning chose to patent and produce this design in Europe only. Introduced in 1910, this pistol used a novel operating spring location surrounding the barrel. This location became the standard in such future weapons as the Walther PP
The Walther PP (german: Polizeipistole, or police pistol) series pistols are blowback-operated semi-automatic pistols, developed by the German arms manufacturer Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen.
It features an exposed hammer, a traditional double-ac ...
and Russian Makarov. The Model 1910 incorporated the standard Browning striker-firing mechanism and a grip safety
Close-up shot of a safety of an M16A2 rifle
In firearms, a safety or safety catch is a mechanism used to help prevent the accidental discharge of a firearm, helping to ensure safer handling.
Safeties can generally be divided into subtypes suc ...
along with a magazine safety and an external safety lever (known as the "triple safety") in a compact package. It was offered in both .32 ACP
.32 ACP ( Automatic Colt Pistol, also known as .32 Automatic) is a centerfire pistol cartridge. It is a semi-rimmed, straight-walled cartridge developed by firearms designer John Browning, initially for use in the FN M1900 semi-automatic pi ...
(8-shot) and .380 ACP
The .380 ACP (9×17mm) ( Automatic Colt Pistol) is a rimless, straight-walled pistol cartridge developed by firearms designer John Moses Browning. The cartridge headspaces on the mouth of the case.Wilson, R. K. ''Textbook of Automatic Pisto ...
(7-shot) calibers and it remained in production until 1983. It is possible to switch calibres by changing only the barrel.
Also noteworthy for European pocket pistols are the Mauser Model 1910 and Mauser Model 1914
The Mauser Model 1914 is a semi-automatic pistol made by Mauser. A derivative of the .25 caliber Model 1910 designed by Josef Nickl, it uses 32 ACP
.32 ACP ( Automatic Colt Pistol, also known as .32 Automatic) is a centerfire pistol cartri ...
, chambered for .25 ACP
The .25 ACP ( Automatic Colt Pistol) (6.35×16mmSR) is a semi-rimmed, straight-walled centerfire pistol cartridge introduced by John Browning
John Moses Browning (January 23, 1855 – November 26, 1926) was an American firearm designe ...
and .32 ACP
.32 ACP ( Automatic Colt Pistol, also known as .32 Automatic) is a centerfire pistol cartridge. It is a semi-rimmed, straight-walled cartridge developed by firearms designer John Browning, initially for use in the FN M1900 semi-automatic pi ...
respectively, both of blowback and hammerless design, which were very popular as civilian small handguns. The .32ACP version was considered powerful enough for the Kriegsmarine
The (, ) was the navy of Germany from 1935 to 1945. It superseded the Imperial German Navy of the German Empire (1871–1918) and the inter-war (1919–1935) of the Weimar Republic. The was one of three official branches, along with the a ...
as well as security forces of the Third Reich, and reworked as the Mauser Model 1934
Mauser, originally Königlich Württembergische Gewehrfabrik ("Royal Württemberg Rifle Factory"), was a German arms manufacturer. Their line of bolt-action rifles and semi-automatic pistols has been produced since the 1870s for the German arme ...
, with only minor modifications. The Mauser HSC
The Mauser HSc is a 7.65mm pistol introduced in Nazi Germany during World War II, and manufactured until 1977. The designation HSc stood for ''Hahn Selbstspanner'' ("self-cocking hammer") ''Pistole'', third and final design ''"C"''. Production w ...
, produced during the war in .32 ACP
.32 ACP ( Automatic Colt Pistol, also known as .32 Automatic) is a centerfire pistol cartridge. It is a semi-rimmed, straight-walled cartridge developed by firearms designer John Browning, initially for use in the FN M1900 semi-automatic pi ...
for the Navy and later police and army units saw substantial production and sales after the war (upgraded to .380 ACP
The .380 ACP (9×17mm) ( Automatic Colt Pistol) is a rimless, straight-walled pistol cartridge developed by firearms designer John Moses Browning. The cartridge headspaces on the mouth of the case.Wilson, R. K. ''Textbook of Automatic Pisto ...
), and was successfully introduced to the US market.
The Colt Detective Special
The Colt Detective Special is a six-shot, carbon steel framed, 2" or 3" barreled, double-action revolver, and the first example of a class of firearms known as "snubnose revolvers". Made by Colt's Manufacturing Company, this model revolver, as th ...
is a carbon steel
Carbon steel is a steel with carbon content from about 0.05 up to 2.1 percent by weight. The definition of carbon steel from the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) states:
* no minimum content is specified or required for chromium, cobalt ...
framed double-action
Double action (or double-action) refers to one of two systems in firearms where the trigger both cocks and releases the hammer.
* Double-action only (DAO) firearms trigger: The trigger both cocks and releases the hammer. There is no single-action ...
, snubnosed, 6-shot revolver
A revolver (also called a wheel gun) is a repeating handgun that has at least one barrel and uses a revolving cylinder containing multiple chambers (each holding a single cartridge) for firing. Because most revolver models hold up to six roun ...
. As the name "Detective Special" suggests, this model revolver was used as a concealed weapon by plainclothes police detective
A detective is an investigator, usually a member of a law enforcement agency. They often collect information to solve crimes by talking to witnesses and informants, collecting physical evidence, or searching records in databases. This leads th ...
s. It was made with either a 2-inch or 3-inch barrel. Introduced in 1927, the Detective Special was the first snubnosed revolver produced with a modern swing-out frame. It was designed from the outset to be chambered for higher-powered cartridges such as the .38 Special
The .38 Special, also commonly known as .38 S&W Special (not to be confused with .38 S&W), .38 Smith & Wesson Special, .38 Spl, .38 Spc, (pronounced "thirty-eight special"), or 9x29mmR is a rimmed, centerfire cartridge designed by Smith & ...
, considered to be a powerful caliber for a concealable pocket revolver of the day.
The Walther PP
The Walther PP (german: Polizeipistole, or police pistol) series pistols are blowback-operated semi-automatic pistols, developed by the German arms manufacturer Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen.
It features an exposed hammer, a traditional double-ac ...
(''Polizeipistole'', or police pistol) series pistols were introduced in 1929 and are among the world's first successful double-action
Double action (or double-action) refers to one of two systems in firearms where the trigger both cocks and releases the hammer.
* Double-action only (DAO) firearms trigger: The trigger both cocks and releases the hammer. There is no single-action ...
, blowback-operated
Blowback is a system of operation for self-loading firearms that obtains energy from the motion of the cartridge case as it is pushed to the rear by expanding gas created by the ignition of the propellant charge.
Several blowback systems exist wit ...
semi-automatic pistol
A semi-automatic pistol is a type of repeating single-chamber handgun ( pistol) that automatically cycles its action to insert the subsequent cartridge into the chamber (self-loading), but requires manual actuation of the trigger to actuall ...
s, developed by the German arms
Arms or ARMS may refer to:
*Arm or arms, the upper limbs of the body
Arm, Arms, or ARMS may also refer to:
People
* Ida A. T. Arms (1856–1931), American missionary-educator, temperance leader
Coat of arms or weapons
*Armaments or weapons
**Fi ...
manufacturer Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen
Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen (), or simply known as Walther, is a German firearm manufacturer, and a subsidiary of the PW Group. Founded by Carl Walther in 1886, the company has manufactured firearms and air guns at its facility in Germany ...
. They feature exposed hammers, a traditional double-action
Double action (or double-action) refers to one of two systems in firearms where the trigger both cocks and releases the hammer.
* Double-action only (DAO) firearms trigger: The trigger both cocks and releases the hammer. There is no single-action ...
trigger mechanism, and a fixed barrel that also acts as the guide rod for the recoil spring. It was offered in both .32 ACP
.32 ACP ( Automatic Colt Pistol, also known as .32 Automatic) is a centerfire pistol cartridge. It is a semi-rimmed, straight-walled cartridge developed by firearms designer John Browning, initially for use in the FN M1900 semi-automatic pi ...
(9-shot) and .380 ACP
The .380 ACP (9×17mm) ( Automatic Colt Pistol) is a rimless, straight-walled pistol cartridge developed by firearms designer John Moses Browning. The cartridge headspaces on the mouth of the case.Wilson, R. K. ''Textbook of Automatic Pisto ...
(8-shot) calibers. The Walther PP and smaller PPK models were both popular with European police and civilians for being reliable and concealable. They would remain the standard issue police pistol for much of Europe well into the 1970s. During World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, they were issued to the German military, including the Luftwaffe
The ''Luftwaffe'' () was the aerial-warfare branch of the German ''Wehrmacht'' before and during World War II. Germany's military air arms during World War I, the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' of the Imperial Army and the '' Marine-Fliegerabtei ...
.
The Smith & Wesson Model 36
The Smith & Wesson Model 36 (also known as the Chief's Special) is a revolver chambered for .38 Special. It is one of several models of J-frame revolvers. It was introduced in 1950, and is still in production in the classic blued Model 36 and the ...
was designed in the era just after World War II, when Smith & Wesson stopped producing war materials and resumed normal production. For the Model 36, they designed a small concealable 5-shot revolver with a 2" barrel that could fire the more powerful .38 Special
The .38 Special, also commonly known as .38 S&W Special (not to be confused with .38 S&W), .38 Smith & Wesson Special, .38 Spl, .38 Spc, (pronounced "thirty-eight special"), or 9x29mmR is a rimmed, centerfire cartridge designed by Smith & ...
cartridge. Since the older I-frame was not able to handle this load, a new frame was designed, which became the J-frame.
The new design was introduced at the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) convention in 1950 and was favorably received. A vote was held to name the new revolver, and the name "Chief's Special" won.[ Ayoob, Massad. ''Greatest Handguns of the World'' (Krause Publications, Inc., 2010) p. 208; Jinks, Roy G. ''History of Smith & Wesson'' (Beinfeld Publishing,1977), p. 225.] A -barreled version design went into production immediately, due to high demand. It was available in either a blued or nickel-plated finish.["Armed for Personal Defense" By Jerry Ahern] It was produced as the "Chief's Special" until 1957 when it then became the Model 36. Smith & Wesson would also introduce the J-frame Smith & Wesson Centennial
S&W Centennial is a family of revolvers made by Smith & Wesson on the "J-Frame". Depending upon caliber, the cylinder holds either 5 (9x19mm Parabellum, .38 Special +P, and .357 Magnum), 6 (.32 H&R Magnum), 7 (.22 Magnum), or 8 (.22 LR) cartridge ...
(hammerless models) and Smith & Wesson Bodyguard
The Smith & Wesson Bodyguard is a family of small J-frame revolvers with shrouded hammers manufactured by Smith & Wesson. They are available chambered in either .38 Special or .357 Magnum.
Models
Model 38
The Model 38 is aluminum-framed, has ...
(shrouded hammer) models.
The Makarov pistol
The Makarov pistol or PM ( rus, Пистоле́т Мака́рова, r=Pistolét Makárova, p=pʲɪstɐˈlʲet mɐˈkarəvə, t=Makarov's Pistol) is a Soviet semi-automatic pistol. Under the project leadership of Nikolay Fyodorovich Makarov, it ...
was introduced in 1951. As the new standard issue sidearm for all Soviet military, police, and security forces it was intended to be carried both holstered and concealed. It can still be found in front-line service with the Russian military, police, and security forces. The Makarov is a medium-size, 9-shot, 9x18mm, blowback-operated
Blowback is a system of operation for self-loading firearms that obtains energy from the motion of the cartridge case as it is pushed to the rear by expanding gas created by the ignition of the propellant charge.
Several blowback systems exist wit ...
, all-steel construction pistol. The general layout and field-strip procedure of the Makarov pistol is similar to that of the Walther PP
The Walther PP (german: Polizeipistole, or police pistol) series pistols are blowback-operated semi-automatic pistols, developed by the German arms manufacturer Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen.
It features an exposed hammer, a traditional double-ac ...
. The 9×18mm cartridge is a practical cartridge in blowback-operated pistols; producing a respectable level of energy from a gun of moderate weight and size. Other, more powerful cartridges have been used in blowback pistol designs, but the Makarov is widely regarded as particularly well-balanced in its design elements.
The Beretta 950
The Beretta 950 is a semi-automatic pistol designed and manufactured by Beretta since 1952. It builds on a long line of small and compact pocket pistols manufactured by Beretta for self-defense. It was intended to be a very simple and reliable po ...
s are 9-shot, .25 ACP
The .25 ACP ( Automatic Colt Pistol) (6.35×16mmSR) is a semi-rimmed, straight-walled centerfire pistol cartridge introduced by John Browning
John Moses Browning (January 23, 1855 – November 26, 1926) was an American firearm designe ...
(Jetfire) or .22 Short
.22 Short is a variety of .22 caliber (5.6 mm) rimfire ammunition. Developed in 1857 for the first Smith & Wesson revolver, the .22 rimfire was the first American metallic cartridge. The original loading was a bullet and of black powd ...
(Minx) semi-automatic pistol
A semi-automatic pistol is a type of repeating single-chamber handgun ( pistol) that automatically cycles its action to insert the subsequent cartridge into the chamber (self-loading), but requires manual actuation of the trigger to actuall ...
s introduced by Beretta
Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta (; "Pietro Beretta Weapon Factory") is a privately held Italian firearms manufacturing company operating in several countries. Its firearms are used worldwide for a variety of civilian, law enforcement, and militar ...
in 1952. They build on a long line of small and compact pocket pistols manufactured by Beretta. They are very simple and reliable blowback operated pistols with a single action
A trigger is a mechanism that actuates the function of a ranged weapon such as a firearm, airgun, crossbow, or speargun. The word may also be used to describe a switch that initiates the operation of other non-shooting devices such as a trap, ...
trigger
Trigger may refer to:
Notable animals and people
;Mononym
* Trigger (horse), owned by cowboy star Roy Rogers
;Nickname
* Trigger Alpert (1916–2013), American jazz bassist
* "Trigger Mike" Coppola (1900–1966), American gangster
;Surname
* Bru ...
mechanism. Their frame
A frame is often a structural system that supports other components of a physical construction and/or steel frame that limits the construction's extent.
Frame and FRAME may also refer to:
Physical objects
In building construction
*Framing (con ...
s are made out of aluminum
Aluminium (aluminum in American and Canadian English) is a chemical element with the symbol Al and atomic number 13. Aluminium has a density lower than those of other common metals, at approximately one third that of steel. It has ...
alloy
An alloy is a mixture of chemical elements of which at least one is a metal. Unlike chemical compounds with metallic bases, an alloy will retain all the properties of a metal in the resulting material, such as electrical conductivity, ductility, ...
, their slide
Slide or Slides may refer to:
Places
* Slide, California, former name of Fortuna, California
Arts, entertainment, and media Music Albums
* ''Slide'' (Lisa Germano album), 1998
* ''Slide'' (George Clanton album), 2018
*''Slide'', by Patrick Glees ...
s and barrel
A barrel or cask is a hollow cylindrical container with a bulging center, longer than it is wide. They are traditionally made of wooden staves and bound by wooden or metal hoops. The word vat is often used for large containers for liquids, ...
s are carbon
Carbon () is a chemical element with the symbol C and atomic number 6. It is nonmetallic and tetravalent
In chemistry, the valence (US spelling) or valency (British spelling) of an element is the measure of its combining capacity with o ...
steel
Steel is an alloy made up of iron with added carbon to improve its strength and fracture resistance compared to other forms of iron. Many other elements may be present or added. Stainless steels that are corrosion- and oxidation-resistant ty ...
. They feature a unique tip-up barrel
A tip-up barrel is a type of semi-automatic pistol design in which the barrel can be swung up and away from the firing pin, pivoting around a hinge set into the frame near the muzzle. Such a design allows a round to be inserted directly into th ...
for ease of loading. Early models (*950* and *950B* Pre-1968) do not have a safety lever, employing a half-cock
Half-cock is when the position of the hammer of a firearm is partially—but not completely—cocked. Many firearms, particularly older firearms, had a notch cut into the hammer allowing half-cock, as this position would neither allow the gun to ...
notch on the hammer instead. Later models (*950BS* Post-1968) are provided with a manual safety lever.
In 1984 Beretta would introduce a double-action
Double action (or double-action) refers to one of two systems in firearms where the trigger both cocks and releases the hammer.
* Double-action only (DAO) firearms trigger: The trigger both cocks and releases the hammer. There is no single-action ...
version, the Beretta 21A Bobcat
The Beretta 21A Bobcat is a semi-automatic pocket pistol designed by Beretta in Italy. Production began in late 1984, solely in the Beretta U.S.A. facility in Accokeek, Maryland. It is a further development of the Beretta Model 20, whose productio ...
. And, in 1996 they introduced the larger .32 ACP
.32 ACP ( Automatic Colt Pistol, also known as .32 Automatic) is a centerfire pistol cartridge. It is a semi-rimmed, straight-walled cartridge developed by firearms designer John Browning, initially for use in the FN M1900 semi-automatic pi ...
Beretta 3032 Tomcat
The Beretta 3032 Tomcat and Beretta 3032 Tomcat Inox are semi-automatic pocket pistols designed and manufactured by Beretta. They are chambered in .32 ACP (a.k.a. 7.65 mm Browning) and are small pistols, designed for concealed-carry and use a ...
.
The Gun Control Act of 1968
The Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA or GCA68) is a U.S. federal law that regulates the firearms industry and firearms ownership. Due to constitutional limitations, the Act is primarily based on regulating interstate commerce in firearms by generally ...
prohibiting the importation of inexpensive handguns prompted George Jennings
George Jennings (10 November 1810 – 17 April 1882) was an English sanitary engineer and plumber who invented the first public flush toilets.
Josiah George Jennings was born on 10 November 1810 in Eling, at the edge of the New Forest in Hamp ...
to design the Raven MP-25, an inexpensive 7-shot, .25 ACP
The .25 ACP ( Automatic Colt Pistol) (6.35×16mmSR) is a semi-rimmed, straight-walled centerfire pistol cartridge introduced by John Browning
John Moses Browning (January 23, 1855 – November 26, 1926) was an American firearm designe ...
semi-automatic pistol
A semi-automatic pistol is a type of repeating single-chamber handgun ( pistol) that automatically cycles its action to insert the subsequent cartridge into the chamber (self-loading), but requires manual actuation of the trigger to actuall ...
. Jennings kept costs to a minimum by manufacturing the Raven from injection-molded Zamak
ZAMAK (or Zamac, formerly trademarked as MAZAK) is a family of alloys with a base metal of zinc and alloying elements of aluminium, magnesium, and copper.
Zamak alloys are part of the zinc aluminium alloy family; they are distinguished from the ...
, a zinc alloy. It came in chrome, satin nickel, or black finish. The grips can be either wood or imitation mother-of-pearl handles. Raven has been referred to as the original "Ring of Fire" company. Along with Jennings Firearms (later Bryco Arms, now Jimenez Arms
JA Industries is an American firearms manufacturer based in Henderson, Nevada.
The company's origins trace to 1978, with the formation of Jennings Firearms. This company eventually filed bankruptcy and subsequently reorganized as Bryco Arms. Bry ...
), Phoenix Arms
Phoenix Arms is a firearms manufacturer established in 1992. A predecessor company owned by George Jennings, Raven Arms, ceased operations in 1991, after which Jennings retired and sold his designs to Phoenix. Phoenix was founded and owned by Jen ...
, Lorcin Engineering Company
Lorcin Engineering Company was a firearms manufacturer established in 1989 by Jim Waldorf. Lorcin produced a series of very inexpensive handguns, which were sold primarily through pawn shops and marketed to people with low income. As such, their ...
, Davis Industries
Davis Industries was a firearms manufacturer established in 1982 by Jim Davis. Davis produced a series of inexpensive handguns, which were sold primarily through pawn shops and marketed towards people with low income. The guns were constructed of ...
, and Sundance Industries
Sundance Industries was a firearms manufacturer established in 1989 by Steven Jennings, the nephew of Raven Arms founder George Jennings. Sundance produced a series of inexpensive pocket handguns, which were sold primarily through pawn shops and m ...
, they were known for making similar cast zinc alloy Saturday night special
Saturday night special is a colloquial term in the United States and Canada for inexpensive, compact, small-caliber handguns made of poor quality metal. Sometimes known as junk guns, some states define these guns by means of composition or mate ...
-type pistols.
In 1976, the Heckler & Koch P7 (AKA: PSP) was introduced. These were small 9-shot, 9mm Luger pistols that featured a unique front strap grip safety that allowed them to be carried safely not only holstered but concealed in a pocket. They were designed to replace the .32 ACP
.32 ACP ( Automatic Colt Pistol, also known as .32 Automatic) is a centerfire pistol cartridge. It is a semi-rimmed, straight-walled cartridge developed by firearms designer John Browning, initially for use in the FN M1900 semi-automatic pi ...
Walther PP
The Walther PP (german: Polizeipistole, or police pistol) series pistols are blowback-operated semi-automatic pistols, developed by the German arms manufacturer Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen.
It features an exposed hammer, a traditional double-ac ...
in German service, with a similarly sized but more effective 9×19mm Parabellum
The 9×19mm Parabellum (also known as 9mm Parabellum or 9mm Luger or simply 9mm) is a rimless, tapered firearms cartridge.
Originally designed by Austrian firearm designer Georg Luger in 1901, it is widely considered the most popular handgun a ...
pistol.
Between 1982–1983 the P7 received several modifications, mainly to address American market demand and shooter preferences. These modifications resulted in the P7M8 model. A new magazine release lever (available on both sides of the frame) was installed just beneath the trigger guard, which forced designers to modify both the pistol's frame and magazine. The trigger guard was equipped with a synthetic heat shield that protects the shooter from excessive heating and a lanyard attachment loop was added in place of the previous magazine heel release. The P7M13 was also introduced with a 13-round double-stack magazine.
In the mid-1980s, particularly small and high-quality pocket pistols were introduced, such as the 7-shot, .32 ACP Seecamp LWS 32. These modern double-action only
A trigger is a mechanism that actuates the function of a ranged weapon such as a firearm, airgun, crossbow, or speargun. The word may also be used to describe a switch that initiates the operation of other non-shooting devices such as a trap, ...
pistols are safer to carry than the older single-action
A trigger is a mechanism that actuates the function of a ranged weapon such as a firearm, airgun, crossbow, or speargun. The word may also be used to describe a switch that initiates the operation of other non-shooting devices such as a trap, a ...
designs. Often selling for significantly more than its US$600 retail price. During the mid-1990s, demand so far exceeded supply that contracts for guns were sold up to two years before the guns themselves were produced, and the guns themselves were then often resold for as much as $1100 USD upon delivery.
North American Arms Mini-Revolvers (often called derringers) are 5-shot, .22 rimfire, single action revolvers, which have a spur trigger
Trigger may refer to:
Notable animals and people
;Mononym
* Trigger (horse), owned by cowboy star Roy Rogers
;Nickname
* Trigger Alpert (1916–2013), American jazz bassist
* "Trigger Mike" Coppola (1900–1966), American gangster
;Surname
* Bru ...
design. They are reminiscent of late 19th-century pocket revolvers, only much smaller and made completely of stainless steel
Stainless steel is an alloy of iron that is resistant to rusting and corrosion. It contains at least 11% chromium and may contain elements such as carbon, other nonmetals and metals to obtain other desired properties. Stainless steel's corros ...
. Mini-revolvers were developed by Freedom Arms
Freedom Arms is a Freedom, Wyoming based firearm manufacturing company, known for producing powerful single-action revolvers. The company was founded in 1978 by Wayne Baker and Dick Casull to produce the Mini revolver then later a revolver cha ...
in 1978, which stopped selling them in 1990 and then sold the design to North American Arms. Since then, North American Arms has further evolved the design, switching to a safety cylinder design, featuring notches machined halfway between the chambers. As a result, the revolver may be safely carried with all five chambers loaded by resting the hammer in a safety notch. Older NAA mini-revolvers can be retrofitted with this safety cylinder design upgrade at no cost to the owner simply by returning an older design NAA mini-revolver to North American Arms for an upgrade.
More recently, modern pistols with polymer frames have been introduced, such as the 8-shot, .32 ACP
.32 ACP ( Automatic Colt Pistol, also known as .32 Automatic) is a centerfire pistol cartridge. It is a semi-rimmed, straight-walled cartridge developed by firearms designer John Browning, initially for use in the FN M1900 semi-automatic pi ...
Kel-Tec P-32
The Kel-Tec P-32 is a sub-compact semi-automatic pistol using the short-recoil principle of operation that is chambered in .32 ACP. It was designed by George Kellgren. It is manufactured by Kel-Tec CNC Industries Inc., of Cocoa, Florida and was ...
and 9 mm Luger
9 (nine) is the natural number following and preceding .
Evolution of the Arabic digit
In the beginning, various Indians wrote a digit 9 similar in shape to the modern closing question mark without the bottom dot. The Kshatrapa, Andhra and ...
Kel-Tec P11. The P-11 uses an aluminum receiver inside a polymer grip housing held on with polymer pins. The slide, barrel, and magazine are steel. The standard magazine holds 10 rounds, or 12 rounds in states not limited to 10-round magazines. Both fit flush to the bottom of the pistol. At unloaded, the handgun itself is comparatively light. The P-11 lacks an external manual safety, relying instead on a long and heavy double-action only (DAO) trigger pull, which requires 9 pounds of pressure, to prevent accidental discharge. A firing pin spring and low-mass hammer prevent discharge if the gun is dropped. The P-11 will also accept some Smith & Wesson 59 series magazines. An available adapter wraps around the base of 15-round Smith & Wesson model 59-style magazines. The lightweight P11s introduced the "subcompact" concept. Prompting other manufacturers such as Glock
Glock is a brand of polymer- framed, short recoil-operated, locked-breech semi-automatic pistols designed and produced by Austrian manufacturer Glock Ges.m.b.H. The firearm entered Austrian military and police service by 1982 after it was th ...
and Springfield Armory
The Springfield Armory, more formally known as the United States Armory and Arsenal at Springfield located in the city of Springfield, Massachusetts, was the primary center for the manufacture of United States military firearms from 1777 until ...
to introduce similar pistols.
The Glock 26
Glock is a brand of polymer- framed, short recoil-operated, locked-breech semi-automatic pistols designed and produced by Austrian manufacturer Glock Ges.m.b.H. The firearm entered Austrian military and police service by 1982 after it was the ...
is a 9×19mm "subcompact" variant designed for concealed carry and was introduced in 1995, mainly for the civilian market. It features a smaller frame compared to the Glock 19, with a pistol grip that supports only two fingers, a shorter barrel and slide, and a double-stack magazine with a standard capacity of 10 rounds. A factory magazine with a +2 extension gives a capacity of 12 rounds. In addition, factory magazines from the Glock 17, Glock 18, and Glock 19, with capacities of 15, 17, 19, 31, and 33 rounds, will function in the Glock 26. More than simply a "shortened" Glock 19, the design of the subcompact Glock 26 required extensive rework of the frame, locking block, and spring assembly that features a dual recoil spring.
Calibers
Semi-automatic pocket pistols are typically chambered in .22 LR
The .22 Long Rifle or simply .22 LR or 22 (metric designation: 5.6×15mmR) is a long-established variety of .22 caliber rimfire ammunition originating from the United States. It is used in a wide range of rifles, pistols, revolvers, smooth ...
, .25 ACP
The .25 ACP ( Automatic Colt Pistol) (6.35×16mmSR) is a semi-rimmed, straight-walled centerfire pistol cartridge introduced by John Browning
John Moses Browning (January 23, 1855 – November 26, 1926) was an American firearm designe ...
, .32 ACP
.32 ACP ( Automatic Colt Pistol, also known as .32 Automatic) is a centerfire pistol cartridge. It is a semi-rimmed, straight-walled cartridge developed by firearms designer John Browning, initially for use in the FN M1900 semi-automatic pi ...
, and .380 ACP
The .380 ACP (9×17mm) ( Automatic Colt Pistol) is a rimless, straight-walled pistol cartridge developed by firearms designer John Moses Browning. The cartridge headspaces on the mouth of the case.Wilson, R. K. ''Textbook of Automatic Pisto ...
calibers for the older designs. However, newer subcompact designs are also made in 9 mm Parabellum
9 (nine) is the natural number following and preceding .
Evolution of the Arabic digit
In the beginning, various Indians wrote a digit 9 similar in shape to the modern closing question mark without the bottom dot. The Kshatrapa, Andhra and ...
, .40 Smith & Wesson, and .45 ACP
The .45 ACP ( Automatic Colt Pistol) or .45 Auto (11.43×23mm) is a rimless straight-walled handgun cartridge designed by John Moses Browning in 1904, for use in his prototype Colt semi-automatic pistol. After successful military trials, it ...
. These pistols typically have magazine capacities ranging from 5 to 15 rounds.
Pocket revolvers typically range from .22 LR
The .22 Long Rifle or simply .22 LR or 22 (metric designation: 5.6×15mmR) is a long-established variety of .22 caliber rimfire ammunition originating from the United States. It is used in a wide range of rifles, pistols, revolvers, smooth ...
, .38 Special
The .38 Special, also commonly known as .38 S&W Special (not to be confused with .38 S&W), .38 Smith & Wesson Special, .38 Spl, .38 Spc, (pronounced "thirty-eight special"), or 9x29mmR is a rimmed, centerfire cartridge designed by Smith & ...
, and .44 Special
The .44 Smith & Wesson Special, also commonly known as .44 S&W Special, .44 Special, .44 Spl, .44 Spc, (pronounced "forty-four special"), or 10.9x29mmR is a smokeless powder center fire metallic revolver cartridge developed by Smith & Wesson in 1 ...
for the older designs. However, the newer designs are also made in .357 Magnum
The .357 Smith & Wesson Magnum, .357 S&W Magnum, .357 Magnum, or 9×33mmR as it is known in unofficial metric designation, is a smokeless powder cartridge with a bullet diameter. It was created by Elmer Keith, Phillip B. Sharpe, and Douglas B. ...
and .44 Magnum. These revolvers typically hold 5 to 10 rounds depending on the caliber.
Note that larger subcompacts (6-15 rounds of 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, etc.) and larger frame revolvers (short barrel, but large grip) start to stray from the idea of a "pocket pistol." However, the concept of a pocket pistol is somewhat debatable. It really comes down to what individuals consider pocketable.
Derringers such as the older Remington Model 95 were chambered for .41 Rimfire. However, modern derringers are chambered for everything from .22 LR
The .22 Long Rifle or simply .22 LR or 22 (metric designation: 5.6×15mmR) is a long-established variety of .22 caliber rimfire ammunition originating from the United States. It is used in a wide range of rifles, pistols, revolvers, smooth ...
to .45-70 Government
The .45-70 rifle cartridge, also known as the .45-70 Government, was developed at the U.S. Army's Springfield Armory for use in the Springfield Model 1873, which is known to collectors as the "Trapdoor Springfield." The new cartridge was a rep ...
, even .410 bore
The .410 bore is one of the smallest caliber of shotgun shell commonly available (along with the 9mm Flobert rimfire cartridge, and the less common .22 rimfire shot shell). A .410 bore shotgun loaded with shot shells is well suited for small g ...
shotgun shells, with the .22 LR
The .22 Long Rifle or simply .22 LR or 22 (metric designation: 5.6×15mmR) is a long-established variety of .22 caliber rimfire ammunition originating from the United States. It is used in a wide range of rifles, pistols, revolvers, smooth ...
, .38 Special
The .38 Special, also commonly known as .38 S&W Special (not to be confused with .38 S&W), .38 Smith & Wesson Special, .38 Spl, .38 Spc, (pronounced "thirty-eight special"), or 9x29mmR is a rimmed, centerfire cartridge designed by Smith & ...
, .44 Special
The .44 Smith & Wesson Special, also commonly known as .44 S&W Special, .44 Special, .44 Spl, .44 Spc, (pronounced "forty-four special"), or 10.9x29mmR is a smokeless powder center fire metallic revolver cartridge developed by Smith & Wesson in 1 ...
, .357 Magnum
The .357 Smith & Wesson Magnum, .357 S&W Magnum, .357 Magnum, or 9×33mmR as it is known in unofficial metric designation, is a smokeless powder cartridge with a bullet diameter. It was created by Elmer Keith, Phillip B. Sharpe, and Douglas B. ...
, .44 Magnum, and .45 Colt
The .45 Colt (11.43×33mmR), is a rimmed, straight-walled, handgun cartridge dating to 1872. It was originally a black-powder revolver round developed for the Colt Single Action Army revolver. This cartridge was adopted by the U.S. Army in 1 ...
being among the most popular calibers. Today, 2 round derringers are the most common. However, in the not-too-distant past, 1 to 4-round derringers have also been made.
Concealed carry
Pocket pistols as the name suggests are usually small pistols carried in a coat, jacket, or trouser pocket. They are used for concealed carry by those desiring a discreet self-defense gun or desiring to carry a backup gun. They are point-and-shoot pistols, intended for fast one-handed operation. The typical .25 ACP pocket pistol is designed for close-range work and has an effective range of about 7 yards (6.5 m).
Pocket pistols are typically hammerless designs, made with rounded edges and with few controls, to prevent snagging and to make them easier to carry. Revolvers are also typically hammerless, or have shrouded, or even bobbed hammers, all allowing the gun to be drawn quickly with little risk of it snagging on clothing. The shrouded and hammerless models may even be fired through a coat or jacket pocket.Gun Review: 5-Shot Snub-Nosed Revolver
Scott W. Wagner. 06/17/2015
While some of the cheaper semi-auto pistols are best carried with an empty chamber, higher-quality pocket pistols are designed to be carried with a round chambered and with the safety engaged (ON). Many older pistols (and even some revolvers) also had grip safeties for additional security. However, the newer double-action-only pistols are made without manually operated safeties, but with a long and heavy
trigger-pulls – similar to revolvers.
Pocket
holster
A handgun holster is a device used to hold or restrict the undesired movement of a handgun, most commonly in a location where it can be easily withdrawn for immediate use. Holsters are often attached to a belt or waistband, but they may be att ...
s are highly recommended for the safer carry of pocket pistols, with the standard practice being to carry the holster (sometimes with a second magazine sub-pocket stitched into the holster) in a front or rear trouser pocket with nothing else carried in the pocket that could snag on the gun when drawn. The most popular pocket holster designs are typically made of form-fitted leather, with a heavy layer of leather worn outward from the body to prevent ''printing'' of the gun outline on tight clothing, although Kydex holsters are also used, especially for thicker pocket pistols for which the added thickness of a leather holster would cause an excessive overall thickness. The use of moisture and vapor-barrier layers in the holster stitched closer to the body is recommended to prevent damaging the finish of the pocket pistol due to sweat. This extra layer also serves to increase carry comfort and to prevent chapping or blistering the skin under the holster due to repetitive motion rubbing or friction that can occur while walking, jogging, or running.
Pocket pistols are derided by some gun enthusiasts who claim that they provide inadequate self-defense due to their small size, small caliber, and poor sights. Still, the numbers sold speak of a wide degree of popularity, with some models having been sold in quantities in excess of 3 million over 30 or more years. {{fact, date=October 2020
Models
Semi-automatic pistols
![Walther Model 8](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Walther_Model_8.jpg)
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AMT Backup
The AMT Backup is a small semi-automatic pistol. It was first manufactured by the Ordnance Manufacturing Corporation (OMC) of El Monte, CA. The first guns made in .380 ACP by OMC are known as the OMC Backup. OMC produced a short run of these pisto ...
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Beretta 21 Bobcat
The Beretta 21A Bobcat is a semi-automatic pocket pistol designed by Beretta in Italy. Production began in late 1984, solely in the Beretta U.S.A. facility in Accokeek, Maryland. It is a further development of the Beretta Model 20, whose productio ...
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Beretta 418
The Beretta M418 is an easily concealed Italian 6.35 mm (.25 ACP) pocket pistol. The earliest examples were made between 1919 and 1922. There are several versions, including the 1920 (V1 & V2), 1926, 1926 - 31 (V1 & V2), 1934, 318, and 418 ...
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Beretta 950
The Beretta 950 is a semi-automatic pistol designed and manufactured by Beretta since 1952. It builds on a long line of small and compact pocket pistols manufactured by Beretta for self-defense. It was intended to be a very simple and reliable po ...
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Beretta 3032 Tomcat
The Beretta 3032 Tomcat and Beretta 3032 Tomcat Inox are semi-automatic pocket pistols designed and manufactured by Beretta. They are chambered in .32 ACP (a.k.a. 7.65 mm Browning) and are small pistols, designed for concealed-carry and use a ...
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Beretta 1934
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Beretta 1935
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Bersa Thunder 380
The Thunder 380 is a lightweight, relatively small semi-automatic pistol series chambered in the popular .380 ACP caliber made by Argentine firearms manufacturer Bersa, S.A.
It is similar in design to the Walther PPK, but also has design features ...
*
Bryco Arms
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Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammer
The Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammer was a short-recoil, semi-automatic pistol, designed by the American arms designer John Browning. It was a compact version of the Colt Model 1902 Sporting Model pistol derived from the original Colt M1900. The Col ...
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Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless
The Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless (not to be confused with the Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammer or the M1903 Springfield rifle) is a .32 ACP caliber, self-loading, semi-automatic pistol designed by John Browning and built by Colt Patent Firearms ...
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Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket
The Model 1908 Vest Pocket is a compact, hammerless, striker-fired, semi-automatic single-action pistol. Manufactured by the Colt's Manufacturing Company from 1908 to 1948, it was marketed as a small concealable firearm which could be easily ...
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Diamondback DB9
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FN Model 1903
The FN Model 1903 (M1903, FN Mle 1903), or Browning No.2 is a self-loading semi-automatic pistol engineered by John Browning and made by Belgian arms manufacturer Fabrique Nationale (FN). It was introduced in 1903 and fired the 9×20mmSR Brownin ...
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FN Model 1905
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FN Model 1910
The FN Model 1910 is a blowback-operated, semi-automatic pistol designed by John Browning and manufactured by Fabrique Nationale of Belgium.
Development
The FN Model 1910, also known as the Browning model 1910, was a departure for Browning. Be ...
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FN Baby Browning
The 1931 Fabrique Nationale (FN) Baby Browning is a small blowback-operated semi-automatic pistol designed by Belgium-born Dieudonné Saive chambered in .25 ACP (6.35x15 mm). The pistol features a six-round magazine capacity and is a striker-fire ...
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Heckler & Koch P7
The Heckler & Koch P7 is a German 9×19mm semi-automatic pistol designed by Helmut Weldle and produced from 1979 to 2008 by Heckler & Koch GmbH (H&K). It was revealed to the public for the first time in 1976 as the PSP (''Polizei-Selbstlade-Pis ...
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Kahr P380, P9, P40, P45
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Kahr K9
The Kahr K series is a series of semi-automatic pistols manufactured by Kahr Arms. The original weapon in the series, the K9, was introduced in 1995 and features a double action only (DAO) trigger mechanism with a Locked breech recoil operated ...
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Kahr CW380
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Kahr CW9
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Kahr MK9
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Kahr PM9, PM40, PM45
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Kel-Tec PF-9
The Kel-Tec PF-9 is a 9 mm caliber, recoil operated, locked breech, double action only, semi-automatic pistol based on (and sharing many parts with) Kel-Tec's earlier P-11 and P-3AT models. Kel-Tec claims the PF-9 is the flattest and lightest 9& ...
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Kel-Tec P-11
The Kel-Tec P-11 is a compact, Semi-automatic pistol, semi-automatic, recoil operation, short-recoil operated pistol chambered in 9mm Luger Parabellum, 9 mm Luger. It was manufactured by Kel-Tec CNC Industries of Cocoa, FL from 1995 to 2019. ...
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Kel-Tec P-32
The Kel-Tec P-32 is a sub-compact semi-automatic pistol using the short-recoil principle of operation that is chambered in .32 ACP. It was designed by George Kellgren. It is manufactured by Kel-Tec CNC Industries Inc., of Cocoa, Florida and was ...
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Kel-Tec P-3AT
The P-3AT is a locked breech, double action only, .380 ACP pistol introduced by Kel-Tec in 2003 and based on the P-32. The frame is made of polymer with an aluminum insert, and the slide and barrel are steel. It is the lightest production .380 AC ...
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Kevin ZP98
Kevin ZP98 (usually just Kevin) is a 9 mm/.380 ACP sub-compact semi-automatic pistol manufactured in the Czech Republic. It is manufactured and sold in the United States by Magnum Research as the Micro Desert Eagle (ME380).
Description ...
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Kimber Solo
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Korovin pistol
The Korovin pistol (Пистолет Коровина, Тульский Коровин (ТК), GAU Index 56-A-112) is regarded as the first Soviet semi-automatic pistol.
History
Sergey Korovin designed the first 7.65 mm caliber military pi ...
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Glock 26, 27, 36, and variants
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Makarov pistol
The Makarov pistol or PM ( rus, Пистоле́т Мака́рова, r=Pistolét Makárova, p=pʲɪstɐˈlʲet mɐˈkarəvə, t=Makarov's Pistol) is a Soviet semi-automatic pistol. Under the project leadership of Nikolay Fyodorovich Makarov, it ...
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North American Arms Guardian
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Ortgies semi-automatic pistol
The Ortgies 7.65 mm pistol was a hammerless semi-automatic pistol that was produced in Germany in the years immediately after World War I, first by its inventor Heinrich Ortgies and then by Deutsche Werke. Inexpensive, but of good qual ...
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PSM
PSM, an acronym, may refer to:
Organizations
* Sepaktakraw Association of Malaysia ( ms, Persatuan Sepaktakraw Malaysia; PSM), a national governing body in Malaysia.
* Pakistan School Muscat, a Pakistani co-educational institute in Oman
* Palest ...
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Raven Arms MP-25
Raven Arms was a firearms manufacturer established in 1970 by firearms designer George Jennings. The Gun Control Act of 1968 prohibiting the importation of inexpensive handguns prompted Jennings to design the MP-25, a .25 ACP, .25-caliber semi-au ...
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Ruger LCP
The Ruger LCP (Lightweight Compact Pistol) is a subcompact .380 ACP pocket pistol manufactured by Sturm, Ruger & Co. It was introduced at the 2008 SHOT Show.
Overview
With an overall length of and weighing only , this is Ruger's first entry int ...
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Ruger LC9
The Ruger LC9 (standing for "Lightweight Compact 9mm") is a 9mm caliber, recoil-operated, locked breech, hammer fired, semi-automatic pistol announced by Sturm, Ruger & Co. at the 2011 SHOT Show. This pistol has safety features, including a lo ...
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Rohrbaugh R9
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Seecamp
L. W. Seecamp Co. was an American manufacturer of pocket pistols located in Milford, Connecticut from 1981 to 2014. In 2014, the company announced that Whalley Precision would take over production of the pistols.
History
L. W. Seecamp Co. was ...
LWS32/LWS38 .
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SIG Sauer P238
The SIG Sauer P238 is a compact .380 ACP caliber, single-action pistol announced by SIG Sauer at the 2009 SHOT Show. It is modelled after the M1911, similar to the Colt Mustang. Grip panels are fluted polymer making this an all-metal frame firear ...
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SIG Sauer P290
The Sig Sauer P290 is a polymer frame subcompact handgun that was produced from 2011 to 2017 by SIG Sauer of Exeter, New Hampshire. It was replaced by the SIG Sauer P365.
Features
The P290 is chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum (9mm Luger, 9mm NATO). ...
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SIG Sauer P365
The SIG Sauer P365 is a striker-fired subcompact semi-automatic pistol manufactured by SIG Sauer, intended for everyday carry. It is offered with Tritium XRAY3 Day/Night Sights and two 10-round magazines; one flush fit and the other with an exten ...
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M&P Bodyguard 380
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Springfield Armory Hellcat
The Springfield Armory Hellcat is a polymer frame striker-fired micro-compact semi-automatic pistol sold in the United States by Springfield Armory, Inc., and manufactured in Croatia by HS Produkt. Introduced in September 2019, it is chambered ...
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Springfield Armory XD-S
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Taurus Curve
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Taurus TCP
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Walther Model 8
The Walther Model 8 was a 6.35mm single-action pocket pistol manufactured by Carl Walther CmbH between 1920 and 1940. It was fed by an 8-round magazine and chambered in .25 ACP. The Model 8 is a blowback pistol with a concealed hammer and has sev ...
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Walther Model 9
The Walther Model 9 was a striker fired semi-automatic pistol produced by Carl Walther CmbH and chambered in .25 ACP. The decision to use a striker vs. that of an internal hammer like on the Walther Model 8 was to reduce overall size of the gu ...
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Walther PP
The Walther PP (german: Polizeipistole, or police pistol) series pistols are blowback-operated semi-automatic pistols, developed by the German arms manufacturer Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen.
It features an exposed hammer, a traditional double-ac ...
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Walther TPH
The Walther TP and TPH handguns are extremely compact trigger (firearms), double-action lightweight Semi-automatic self-loading pistol, semi-automatic pistols in .22 Long Rifle and .25 ACP calibers. Pistols in this size range are sometimes referre ...
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Smith & Wesson Model 61
The Smith & Wesson Model 61 (also known as the Smith & Wesson Escort or simply the Pocket Escort) is a subcompact semi-automatic pistol chambered in .22 Long Rifle and designed for self-defense, and was made from 1970 to 1973.
Design
The S&W Mode ...
Revolvers
![Smith & Wesson Model 642 LS Ladysmith (8212014974)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/36/Smith_%26_Wesson_Model_642_LS_Ladysmith_%288212014974%29.jpg)
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Charter Arms
Charter Arms Co. is an American manufacturer of revolvers. Since its founding in 1964, Charter Arms has produced revolvers chambered in the following calibers: .22 Long Rifle, .22 Winchester Magnum, .32 Long, .32 H&R Magnum, .327 Federal Magn ...
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Colt Cobra
The Colt Cobra is a lightweight, aluminum-framed, double-action short-barrelled revolver, not to be confused with the Colt King Cobra. The Cobra was chambered in .38 Special, .38 Colt New Police, .32 Colt New Police, and .22 LR. It holds six s ...
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Colt Detective Special
The Colt Detective Special is a six-shot, carbon steel framed, 2" or 3" barreled, double-action revolver, and the first example of a class of firearms known as "snubnose revolvers". Made by Colt's Manufacturing Company, this model revolver, as th ...
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Kimber K6 series
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North American Arms Mini-Revolver
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Ruger LCR
The Ruger LCR is a compact revolver built by Sturm, Ruger & Co. and announced in January 2009. LCR stands for "Lightweight Compact Revolver". It incorporates several novel features such as a polymer grip and trigger housing, monolithic receiver, ...
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Ruger SP101
The Ruger SP101 is a series of double-action revolvers produced by the American company Sturm, Ruger & Co. The SP101 is a small frame and all-steel-construction carry revolver, with a five-shot (.38 Special, .357 Magnum, and 9×19mm Parabellum ...
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Smith & Wesson Model 36
The Smith & Wesson Model 36 (also known as the Chief's Special) is a revolver chambered for .38 Special. It is one of several models of J-frame revolvers. It was introduced in 1950, and is still in production in the classic blued Model 36 and the ...
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Smith & Wesson Model 340PD
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Smith & Wesson Model 640
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Smith & Wesson Bodyguard
The Smith & Wesson Bodyguard is a family of small J-frame revolvers with shrouded hammers manufactured by Smith & Wesson. They are available chambered in either .38 Special or .357 Magnum.
Models
Model 38
The Model 38 is aluminum-framed, has ...
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Smith & Wesson Centennial
S&W Centennial is a family of revolvers made by Smith & Wesson on the "J-Frame". Depending upon caliber, the cylinder holds either 5 (9x19mm Parabellum, .38 Special +P, and .357 Magnum), 6 (.32 H&R Magnum), 7 (.22 Magnum), or 8 (.22 LR) cartridge ...
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Smith & Wesson Safety Hammerless
The Smith & Wesson Safety Hammerless or Smith & Wesson New Departure (nicknamed by collectors as the Lemon Squeezer) is a double-action revolver that was produced from 1887 to 1940 by Smith & Wesson. Based on the Smith & Wesson Model 2 double-acti ...
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Taurus Model 85
The Taurus Model 85 is a small-frame revolver manufactured by Taurus International. In the United States, the guns are marketed for concealed carry and personal protection.
Specifications
The Model 85 is available in several configurations. Th ...
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Velo-dog
The Velo-Dog (also known as a ''Revolver de Poche'') was a pocket pistol, pocket revolver originally created in France by René Galand, son of Charles-François Galand in the late 19th century as a defense for cyclists against dog attacks. The nam ...
Derringers
![American Corp](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c8/American_Corp._Derringer_M1.jpg)
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Remington Model 95
The Remington Model 95 is a double-barrel pocket pistol commonly recognized as a Derringer. The design was little changed during a production run of nearly 70 years through several financial reorganizations of the manufacturer causing repeating s ...
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American Derringer M1
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Bond Arms
Bond Arms Inc. is an American firearms manufacturer located in Granbury, Texas which makes derringers and the semiautomatic Bullpup 9.
History
Bond Arms was founded by longtime tool and die maker Greg Bond, in Granbury, Texas.
Between the 1860 ...
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COP .357 Derringer
The COP .357 is a 4-shot Derringer-type pistol chambered for .357 Magnum. The double-action weapon is about twice as wide, and substantially heavier than the typical .25 automatic pistol, though its relatively compact size and powerful cartridge ...
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Davis D Models
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DoubleTap derringer
The DoubleTap derringer is a hammerless, double-action, double-barreled, large caliber derringer designed for personal protection and manufactured by DoubleTap Defense, LLC. It features stainless steel ported barrels and an aluminum frame that hol ...
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High Standard D100
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Ideal Conceal
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LifeCard .22LR & .22WMR
See also
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Queen Anne pistol
Queen Anne pistols are a type of breech-loading flintlock pistol known as a turn-off pistol, in which the chamber is filled from the front and accessed by unscrewing the barrel. Another distinguishing feature of the design is that the lock-plate ...
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Derringer
A derringer is a small handgun that is neither a revolver nor a semi/ fully automatic pistol. It is not to be confused with mini-revolvers or pocket pistols, although some later derringers were manufactured with the pepperbox configuration. ...
References
External links
Smallest Guns– website listing information and links about many pocket pistols.
Semi-automatic pistols
Derringers