Sigivald
2008-02-22 11:06:48
Fero: It might be a correct definition, but it’s needlessly confusing, as in normal use even among gun enthusiasts (let alone laymen), “pistol” is a synonym for “handgun” and has been since the first use of the term.
Gun manufacturers and that FM are the only places I’ve ever seen the distinction observed.
(The internet suggests that this is particular to the United States, and British English makes no distinction – which surprises me, since I’m an American, surrounded by Americans, and deal with lots of gun enthusiasts here on the internet… and this distinction doesn’t seem all that common to me. )
