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 handgun-types such as derringers and machine pistols also see infrequent usage.

In the days before commercial mass production, handguns 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.