Is a Revolver a Pistol?

Is a Revolver a Pistol?

  • Yes.

    Votes: 203 69.8%

  • No.

    Votes: 88 30.2%
  • Total voters
    291
  • Poll closed .
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Bottom line:

A revolver is a pistol, when the term "pistol" is broadly defined.

A pistol, when narrowly defined, is "a firearm whose chamber is integral with the barrel."

Both connotations are valid.

After Sam Colt conceived of the "revolving-breech pistol," in 1830 or so (he was just 16 years old), his invention broadened the meaning of the old word "pistol." In time, such guns became known colloquially as "revolvers," but they always were, and still are, a subset of the "pistol" category of firearms.

Many people today use the term "pistol" to distinguish a wheelgun from a semi-auto, and that's fine. It's an untidy world. ;)
 
Lets see if we can agree on this

#1) The term pistol is very old, dating from the era of matchlocks, when all pistols had chambers integral with the barrel.
#2) Colt did indeed patent a revolving pistol.
#3) terms in common usage do indeed change over time, BUT that does not invalidate their original definitions.

So, a revolver is still a pistol, even though common usage seldom uses that word.

We shorten terms all the time. We seldom refer to semi automatic pistols as such, more commonly saying semi auto, or saying just pistol.

My grandfather, who grew up before 1900 used a lot of terms that are either no longer commonly heard, or have meanings quite different in ordinary conversation than they did to him. And yet he was entirely correct using those words in the manner he did.

The flaw in the argument of whether it is or isn't a pistol is that while language is a changing medium, it also keeps certain fundmentals. If a term was ever popularly applied to something, it keeps that definition, even if, over time the popular definition changes. Dictionairies still list the old definitions, even though they may note them as archaic.

anybody (besides me) remember when the word "gay" had only a single general usage, meaning happy/festive,etc?
Or when a "rake" was more than a lawn tool?
Or when a "geek" was a sideshow freak?
the list is long, and ever changing.
 
44 AMP - May as well just close it. We're just going round & round, sucking up bandwidth. We don't all have to agree, but it was good to find out that we're so split up on the issue.

smite.jpg
 
Smaug--

44 AMP has summed it up pretty well, I think, whether or not everyone agrees. Thanks to you for initiating such a provocative, educational, and entertaining discussion!
 
Analagous Situation

I give you now Professor Twist,
A conscientious scientist.
Trustees exclaimed, "He never bungles!"
And sent him off to distant jungles.
Camped by a tropic riverside
One day he missed his loving bride.
She had, the guide informed him later,
Been eaten by an alligator.
Professor Twist could not but smile.
"You mean," he said, "a crocodile."

--Ogden Nash
 
A revolver is a real handgun carried by a real person. The other kinds are complicated mechanical devices carried by people who like to pretend they are Klingons!
 
To WJH2657

Unless, that is, you are, like me, a REAL Klingon. But To digress, I have a serious question, and will be happy to be directed to the correct answer:
How are the lengths of revolvers', semi-autos', and rifles' barrels measured, and is the forcing-cone and chamber in the respective weapons considered "Barrel"? And what are the 4 settings available on Phasers??
 
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