ISC said:
The only way something can be classified a handgun but not a pistol is if it is a revolver.
uspJ said:
Really? Does the BATF know about this? So where do single shot handguns such as Thompson Contenders fit in? How about Derringers?
Here is the definition of a pistol as per Code of Federal Regulations - Title 27: Alcohol, Tobacco Products and Firearms
http://cfr.vlex.com/source/code-federal-regulations-alcohol-tobacco-products-firearms-1076
Pistol. A weapon originally designed, made, and intended to fire a projectile (bullet) from one or more barrels when held in one hand, and
having (a) a chamber(s) as an integral part(s) of, or permanently aligned with, the bore(s); and (b) a short stock designed to be gripped by one hand and at an angle to and extending below the line of the bore(s).
Read more:
http://cfr.vlex.com/vid/479-11-meaning-terms-19674900#ixzz0qnnBlu00
Note that, by definition, a revolver is NOT a pistol. Derringers and single shot Thompsons are.
Pistols and revolvers, while different, are both handguns. Revolvers, however, are not pistols and pistols are not revolvers. The only exception to this rule are pepperboxes.
One can look at a 100+ year old patent and draw any conclusion one wishes to, but the legal definition is quite clear and a 19th century mistake by a semiliterate blacksmith doesn't change that. Colt may have designed an interesting handgun (many folks contend that he stole the design) but no one claims that he was a legal scholar or that he was knowledgable about the correct useage of the English language.
The definition of any other weapon (AOW):
26 U.S.C. § 5845 said:
Any other weapon
The term "any other weapon" means any weapon or device capable of
being concealed on the person from which a shot can be discharged
through the energy of an explosive, a pistol or revolver having a
barrel with a smooth bore designed or redesigned to fire a fixed
shotgun shell, weapons with combination shotgun and rifle barrels
12 inches or more, less than 18 inches in length, from which only a
single discharge can be made from either barrel without manual
reloading, and shall include any such weapon which may be readily
restored to fire. Such term shall not include a pistol or a
revolver having a rifled bore, or rifled bores, or weapons
designed, made, or intended to be fired from the shoulder and not
capable of firing fixed ammunition.
The issue of a forward pistol grip was codified in 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(30)(B) which has been repealed. There may be equivilent state laws governing possession of pistols with forward pistol grips but the only federal restriction on them is an executive order interpreting such pistols as failing to meet a "sporting clause" and therefore banning them from importation.
BTW I did a search for VFG and these are the terms I came up with:
Vintage Fashion Guild
Victorian Frog Group
an aeronautical radio station at Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador
an indoor arena located in Guadalajara, Mexico
Vehicle Finance Group
vereinigung fotografischer gestalterInnen
Verein für Grossveranstaltungen
Variable Frequency Generator
Viral Friend generator
The web page "What does VFG stand for?" lists:
http://www.abbreviations.com/VFG
Virtual Flying Group Governmental
VFG Virtual Flying Group Community
VFG Virtual Facility Group Business
VFG Venture Financial Group, Inc. Business
VFG Vascularized Fibular Graft Medical
VFG Vendor Finance Group Business
VFG Vegetables, Fruit, And Garden Miscellaneous
VFG Video Frequency Generator
I finally saw ONE reference to it on the 4th search page and no more after that in the next few pages. It seems to be an obscure acronym.
I wasn't trying to bust on anyone for spelling errors, most of us make them and as long as it doesn't make the post hard to follow few people care. I couldn't follow the OP because of the way it was written, and was asking for clarification.
And here is the definition of acronym:
a word formed from the initial letters or syllables taken from a group of words that form the name of a company, product, process, etc