military pistol

A service pistol is any handgun or sidearm issued to regular military personnel or law enforcement officers. It is also known as a personal weapon or ordnance weapon.
Typically service pistols are revolvers or semi-automatic pistols issued to officers, non-commissioned officers, and rear-echelon support personnel for self defense, though service pistols may also be issued to special forces as a backup for their primary weapons. Pistols are not typically issued to front-line infantry.
Before firearms were commonplace, officers and often NCOs typically carried swords instead.

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