I give up! Is it a revolver, a pistol, or a handgun?
This is a point of confusion for a lot of inexperienced writers (i.e. ones who have not been barraged by gillions of critical e-mails). The terms “pistol” and “handgun” are basically interchangeable as they define a firearm designed to be shot with one hand, as opposed to being fired from the shoulder. Some experts further sub-classify pistol as a firearm whose chamber is integral with the barrel, (thus distinguishing it from a revolver) but for our purposes I think either would be fine. The term “revolver” describes a particular “action” wherein the chambers are part of a revolving cylinder, but it too can be called a pistol.
It bears mentioning that very few American law enforcement agencies allow their officers to carry a revolver as a primary duty weapon. Most require a semi-automatic handgun for their officers. Some agencies even require their officers to carry the same make and caliber so their ammunition is interchangeable. Almost all agencies will have an “approved” list of acceptable makes, models, and calibers.
While the above terms are interchangeable I would suggest that you pick one and stick with it. Obviously, if a character has a revolver then you need to make that clear. Pay particular attention to the ammunition capacity. Nothing bothers a reader more than a gunfight in which a character shoots nine shots from a six shot revolver without re-loading. It’s always best to select a particular model and caliber and then study the specifications. In the best case scenario you might be able to test fire one at a gun range so that you understand its functions. Remember; never shoot a firearm without proper training and or supervision by someone familiar with the weapon.
Posted on May 9, 2011, in General and tagged crime, Crime Scene, csi, fiction, firearms, forensics, gun, mystery, pistol, police, revolver, thriller, tom adair. Bookmark the permalink. 2 Comments.
In general, most street officers and investigators refer to any type of gun as a “weapon”. Only when we are trying to make a differentiation between certain types of weapons do we use other terms (ie: knife, handgun, revolver, rifle, shotgun, etc.). It is usually ballistics experts and firearms instructors who utilize the term “firearm”.
I suppose it depends on the person and culture but I would repectfully disagree. Criminalists and officers need to be specific. Saying the suspect had a “weapon” may be fine in a radio call (even then I would say there are exceptions) but when debriefing other officers, writing a report, testifying in court you have to be specific. I’m not saying you have to reveal the make and model of the firearm but it’s my experience that officers will at least say “gun” or “knife” and not weapon. “Weapon” doesn’t convey the information law enforcement needs to make appropriate decisions. However, my view is of my law enforcement culture which is obviously different than yours. Linguistic variations exist in pockets all over the place. It’s why some people call “pop” a “soda”. Regina brings up a good reminder that when writing about a real location, you should make an effort to mimic the vernacular when you can. Thanks for the comment Regina.