is a Smith & Wesson model 629, considered a pistol ?

The "archaic" definition is not "pistol = semi-auto", and a "revolver is a pistol". In fact, its quite different, far from that.

Let us not forget, PISTOLS existed long, long, long, before any semi-auto or revolver was thought of.

Pistola's, were of course, single barrel muzzle loading firearms...the first "handguns" ever invented.

The revolver as we know came about basically starting in the 1800's, utilizing several chambers, firing out one barrel. It was a "new breed", from the old fashioned [single shot] pistols. In other words you, at one time in history, had a choice - a [6] shot "revolver", or a single-shot "pistol".

Relatively, semi-auto's are a new[er] invention, but as they are not "revolvers", they are pistols.

And as revolvers do not fit the "archaic" (as of circa 1800's) definition of pistol they were revolvers, to differentiate the two (back when).

Some state laws (be it incidently or purposely) define a difference. E.g. CT State CCW reads "Permit to Carry Pistols and Revolvers".

Basically, the terms came about..

Pistol

[then]

Revolver

Nowadays (whether correctly or incorrectly) "pistol" is sometimes used for either, along with handgun. In other words, your 629 is a revolver/pistol/handgun, as you see fit.

It is a matter of semantics.

Handgun is a better generic for firearms designed to be fire with one hand, than pistol. That is because all pistols are handguns, but not all handguns are pistols.

Prior to the invention of the Colt revolver, all handguns were pistols, that is they had single or multiple barrels and each fired with an individual hammer and primer.

Revolvers have a single barrel with a cylinder containing multiple charges of powder and projectile.

Hence, the terms Pistols and Revolvers were used to differentiate between single-shots and multi-barreled weapons and revolving cylinder handguns.

Later, when semi-automatic handguns arrived on the scene, they were called pistols because they were single-barreled handguns without a cylinder.

Make sense? Or is everything perfectly muddy?

BTW, strictly speaking, an S&W M-629 is called either a revolver or handgun. Only us picky old farts will get bent by anyone calling it a pistol. 95% of the people who hear you call an M-629 a pistol will neither know nor care about the difference.

Doc

Technically the 629 S & W is a revolver. A .44 Magnum 'N' frame stainless steel revolver. A revolver uses a cylinder to hold its ammo. A pistol uses a box magazine to hold its a ammo. A pistol can also be a single-shot holding its ammo in the chamber of the single barrel. It can also be a multi-barrel pistol such as the old over-n-under Deringers and Pepperboxes of days gone by.

Some people use the term 'pistol' generically to mean any 'handgun.' Handgun is actually a more accurate term to use generically to mean pistol or revolver. It is not 'wrong' to call a revolver a 'pistol;' it is just not an accurate term.

H

Your links didn't work for me.

In modern usage, pistol is a generic term for a handgun. I'm not sure the exact country/language of origin, but it is derived from the word 'pistola' - originally, any short-barrelled firearm w/ one chamber fired w/ one hand. When Sam Colt invented a multiple-chambered pistol w/ a revolving cylinder, a new term was used, 'revolver'. The 629 is technically a revolver, but not many ppl unfamiliar w/ guns would use the term.

Of course a Smith & Wesson 629 Stainless Steel 44 Magnum is a Pistol..No revision..It has always been this way. Modern Semi-Automatic Handguns & Revolvers are ALL Pistols or Handguns...Pick one....

A revolver is absolutely NOT a pistol.

Pistols are either single shot of auto loaders (semi OR full automatic). Revolvers have revolving cylinders.

Both are handguns.

From Wikipedia:

"In American usage, the term "pistol" refers to a handgun whose chamber is integral with the barrel, making pistols distinct from the other main type of handgun, the revolver, which has a revolving cylinder containing multiple chambers."

Technically, your friends are correct. A pistol refers to a handgun other than a revolver. A handgun with a revolving cylinder is correctly called a "revolver" due to the revolving cylinder. However, in common usage, the term pistol has come to mean any handgun. It doesn't mean that it is rignt, it's just the common usage of the word.

The original definition of a pistol was all handguns, whether be revolvers or semi-automatics. But now it has become acceptable to call only semi-automatics pistols.

Yes it is a pistol, a pistold refers to both revolvers and semi autos, the difference being the cylinder of the 629 revolves in a cirlcular motion to chamber the rounds hence revolver

Yes, any handgun is a pistol. The term pistol has been around far longer than semi-autos have. It is very common however, for the term pistol to be used to refer to semi-autos.

http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9060197/pisto...

http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9063365/revol...

Revolver:

pistol (q.v.) whose multi-shot action depends on a revolving cylinder.