A derringer is a small handgun that is neither a revolver, semi-automatic pistol, nor machine pistol. It is not to be confused with mini-revolvers or pocket pistols, although some later derringers were manufactured with the pepperbox configuration. The modern derringer is often multi barreled, and is generally the smallest usable handgun of any given caliber and barrel length due to the lack of a moving action, which takes up more space behind the barrel. It is frequently used by women because it is easily concealable in a purse or a stocking.
An original Philadelphia Deringer made by Henry Deringer. This was the pocket pistol used by John Wilkes Booth in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
A flintlock muff pistol with unscrewable barrel: the 18th century precursor to the caplock deringer
Close-up of Philadelphia Deringer's markings
.41 Rimfire cartridge
A handgun is a firearm designed to be usable with only one hand. It is distinguished from a long gun which needs to be held by both hands and braced against the shoulder. Handguns have shorter effective ranges compared to long guns, and are much harder to shoot accurately. While most early handguns are single-shot pistols, the two most common types of handguns used in modern times are revolvers and semi-automatic pistols, although other handguns such as derringers and machine pistols also see infrequent usage.
Modern handguns (clockwise from top left) Glock 22 * Glock 21 *Kimber Stainless Raptor II* Dan Wesson Commander Classic Bobtail * Smith and Wesson 340PD * Ruger Blackhawk* Ruger SP101* SIG Sauer P220 Combat.
Hand cannon from the Chinese Yuan dynasty (1271–1368).
Early German musket with serpentine lock
A wheellock pistol or Puffer, Augsburg, c. 1580
