pistol-whip

Pistol whipping is using a handgun as a blunt weapon: striking someone with the gun.^[1]. "Pistol-whipping" and "to pistol-whip" were reported as "new words" of American speech in 1955, with cited usages from 1940s.^[2] However both the term and the practice trace back to the Wild West of the 1800s.

Paul Wellman notes that a Westerner clubbing an opponent with the butt of a gun held by its barrel, seen in some westerns, has its problems. There are several reasons why it would be wrong. One of which is that the gun would be rendered useless for its primary purpose which is to fire a projectile out of the barrel. There is also the danger of an unintentional discharge which could fatally wound the "clubber". Plus there would also be a loss of precious time to switch from holding the barrel to holding the grip in the standard shooting way.

Instead, pistol whipping (also known as buffaloing) was done with the long and heavy barrel of the gun held in an ordinary manner.^[3][4] Thus removing the above mentioned issues involved with holding the gun by the barrel.

Pistol whipping may leave unusual lacerations on the body of the injured due to various protruding details of the pistol. ^[5] Semicircular or triangular lacerations on the skin may be produced by the butt of a pistol. The magazine well and the base of the magazine produce rectangular lacerations on the skin. ^[6] These lacerations can vary in depth and severity, but if "whipped", fractures are common.

Pistol-whipping should not be confused with buttstroking, a close-combat military discipline.

References