Your broad question calls for a very broad and generalized answer. Handguns and pistols work by burning a small quantity of gunpowder-- a flammable solid material-- in a steel tube with a lead (or lead and copper) bullet blocking the path of least resistance. So the hot high-pressure gas that results from the gunpowder burning will push the bullet down the tube and pop it out the end of the barrel, finally releasing the pressure in the gun barrel. That bullet will continue flying forward at speeds of around Mach 1 or roughly 1000 feet per second.
There were single shot pistols and revolvers.
Marlin doesn't manufacture handguns.
Some handguns were made for defense, some were made for specialized target shooting, and some indeed were made for hunting. BTW, not all handguns are pistols- autoloaders and single shots are pistols, but handguns such as the Colt Peacemaker are revolvers. Handguns such as the .44 Magnum, .454 Cassul, the .460, S&W .500 are VERY large revolvers that are frequently used for hunting. Single shot pistols in rifle calibers, such as the Thompson/Center pistols are also used as hunting firearms. Even a .22 target pistol, such as the Ruger or Colt Woodsman may be used to hunt small game.
Gerry Gore has written: 'Handguns for self-defence' -- subject(s): Pistols, Shooting 'Handguns for Self Defense'
Handguns, Machine Pistols, Shotguns, and Launchers
Yes, Winchester did produce handguns, although they are primarily known for their rifles and shotguns. The company manufactured a few models of revolvers and semi-automatic pistols in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, notably the Winchester 1910 and 1911 auto pistols. However, these handguns were not as prominent or successful as their long gun offerings and are less commonly recognized in the firearms community today.
about 2000 handguns for the police, yes..
yes, as with auctions and 'for sale' gun boards. but. handguns must be shipped thru license dealers
No, the first handguns were single shot pistols. A pistol with a revolving barrel was not invented until a couple of hundred years later.
You can't. Civilian ownership of most handguns - especially self loading pistols - has been outlawed since 1996.
Guns come in many different varieties; among them are pistols, rifles, handguns, and shotguns.
Some people distinguish between pistols and revolvers. Both are handguns, but revolvers may not be pistols. A pistol would be an automatic, a single shot, a derringer type pistol, etc- but a revolver must have a cylinder holding the cartridges that revolves.