The development of the pistol helped bring the age of the armored knight to an end, provided the elite with a status symbol of dangerous glamour, and inspired both artisans and industrialists to reach new heights of invention. * Provides complete technical details of exemplary pistols from the first working models to the present * In-depth coverage of the three major pistol designs-single-shot, revolver, and automatic-and their production and issuance in the United States, Europe, and Asia