Vantage Point North

CZ P13 is the latest pistol adopted by a majorish military the German Bundeswehr. Past Handguns, sidearms, pistols and revolvers have been in service for centuries. They first materialized when the firearms first started to diversify from the first hand cannons and the píšťala made its debut in the 1420’s. The following centuries saw especially the free hand limited cavalry embracing the sidearms as a complement to their sabers and lances as well as officers taking them along for personal protection. While often replaced with shorter muskets and rifles aka. carbines, the pistol also frequently appeared in the hands of artillery men, sailors and NCO’s of the various armies. The prime of the sidearm was roughly between the American Civil War and the First World War. The initial surge of popularity started with the invention of a reliable cap and ball revolver that allowed cavalry to outgun musket armed infantry at close ranges. The close range trench combat in WW1 was the last time pisto...