Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XIII.djvu/560

 PISTOL the surrounding country. The hilly region is traversed by long tunnels. The town con- tains fine palaces, and retains many of its an- cient churches, which are generally remarkable for their architecture and works of art. The ornaments of the high altar in the cathedral, stolen by Vanni Fucci, were in 1466 replaced by a sumptuous altar of silver and of other ex- quisite material at which artists worked for about 150 years. The baptis- tery opposite the cathe- dral is an octagon, al- though called San Gio- vanni Kotondo. It dates from the 14th century, and is built of black and white marble in alter- nate layers. One of the most interesting of the other churches is that of Sant' Andrea, be- lieved to have been the original cathedral. Iron, wool, silk, and leather are manufactured, and there are considerable works for making can- non and other firearms. were probably introduced into England from Holland about the beginning of the 17th cen- tury. The pistols at first used had short bar- rels, and the stock made a large angle with the barrel. The butt was large and spherical, and this may have given rise to the name. FIG. 1. 1. Double-barrel Pistol with two Wheel Locks, 1612. 2. Double-barrel Pistol with two Wheel Locks, time of Charles I. 8. Kevolver Carbine with Flint Lock, time of Charles I. 4. Kepeating Carbine, time of Cromwell. Peculiar rock crys- tals called diamanti di Pistoja are found here, and extensively worked. In the middle ages the town of Pistoja and its environs formed an independent republic. About 1306 it be- came subject to Florence. PISTOL, a small, light firearm, intended to be used with one hand. Every other small arm is handled by placing the butt against the shoulder when it is to be fired, using both hands ; but the pistol is fired at arm's length, using but one hand, and is therefore particu- larly adapted for use by horsemen, and for de- fence of the person. The generally received account of the origin of the name is, that it was derived from the city of Pistoja, where pistols were first made ; but this derivation is disputed, and Frisch and Diez consider the root the same as that of piston and pestle, at first meaning pounder or bludgeon. Pistillus is the Latin word for pestle. The word pistol was used by Strype in 1575, and by Shake- speare in 1599 and 1600, but there is nothing in its use by them to show -that it meant a firearm. Dag is used by Strype as synony- mous with pistol. In the latter part of the 15th century the Spanish cavalry was provided with a firearm which in some degree must have approached the pistol ; it was a match- lock arm. After the invention of the wheel lock (see MUSKET) pistols were introduced into continental armies, so that they had become well known before the middle of the 16th century. They were used by French cavalry and infantry in 1544, and by German cavalry and infantry about ten years later. Pistols Afterward the barrel was lengthened, and the butt or stock was placed nearly in the pro- longation of the barrel. In some cases the stock was made like that of a musket, but smaller ; in others stocks like those now ex- isting were used. The taste or necessity of the purchaser regulated the style. As the musket improved in the course of years, so did the pistol, and in some cases the barrels were rifled. In European armies its use has in gen- eral been confined to the cavalry. In 1584 a carbine revolver was invented, but it burst in the trials. In 1607 a double-barrelled pistol with wheel lock was used by German cavalry. In 1618 Gustavus Adolphus introduced wheel- lock pistols into his armies. During the 18th century little change was made in pistols. The flint lock was applied to them, as it was to the musket. Many specimens were highly orna- mented, and they were used by all mounted officers, and were sometimes worn on the per- FIG. 2. Delvigne's Pistol. son. In 1806 the Swedish cavalry was armed with pistols having an attachable carbine breech, by using which a more accurate aim could be obtained. The same arrangement is in use at the present day. About 1830 a per- cussion-cap, rifled pistol, single-barrelled, w*