Pistol

Pistols are a family of small one-handed weapons. While they can be useful to all four character classes, they are a trademark weapon for Mordecai, who has an entire skill tree dedicated to their mastery.

Pistols comprise two distinct families. The two families use different varieties of ammunition, but share a single Weapon proficiency. Mordecai's Gunslinger talents apply equally to both families.
 * Repeater Pistols (including Machine Pistols) have a higher rate of fire and greater magazine capacity, but inflict less damage per shot.
 * Revolvers have a lower rate of fire and much smaller magazine capacity, but inflict greater damage per shot.

The compact nature of pistols differentiates them from other kinds of weapon loot. Pistols are small enough to be swallowed whole by Skags and hungry Zombies; thus they can appear as loot in a Skag pile, or regurgitated by a certain talkative Zombie as a possible reward for his quests. Weapon chests (either red, white, or Crimson Lance) will contain four pistols, whereas they can hold no more of two of any other kind of weapon. Pistols can also appears in lockers.

The small size of pistols allows Lance Defenders to fire them with one hand, their other hand being occupied by their riot shield.