service pistol

A service pistol is any handgun issued to regular military personnel or law enforcement officers. Typically, service pistols are semi-automatic pistols issued to commissioned officers, non-commissioned officers, and rear-echelon support personnel for self-defence, though service pistols may also be issued to special forces as a backup for their primary weapons. Pistols are not typically issued to front-line infantry. Before firearms were commonplace, officers and non-commissioned officers typically carried swords.