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The basic design of a handgun has been around since the 19th century. A handgun has four primary systems: the frame; the extractor, cylinder and crane; the barrel and sight; and the timing hand, hammer and trigger.
The frame system comprises the hand grip, main frame and trigger guard. The extractor, cylinder and crane system has the cylinder and its rotator shaft, the extractor and the extractor shaft and the crane and spring. The barrel and sight system regulates the accuracy of the weapon, and the trigger system is composed of the mechanical parts that control the firing action. - Gun designs continue to evolve based on the needs of users. For example, military and law enforcement now rely primarily on semiautomatic pistols, whose designs allow for easy concealment, as well as lower ammunition capacity and longer reload times. With the growth and development in new kinds of materials and metals, the standard gun design is sure to continue changing.
- If designers invent a new type of gun or mechanism or add on to existing handguns, they get the idea patented. After many tests and trials to ensure it works safely, a major gun manufacturing company can buy the patent and start manufacturing the product. The finished gun is then sent to law enforcement, militar, or other federally licensed dealers.
