Pistol grip
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On a firearm or other tools, a pistol grip is a distinctly protruded handle underneath the main mechanism, to be held by the user's hand at a more vertical (and thus more ergonomic) angle, similar to how one would hold a conventional pistol.[1]
In firearms, the pistol grip is located behind the
foregrip) on the firearm's fore-end
to be used by the support hand for better stability in operation.
Pistol grips can also serve multiple functions, such as a
Kk 62 light machine gun
, the pistol grip is also used as a handle to charge the weapon.
Pistol grips are regarded as a defining feature in
shoulder stock (i.e. as part of a thumbhole stock) are currently regulated in some states and were regulated by the now-expired Federal Assault Weapons Ban
.
Tools with pistol-style grips run the range from
Spray painters and grinders
also often include this feature for added precision control.
One of the reasons that pistol-style grips are so common in machinery is because it is possible to ergonomically position the operating controls for use with minimal hand movement. For example, on
AR-15 and M16 rifle, the user's grip hand can manipulate the trigger and magazine release with only the index finger, while using the thumb to control the safety or selector
switch, all without needing to remove the palm from the grip.
References
- ^ Vladimir Chichkov, Grip & Gripping Archived 2021-06-16 at the Wayback Machine / USA Shooting news March/April 2011
- ^ https://littlegun.be/arme%20belge/artisans%20identifies%20l/a%20lesoinne%20et%20pirlot%20gb.htm