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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 trigger and generally held by the hand that operates the trigger. Rifles and shotguns without pistol grips are generally referred to as having "straight" or "upland" (shotguns only) style stocks. Some firearms, starting from a 1840s Belgian carbine,[2] and some automatic weapons in the 20th century (e. g., Chauchat MG, Thompsonsubmachine gun, AK-47assault rifle), have a second frontal pistol grip (or 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 magazine housing (in semi-automatic pistols), bipod (in some foregrips) or tool storage device (for spare batteries, gun oil/cleaner, hex keys, etc.). In few firearms, like the Finnish Kk 62light machine gun, the pistol grip is also used as a handle to charge the weapon.
Pistol grips are regarded as a defining feature in United States gun law. Pistol grips that protrude below the weapon but are not integrated with the 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. California-legal alternatives to pistol grips, a configuration prohibited by the Assault Weapons Control Act of 1989, include the fin grip, which takes the form of a plate that extends from the rear of the pistol grip.[3]
ピストル型のグリップを備えた工具は、バークランプや手ノコなどの手工具から、電動ドリルや空気圧式外科用胸骨ノコなどの電動工具まで多岐にわたります。「ガン」という言葉は、グルーガン、コーキングガン、ネイルガンなど、ピストル型グリップの工具名によく含まれています。スプレー塗装機やグラインダーにも、より精密な制御を可能にするために、この機能が搭載されていることがよくあります。
ピストル型のグリップが機械に広く採用されている理由の一つは、操作部を人間工学的に配置することで、最小限の手の動きで操作できるからです。例えば、AR-15やM16ライフルなどの自動装填式ライフルでは、グリップを握った手で人差し指だけでトリガーとマガジンリリースを操作でき、親指で安全装置やセレクターレバーを操作することができます。しかも、手のひらをグリップから離す必要はありません。
