Pistol's ancestor was a hand-shot. About 1530 pistols were introduced and they proved useful in close combat. They employed a
wheel lock, then a flint lock. A long pistol could hit a target on a distance of 50 steps, yet it could hit through cuirasse at 2 - 3 steps distance. It
was widely used in cavalry. Riders would make a pistol salvo before breaking into infantry arrays.
