Asidearm is an individual-servedweapon that is kept at one's side and can be rapidly accessed if needed. A sidearm may be carried alone or as an ancillary weapon to a more frequently-used primary weapon. The term historically referred toswords,daggers, and similar small weapons kept at one's side in asheath, and in modern combat dominated by guns, sidearms are often defined ashandguns that are similarly kept in aholster.[1]
A sidearm is typically required equipment formilitaryofficers and may be carried bylaw enforcement personnel. Usually, uniformed personnel of these services wear their weapons openly, whileplainclothes personnel have their sidearms concealed under their clothes.
In many contemporary armies, the issue of a sidearm in the form of aservice pistol is a clear sign of authority and is the mark of acommissioned officer or seniornon-commissioned officer. In the protocol ofcourtesy, the surrender of a commander's sidearm is the final act in the general surrender of a unit. If no ill will is meant, and a strict interpretation of military courtesy is applied, a surrendering commander may be allowed to keep their sidearm in order to exercise their right ofcommand over their men.
An important purpose of the sidearm is to be used if the primary weapon is not available (damaged or lost), if it has run out of ammunition, or if it malfunctions. Many soldiers armed with along gun such as arifle orsubmachine gun may also have asemi-automatic pistol/machine pistol as a sidearm.Personal defense weapons are often issued as personal sidearms to combat personnel who operate in cramped spaces in which a rifle or carbine would be impractical, such as truck drivers, helicopter pilots, and vehicle crews.
