Air pistol

An air pistol was a projectile slugthrower pistol that used compressed gases to fire its ammunition, instead of the chemical explosions used by conventional slugthrowers. It was manufactured by Field Sports and was widely available in a large variety of colors. Even though the weapon looked like a toy, it was about as powerful as a normal slugthrower pistol. However, the air pistol lacked its range and had slightly less durability.

Description
The air pistol was a slugthrower pistol that was different from the standard slugthrower designs. The weapon's major difference was that the air pistol fired projectiles using compressed gases instead of the chemical explosions used by conventional slugthrowers. Even though the air pistol was as lethal as a standard slugthrower pistol it had the appearance of a toy with some similarities to a sporting blaster pistol. The weapon was found in colors such as black and gray, as well as in an assortment of brighter colors. Its forty meter range was sixty meters less than the range of a normal slugthrower pistol. The air pistol could be held in one hand by most species, and it was slightly less durable than a normal slugthrower pistol. The weapon weighed eight tenths of a kilogram, which was six tenths of a kilogram lighter than the standard model of slugthrower pistol. It used a special clip of special ammunition that contained twenty slugs, instead of the clips used by normal slugthrower pistols that contains eight slugs each. The weapon also had a slower rate of fire than normal slugthrower pistols.

History
The air pistol was produced by Field Sports for around two hundred credits, which was seventy-five credits cheaper than a standard conventional slugthrower pistol. Its ammunition cost twenty credits a clip, which was fifteen credits more expensive than the eight-slug clips that were used in a standard slugthrower. The weapon was available during the later years of the Galactic Republic, throughout the years of the reign of Emperor Palpatine over the Galactic Empire, and when the New Republic was in existence. It was still being sold when the Yuuzhan Vong invaded the galaxy. The weapon was readily available for sale and did not require a license for an individual to own it, unlike conventional slugthrower pistols. Due to the weapon's toy-like appearance, it was rarely confiscated.

Behind the scenes
The Field Sports air pistol first appeared in Arms & Equipment Guide, a 2002 sourcebook for the revised version of Wizards of the Coast's Star Wars Roleplaying Game. It was written by Owen K.C. Stephens and Jeff Grubb, and had entries on various weapons, including the air pistol.