A firearm is a type of gun that is small enough to be carried by a sentient humanoid. By the 22nd, 23rd and 24th centuries, firearms are typically particle beam weapons, such as the ubiquitous phaser and disruptor. These two types of weapon were roughly analogous in technological functioning, similar in capability, and were used by most species. However archaic firearms existed in the history of many species, which may also fire solid projectiles, pressurized gases or liquids, and explosives. Such weapons are typically only found in pre-warp societies.
History[]
The history of firearms can be broken down into two stages.
- Explosive projectile weapons (primative civilizations)
- Directed energy weapons (spacefaring civilizations)
Projectile weapons[]
A primitive projectile weapon being employed at Paradise City on Nimbus III
The first firearms usually developed by a primitive civilization are archaic projectile weapons, with their bullets often propelled by an explosive chemical like black powder. This explosive imparts kinetic energy on a projectile, typically metal, forcing it out of the barrel toward a target, perforating it's organs. Slug-thrower projectile weapons were for example, used by the Orions in the ancient past. By the 22nd century, these weapons were entirely extinct among spacefaring civilizations. It is possible that they were abandoned by most species upon achieving spaceflight to prevent projectiles penetrating the hull of their starships, thus causing explosive decompression. It may also simply be that energy generation capabilities reached a point where more powerful directed energy weapons were no longer prohibitive in energy requirements. (FASA RPG module: The Orions: Book of Common Knowledge)
Directed energy weapons[]
Plasma weapons[]
A civilian plasma rifle in the hands of a farmer from 22nd century Earth
Plasma weapons generate and release a ball of thermal plasma to burn their targets. By the 22nd century, civilians (such as a human farmer present at Broken Bow on Earth during first contact with the Klingon Empire), used plasma weapons. In the 22nd century United Earth Starfleet employed archaic plasma weapons on their starships until they were replaced by phase cannons, suggesting the technology was becoming obsolete. (ENT episode: "Broken Bow") The Andorian military was another user of plasma weapons at this time. (ENT episode: "The Andorian Incident") This form of weaponry was seemingly absent in Federation space by the 23rd century. By this time Starfleet employed only lasers and phasers. However, some other species continued to develop along this technological path; plasma weapons were notably employed by the Jem'Hadar solders of The Dominion in the isolated Gamma Quadrant.
Laser weapons[]
A Starfleet issue laser pistol circa 2254
Laser weapons fire a beam of highly concentrated light frequency EM radiation at a target, in order to burn it. By the 23rd century, lasers were occasionally employed by the new United Federation of Planets, such as during Captain Christopher Pike's captaincy of the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701), but had been phased out by the middle of the century by the time of Captain James T. Kirk's captaincy of the same ship, being seen only in civilian hands thereafter. (TOS episodes: "The Cage", "The Menagerie") Ship mounted lasers were seen as archaic in later centuries. (TNG episode: "The Outrageous Okona")
Particle beam weapons[]
A Starfleet Type-2 phaser pistol, an example of a particle beam weapon from the 23rd century
The standard for most species are particle beam weapons. Particle beam weapons generate a beam of more massive or more energetic particles than a laser's light spectra photons. United Earth introduced the phase pistol weapon in the 2150s, alongside it's existing plasma rifles. Although briefly using lasers in at least some situations (perhaps in conjunction with phasers), by the 2260s, The United Federation of Planets employed the phaser exclusively. Several other species and political entities also favor this technology. The Klingon Empire and Romulan Star Empire employ the mechanically similar disruptor. Various other species favor that technology instead.
Operators[]
An Earth Starfleet phase pistol.
A Klingon disruptor pistol from the 22nd century
A Klingon disruptor pistol from the 23rd century
A Klingon disruptor pistol from the 24th century
A 24th century Starfleet compression phaser rifle.
Phasers and disruptors[]
A 24th century Cardassian disruptor.
Among operators of phaser and disruptor weapons are:
- The United Federation of Planets (phasers)
- The Klingon Empire (disruptors)
- The Romulan Star Empire (disruptors)
- The Cardassian Union (phase-disruptors)
- The Ferengi Alliance (phasers)
- The Breen Confederacy (disruptors)
- The Bajoran Provisional Government (phasers)
- The Vulcan Government (unknown particle weapon)
- Many other Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Dela Quadrant species
Typically a standard 24th century mission loadout for a Starfleet officer, a member of the Klingon defence force, a Romulan miliary officer, or a member of the Cardassian military, is a beam weapon, a tricorder and a comm device (combadges eventually replacing the hand-held communicator among many species). Starfleet breaks phasers into three classes of firearm: Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3. A Type-1 phaser is a small concealable firearm, a Type-2 phaser is a standard pistol-sized sidearm, and a Type-3 phaser is a battlefield rifle. Larger Types are fixed emplacements, shuttlecraft weapons, or starship weapons.
Plasma weapons[]
- The United Earth Starfleet (in the 22nd century)
- The Andorian Imperial Guard (in the 22nd century)
- The Jem'Hadar