The number of guns seized, destroyed, lost, or not working is unknown. The number of new handguns added to those available has exceeded the number of new shotguns and rifles in recent years. More than half of the guns added in 1993 were handguns. Over 40 million handguns have been produced in the United States since 1973. During the two decades from 1973 to 1993, the types of handguns most frequently produced have changed.
Most new handguns are pistols rather than revolvers.
The number of large-caliber pistols produced annually increased substantially after 1986. Until the mid-1980s, most pistols produced in the United States were .22 and .25 caliber models. Production of .380 caliber and 9 millimeter pistols began to increase substantially in 1987, so that by 1993 they became the most frequently produced pistols. Stolen guns are a source of weapons for criminals All stolen guns are available to criminals by definition. Recent studies of adult and juvenile offenders show that many have either stolen a firearm or kept, sold, or traded a stolen firearm.