what is different between pistol and air pistol?

Air pistols propel a projectile using pressurised air.

Pistols propel a projectile by explosives.

a pistol is a type of gun and an air pistol is a type pf toy

A pistol uses some form of propellant, like burning powder, rubber band, or compressed air or other gas, and an air pistol is limited to air.

Happy Ahmed loves his little pistol.

They are both very dangerous, and need to be illegal.

The modifier "air".

Plain old "pistol" without the modifier is ambiguous in that we are not told what kind of pistol it is. Is it a revolver, is it a cartridge loader, is it automatic, etc. ? It might even be an air pistol that shoots pellets under compressed air. In which case it would be at all "different" for an air pistol.

The former works on impact charge of TNT and is lethal within a range if it is rifled versus smooth bore the latter is based on air pressure impact and like a dead metal missile that is harmless unless it is very short range !!!!

air.

The name