Welcome to /k/. In this thread you will find basic knowledge to get you to know weapons and how to use them safely plus some more detailed guides. All the useful information is gathered in the following infographics.

Safety is the most important thing so we will start with safety instructions.

You will need to think what type of a gun or guns you will want and/or need. You will have to learn how to properly handle a firearm and how to take care of it and learn how it functions. The next guide is about buying a handgun and general information considering weapons.

Buying a handgun can be a dizzying ordeal. The popularity of them ensures that you have enough choices to make your head spin, with prices ranging from an expensive lunch to a used car.

For as many handguns as there are surprisingly few become truly popular, but they are popular for a reason, so start narrowing down your choices and preferences by examining them. Smiff & Wess, Glocks, HKs, Sigs, CZs, Berettas and Rugers. There are tons more, but don't get ahead of yourself.

Ergonomics are somewhat difficult to nail down, because when you pick up a gun you "like," you're going to WANT to like it, you may overlook it's flaws or uncomfortable features. Pick a frame size first. Full size handguns generally offer longer grips, higher capacity magazines and longer barrels. Semi-compacts usually still have long enough grips that fingers aren't left without purchase, they accommodate fewer rounds (usually 2-3 less) and have shorter barrels. Compacts usually have very short grips for easier concealment, even fewer rounds and even shorter barrels. Pocket guns are very small, very thin, nearly always single stack, with very short barrels. Grip diameter will almost never differ between different frame sizes of the same model.

Once you've chosen a frame size, as objectively as you can, handle several handguns and examine your interface with it. Does your thumb comfortably reach the magazine release (or index finger for some)? Can you comfortable reach the decocker or safety, if there is one? When you grip the gun, do your fingers interfere with any of the controls to an extent that you find unappealing? Do you like the grip angle? Is the slide uncomfortable or difficult to operate?

If you haven't already decided which features you want in a handgun, now's when you want to form more specific opinions. Do you like decockers? Do you like safeties? Do you like simplicity? Do you want striker fired or hammer fired? Double action, single action, pre-set striker, double action only? Thumb or heel magazine release? Tactile or minimal trigger reset? A 9mm is fine too.

Ultimately, and generally speaking, the trigger reset, trigger break, take-up, over travel and creep are inconsequential. What matters is your comfortable operation of the handgun. This doesn't mean you can't prioritize these features, if it's important to you there are plenty of options to look through. It just means there are more important things to consider. Quality trigger mechanics usually come alongside medium- and high-tier handguns anyway.

Now you've come a long way. Using popular, readily available handguns as a springboard, you've decided what you like. Now you can take your mental list of requirements and expand out. Maybe one of those popular guns is your baby girl. Maybe one's very close but you'd prefer a parallel option. Maybe you're a hipster and want to carry a Dardick 1500 because I'm sure you've never heard of it before. Finding what you want is the easy part, it's knowing what you want that's hard.

Why no revolvers? Apart from extreme double action/single action disparity, extremely low capacity, high weight and thickness, nothing. I know folks who carry large frame revolvers, and keep them shockingly well concealed. It's your choice, but in my opinion only, autoloaders surpass revolvers in every single category except very good triggers at low cost. And they're very pretty.

There are many buyers guide available like this for example.

You might find some valuable information by reading and talking with people but the last decision will be up to you.

You can check out weapon prices at gun-deals.com

Remember to check your local laws and restrictions and know them well before making any decisions.

Bullet trajectory infographic.

Difference between a magazine and a clip.

The safe family gun guide.

Knife info 1.

Knife info 2.

Knife info 3.

Innawoods guide 1.

Innawoods guide 2.

Innawood guide 3.

Innawoods core items.

Correction chart 1.

Correction chart 2.

Scope targeting guide.

Firearm function example 1.

Firearm function example 2.

Firearm function example 3.

Firearm function example 4.

Inside a time delay grenade.

I'M HELPING!

Now that was the basic starting package. There are many more guides for something specific rather than general knowledge but I will not include those this time since this is meant to be get you started with the basics and there are hundreds of guides. This just covers the basic things which are frequently asked in /k/ over and over again and this is meant to save everybodies time. More experienced people don't have to waste their time posting the same instructions over and over again and newcomers don't have keep asking for the same advices and wait for the replies. This should be better for all users. All guides are just mostly opinions and you will form your own opinions over time and from experience. Stay safe and good luck!

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this sticky!