Some are more practical than other. Glocks are backup sidearms for soldiers and primary firearm for cops. They are intended to be used.
Other pistols are replacement for decorative officer saber and isn't very practical. Like the modern version of this.
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Yes I am aware of that. However if that is the case you are making then you have a number of problems.
1) Why add an accessory rail? That’s a tactical feature. The previous QSZ11 pistol actually made more sense with this logic as it had no rail and wood grips. Adding a rail and a light/laser module indicates an intent to use.
2) if the aim was just a belt hanger why develop from scratch? Norinco already has products in the same class commercially offered. The CS/LP05. Other national armies that have done something similar use commercially available products as they are just cheaper yet fill the whole mission just as well. I mean sabers are still used for some armies in ceremonial reasons. Said sabers are not built for combat but as wall hangers.
3) Why bother anyway? I mean well a few armies have sabers most have melted them down for steel decades ago. This is the PLA if they want a hip hanger it’s not for dress uniform it’s for when they LARP as field commanders so why not just put a type 92A on? This line of argument is a contradiction.
The whole point of a General officer’s compact pistol is for concealed carry. The U.S. used to issue the Colt pocket hammer less but “Merica” over time it just became a compact leading to today’s M18. Yet M18 is CC sized. The Germans issued Walther PP and PPK. Many armies issued smaller caliber pistols in .38 APC or .380. The Russians developed the Makarov which is a small handgun for the job then followed it on during the Soviet era with a number of smaller ones.
Yet the reason they had them wasn’t for parades but for the practical purposes of CC. It was intended to give the Staff officer or secretary a means of defending themselves in the event the base was overrun and they were caught in service dress fighting to get to their staff car.