Pistols of the 20th century have become an important melee weapon, combining compactness, power and reliability. At the beginning of the century, revolvers such as Smith & Wesson dominated, but later they were replaced by self-loading pistols. One of the most famous pistols was the Colt M1911, designed by John Browning, which was used by the US Army for more than 70 years. In the middle of the century, models such as the Soviet TT (Tula Tokarev) and the German Walther P38 appeared, which were widely used in World War II. After the war, polymer-framed pistols became popular, such as the Austrian Glock 17, which became a benchmark for reliability and simplicity. 20th century pistols have become more ergonomic, with improved security systems and larger capacity magazines. They were actively used by the military, police and civilians for self-defense. At the end of the century, compact models such as the SIG Sauer P226 and Beretta 92 appeared, which became the standard for many special forces units. Pistols also began to be equipped with laser designators and tactical flashlights for use in low-light conditions.