A revolver is a revolver, a pistol is a pistol, both are handguns.
So you can only be 'pistol-whipped' with a non-revolver? [smile]
My dictionary has the following for 'pistol'; "A small firearm designed to be held by one hand".
However, I also see where it is as you use it; "When distinguished as a subset of handguns, a pistol is a handgun with a chamber that is integral with the barrel, such as a pepperbox revolver - as opposed to a standard (single-barrel) revolver, wherein the chamber is separate from the barrel as a revolving cylinder."
English, a non designed language which consistently fails follow any consistent logic in grammar or syntax (let alone sin tax)! [grin]