This article examines how American military close-combat at the end of the 19th through the first part of the 20th centuries greatly influenced the evolution of handgun trigger actions. In particular it delves into the US experience in the Philippine Islands. It also lists different US military revolvers of the era.

The Spanish learned, during their half-millenium occupation of the Philippines, how effective bolos are as close combat tools. Some Spanish bayonets were clearly modeled after bolos, intended for chopping as well as stabbing. This article discusses Philippine edged weapons, along with some of the history and identifying characteristics of two Spanish bolo blades and a Spanish Yataghan.