"Stormin Mormon" writes:

.38 pistols are rather rare. Most handguns in that caliber are
revolvers. Is it a .38 super?

It's good that you were armed. Glad you weren't hurt.

I'm accustomed to referring to any handgun (revolver, semi-auto, or
otherwise) as a pistol.

dictionary.com appears to agree with me.
--
As we enjoy great advantages from the inventions of others, we should
be glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours;
and this we should do freely and generously. (Benjamin Franklin)