A noob here and I would like to know why I wouldn't refer to my shotgun, pistol, rifle or revolver as a weapon. My rifle and shotgun I have hunted with so its clear to me that they are not a weapon all the time. I probably won't ever hunt with a handgun, but never say never, so for me I have never thought of handguns as other than a weapon, maybe unless I don't have hammer around to drive a nail.
But seriously why wouldn't I call firearms weapons?