The most powerful handgun in the world has to be the Austrian Pfeifer-Zeliska .600 nitro express revolver, but the most powerful PRODUCTION handgun is the Smith & Wesson Model 500 revolver that shoots the .500 cartridge.
The .600 Nitro Express Zeliska revolver is an Austrian single-action revolver produced by Pfeifer firearms. It is the largest handgun in the world, weighing in at 6.001 kilograms (13.230 lb) and having a length of 55 centimetres (22 in). The cylinder section alone weighs 2.041 kilograms (4.500 lb). The Zeliska is also the most powerful handgun in the world, producing a muzzle energy of over 6 kilojoules (4,400 ft·lbf). The weight of the gun helps control the recoil, making controlled shooting possible.
Towards the top- but there are several other more powerful handguns.
rifles are for further range compared to shotguns, and handguns are not as powerful.
No, not by a longshot (no pun intended). Almost all "major" caliber handguns are more powerful than the 9mm.
The .500 S&W Magnum is the most powerful handgun cartridge in production. Smith & Wesson Model 500, most powerful revolver. There are other handguns that are larger but are not in production. One off customs etc.
In most U.S. States, handguns don't require registration.
Most historians believe handguns were first invented in the mid 1400s.
More than some, less than others.
According to most historians, the first handguns appeared around 1450.
vermont
A handgun provides a portable firearm for firing a projectile for self defense, target shooting or hunting. Police officers are most frequently armed with handguns as primary weapons. Military personnel usually have more powerful weapons as primary weapons, and handguns take a secondary role.
powerful is a subjective term, and depends on several factors. Generally speaking, shotguns are much more powerful than handguns, having both (normally) 2 or 3 times the muzzle energy of a handgun.
Handguns from the early 1800's still exist today, so not sure what the question is. Your best bet would be to do an internet search for 'unique handguns'