Revolver quietly acquired by criminal (7)
I believe the answer is:
spinner
'revolver' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'quietly acquired by criminal' is the wordplay.
'quietly' becomes 'p' (p for piano and quiet).
'acquired by' is an insertion indicator.
'criminal' becomes 'sinner' (someone who has done bad deeds).
'p' put within 'sinner' is 'SPINNER'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for spinner that I've seen before include "I make deliveries turning" , "It turns" , "One offering deliveries" , "revolutionary ball" , "Bowler - fisherman's fly" .)