Short projectile pistol with storage handle

A toy projectile launcher, comprising:

• a handle comprising an internal projectile storage area;
• at least one pair of flaps disposed on respective first and second sides at a top opening of the internal projectile storage area, each pair of flaps being inwardly biased by a corresponding pair of torsion springs;
• an air piston assembly that comprises a barrel and a plunger element;
• a sliding handle coupled to the barrel, the sliding handle being movable between a forward position and a backward position, thereby moving the barrel between corresponding forward and backward positions;
• a compression spring that biases the plunger element against a rear wall in the toy projectile launcher;
• and
• a latching assembly that couples the plunger element to a trigger assembly when the sliding handle is moved to the backward position and the barrel is moved to the corresponding backward position,
• wherein the barrel covers at least a portion of the top opening when in the corresponding forward position and the one or more pairs of flaps contact the respective first and second sides of the barrel, and
• the trigger assembly, upon toggling, releases the coupling of the latching assembly between the plunger element and the trigger assembly.