I just started playing this game, but can't figure out how to get the pistol quicker. Just using the pipe or crowbar isn't powerful enough and the player keeps dying during a brawl. Is there a section I missed?

Well. You just ask the right questions.

The first thing to know is that Kingpin is not a standard FPS "run-shoot-open the door". It includes some RPG features:
-NPC are not all enemies. Some are friendly, some are neutral, some are aggressive. There are gangs, who defend their territory.
-Communication system. You can ask questions, give orders to the gang members, insult people.
-Money. You can buy items. You'll find money in the pockets of your victims. In safes. In furnitures...So let's search everywhere.
-Missions . Throughout the game you'll have to fulfill missions. Getting hitman. Find a item for somebody. Rescuing people...It will be necessary to get keys or informations to move forward in the game. So let's talk to the people. Go in the bars...Sometimes you'll have to hire henchmen to help you. Not for free...

The first level gives a good picture of all these features.
-the 1st NPC is not aggressive, he just wants to sell a crowbar
-the loving couple is not friendly. If you stay away they don't pay attention. But if you talk to them they quickly start fighting.
-the bum has some information for you, but first he wants something...
-then 2 ways:
-1)on the right, a girl beside a fire. She 's not aggressive and she tells you what to do with the 2 guys in the yard further away. These 2 guys guard the entrance of a warehouse, they are very strong, almost unbeatable without a fire weapon. And moreover there's no real need to kill them. So let's get back for the moment...
-2)on the left. The central street. A guy with a cap and a cigar. He's a henchman. For 10 dollars he'll fight for you. Further, a cool girl. She has good informations for you: going in the Pawn-o-Matic. The PoM is a shop where you can buy items. There will be many all along the game.
Before to go in the PoM, let's continue. After the girl, there's another yard with 3 guys around stairs. They are hostile. If you talk to them they reply roughly. If you go down the stairs they attack. Here too they are too strong for a single man without a good weapon.

At this point, things can become very frustrating for a player who just wanted a simple FPS. Many did just give up there. Some others found cheatcodes and did a rampage. This way they just miss a great game. Kingpin is not just about action. But thinking a bit, sometimes.

So, let's go the PoM. The seller has a deal to propose, your first mission: going in the warehouse and find a item. Bring it to him and he'll give you a gun. Now, the question is: how to enter the warehouse without being killed by the guards? Here the tip given by the girl is useful. The 2 guards have a radio to listen to a football match. From time to time, the match gets hotter and the 2 guards run at the radio. It's the right time to go in the warehouse in their back...

But it's not the only way to play this level. Depends on your own feeling. If you don't mind some bitch slapping, you can also attack the girls to pick their little money and buy the crowbar and hire the henchman...

If you enjoy this kind of gameplay, you may have a lot of fun with Kingpin. If you want more informations about this game let's visit http://www.kingpinforever.com/ .
And after having played the game, if you look for some more let's play to Night Work at the Factory http://felikkz7.free.fr/index.html my add-on for Kingpin.

Have fun :)

Thank you so much for helping me out! I had no idea that the first thing the player had to do was go back to the warehouse.