The Zat'nik'tel, nicknamed Zat or Zat gun by Colonel Jack O'Neill, is a handheld weapon used by the Goa'uld and their Jaffa. It is in the shape of a serpent and was first encountered by SG-1 on Apophis's Ha'tak.
Its energy output, in the form of blue electrical energy, is less powerful than that of a Staff weapon. It's an extremely efficient weapon and is used extensively by the Goa'uld, Tok'ra, Jaffa and Tau'ri.
In recent years, the zat has become a second back-up weapon for personnel assigned to the teams of Stargate Command and who often go off-world with the zat itself often being seen in the thigh holster of various teams with one notable example being Captain/Major/Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Carter who during her tenure on SG-1 was seen wearing a thigh holster with a zat inside.
In addition, security guards assigned to the SGC also use the weapon as a means of protecting themselves if they run into any difficulty or if they need to sedate a prisoner who has escaped the custody of the SGC.
