Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire What's the most American gun you can think of?

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The lever actions were my first thought but the above are owed a debt from the whole world. The first really made America what she is on the world stage. The second has worked hard to try to keep her there.

1874 Sharps, which made the West safe for Winchester...

Daisy Red Ryder; Colt Patterson; American Longrifle; Sharps buffalo rifle; Henry Repeating Rifle; AR-15; Winchester pump .22.

As far as ONE singular rifle - Timothy Murphy's flintlock. That one American rifle changed the course of history (American and world history) more than any other.

Interesting question, but trying to pick just one firearm that best represents the countries 229 year history is nigh impossible considering all the wonderful iconic firearms that had been developed through the muzzle loading era, black powder metallic cartridge era, smokeless powder and both military and civilian arms.

The American longrifle. Far and away.

Admittedly, the glory of Colt/Rem/Winchester, Garand, Browning, and Stoner make powerful cases for themselves in modern times, but still, it's the colonial longrifle builders.

Expecting such a squirrel rifle later this year :-)

p.s. honorable mention to Dan LeFever

Colt 1911, .45 acp of course.

I don't know how any of you can pick anything other than the LONG RIFLE

History is no longer taught in public schools.

Winchester 1873 in 44-40 and Colt SAA in Colt 45.

donsm70

Recognizable any time, any where, today I would go with the Ar platform. Fifty years ago I think I would have picked the Colt 1911.

1911.

Not far behind it are Win. 73, Colt SAA, and Savage 1899.

Not far in arrears to them is Marlin 1894 and Win. 1894, Win. 1886, Win. 87, 97.

That's the Pennsylvania long Rifle to be exact. The case could be made we would not be here without it.

Colt SAA, WW-94, and the 1911.

Battle rifles: Garrand, M-14, and the AR-15

Doesn't mean I'm right but the very first thing that came to my mind was Colt SAA.

Never owned one. Would like to. But not sure why.

That's how I come out too, except that the long rifle has to be in the pack too.

As much as I revere,own and shoot the 1911, I am aware that through much of its history it was viewed as an inaccurate and unreliable pistol, at least right out of the box, by those who use them. Tuned up, they are awfully hard to challenge. I have one that the young Mark Krebs turned into a honey.

I well remember the troubles in the '60s with the AR-15 too. No weapon with such issues can be most American -- unless you call some piece of junk "most French" or "most Spanish."

Ygbfkm Ghost. Joke right?

Nope, it ain't just a PA rifle. They were made up and down the frontier from the mountains of SC to NY; wherever German and Swiss immigrants settled.

Either a Sharps or Winchester 1886 in 45/70. Hell, anything vintage in a 45/70. Did I mention the 45/70?

Winchester. More than a gun, an American legend. The lever action rifle is uniquely American. Born here and really only ever popular here. The Win 73 was the first really successful of the line but was nowhere near close to the 94 in numbers produced or longevity of production. Neither were the 86 or 92.

Sharps Big 50, or Greener SxS