# ... So what should the National Gun of the United States be? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 23, 2023, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-the-national-gun-of-the-united-states-be/983069 "2023-04-23T03:27:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-the-national-gun-of-the-united-states-be/983069/1 "2023-04-23T03:27:48Z")
NOTE I DON’T WANT THIS TO DEVOLVE INTO GUN CONTROL DEBATE THERE’S OTHER TOPICS FOR THAT. Yeah I know some crazy Republicans politicians want to make the AR-15 the National Gun but that’s a total publicity stunt, I’m curious though what gun SHOULD be if we somehow fixed all problems and had to make a National Gun? I understand certain states DO have National Guns so it’s not like this is a brand new concept. Maybe it’s just me, but the you really can’t beat the Colt M1911. It’s a timeless handgun that doesn’t have the initial malfunction baggage of the M16, served the US military officially for 80 years and unofficially for over 100 years, and most of all had a really cool inventor in John Moses Browning with a fascinating story all his own. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-the-national-gun-of-the-united-states-be/983069/2 "2023-04-23T03:35:14Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > Maybe it’s just me, but the you really can’t beat the Colt M1911. Yep. Second choice is the M1 Carbine. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-the-national-gun-of-the-united-states-be/983069/3 "2023-04-23T04:21:39Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > Colt M1911 What were we fighting the Revolutionary War with? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-the-national-gun-of-the-united-states-be/983069/4 "2023-04-23T04:26:50Z")
How about this one? [nerf guns - Bing images](https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=B1cExXf2&id=0F6E08ED20DB34B3C9D4C626F680367ABB14FFCD&thid=OIP.B1cExXf20hjq-6hHgYaFZAHaFX&mediaurl=https%3a%2f%2fstatic2.cbrimages.com%2fwordpress%2fwp-content%2fuploads%2f2020%2f05%2ff1.jpg&cdnurl=https%3a%2f%2fth.bing.com%2fth%2fid%2fR.075704c577f6d218eafba84781868564%3frik%3dzf8Uu3o2gPYmxg%26pid%3dImgRaw%26r%3d0&exph=1086&expw=1500&q=nerf+guns&simid=607989635281982601&FORM=IRPRST&ck=A43528731269972DB75CC74D6CC5D30E&selectedIndex=28&ajaxhist=0&ajaxserp=0) ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-the-national-gun-of-the-united-states-be/983069/5 "2023-04-23T04:26:55Z")
American Long rifle/Brown Bess IIRC I was thinking of those but they had a pretty short shelf-life IIRC and I wanted something that “Lasted”. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-the-national-gun-of-the-united-states-be/983069/6 "2023-04-23T04:27:18Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > What were we fighting the Revolutionary War with? Mostly [Brown Bess](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_Bess) muskets. A lot of patriotic hoohaa swirls around the [Long Rifle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_rifle), but they actually equipped a minority of troops. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-the-national-gun-of-the-united-states-be/983069/7 "2023-04-23T04:44:57Z")
It boggles my mind that the AR-15 platform has somehow come to be regarded as “America’s Gun”, given what a compromised design it is and how long it took to make it reasonably reliable and functional. Setting that aside, and ignoring the more horrendous impacts of Westward expansion, I would argue that the [Winchester Model 1873](https://www.fieldandstream.com/story/guns/winchester-model-1873-gun-that-won-the-west/) should be the “National Gun” given its ubiquitous role in ‘conquering’ the West. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-the-national-gun-of-the-united-states-be/983069/8 "2023-04-23T04:58:49Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > , I would argue that the [Winchester Model 1873](https://www.fieldandstream.com/story/guns/winchester-model-1873-gun-that-won-the-west/) should be the “National Gun” given its ubiquitous role in ‘conquering’ the West. Yeah really … Or the Colt Peacemaker. “Iconic legends” in the formation of the national mythos. (My suspicion about the AR-15 as “National Gun” is that in view of how the Army is finally moving away from the platform, the various makers who made bank from the AR platform going off-patent are lobbying to get themselves some backing to keep sales up.) ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-the-national-gun-of-the-united-states-be/983069/9 "2023-04-23T05:06:05Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > Maybe it’s just me, but the you really can’t beat the Colt M1911. Yeah, that is a very iconic gun and worked very nicely for over a hundred years, but I’m a bigger fan of the M1 Garand. The Garand was almost idiot proof, ate what it was fed and could be dropped in the Korea mud by a 19 year old farm boy but would still save his life during a firefight so he could make happy fun times with my mom when he got home, hence pre-emptively saving my life. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-the-national-gun-of-the-united-states-be/983069/10 "2023-04-23T05:16:10Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > How about this one? > [nerf guns - Bing images](https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=B1cExXf2&id=0F6E08ED20DB34B3C9D4C626F680367ABB14FFCD&thid=OIP.B1cExXf20hjq-6hHgYaFZAHaFX&mediaurl=https%3a%2f%2fstatic2.cbrimages.com%2fwordpress%2fwp-content%2fuploads%2f2020%2f05%2ff1.jpg&cdnurl=https%3a%2f%2fth.bing.com%2fth%2fid%2fR.075704c577f6d218eafba84781868564%3frik%3dzf8Uu3o2gPYmxg%26pid%3dImgRaw%26r%3d0&exph=1086&expw=1500&q=nerf+guns&simid=607989635281982601&FORM=IRPRST&ck=A43528731269972DB75CC74D6CC5D30E&selectedIndex=28&ajaxhist=0&ajaxserp=0) Or maybe: [![](https://static01.nyt.com/images/2013/08/04/magazine/04wmt/mag-04WMT-t_CA0-superJumbo.jpg) ](https://static01.nyt.com/images/2013/08/04/magazine/04wmt/mag-04WMT-t_CA0-superJumbo.jpg) > [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > It boggles my mind that the AR-15 platform has somehow come to be regarded as “America’s Gun”, given what a compromised design it is and how long it took to make it reasonably reliable and functional. Sounds like that makes it a perfect choice as America’s Gun. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-the-national-gun-of-the-united-states-be/983069/11 "2023-04-23T05:20:28Z")
> [@JaneDoe42](#): > > …dropped in the Korea mud by a 19 year old farm boy but would still save his life during a firefight so he could make happy fun times with my mom… Too much? Borderline, Methinks. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-the-national-gun-of-the-united-states-be/983069/12 "2023-04-23T06:03:05Z")
I’d have to go with the Colt Single Action Army (Peacemaker) that went into service in 1873. First, it’s a firearm that’s called the Peacemaker and there’s something so very American about that. Second, as a six-shooter, it harkens back to our old west myths of rugged individuals civilizing the frontier. The AR-15 is a good contender I suppose. What makes it so popular today is that it’s a reliable platform that you can customize howevery you want. Like Burger King, you can have it your way. ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-the-national-gun-of-the-united-states-be/983069/13 "2023-04-23T06:36:29Z")
I could get behind The Naked Gun, does that count? Might have to CGI out OJ, though. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-the-national-gun-of-the-united-states-be/983069/14 "2023-04-23T07:03:17Z")
The USFA ZiP .22 would be an extremely symbolic gun for the United States. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-the-national-gun-of-the-united-states-be/983069/15 "2023-04-23T11:49:54Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > I would argue that the [Winchester Model 1873](https://www.fieldandstream.com/story/guns/winchester-model-1873-gun-that-won-the-west/) should be the “National Gun” given its ubiquitous role in ‘conquering’ the West. Good choice. Before reading this, I was leaning toward the [Winchester Model 1894](https://www.outdoorlife.com/lever-action-30-30-winchester-is-still-one-best-deer-hunting-rifles-and-heres-why/#:~:text=Over%20its%20more%20than%20125,that%20category%20any%20time%20soon.), as it has probably put more venison on more tables than any other gun made. But I think the 1873 is more historically significant. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-the-national-gun-of-the-united-states-be/983069/16 "2023-04-23T12:17:03Z")
Another vote for the Garrand. “In my opinion, the M-1 Rifle is the greatest battle implement ever devised.” -George Patton ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-the-national-gun-of-the-united-states-be/983069/17 "2023-04-23T14:12:59Z")
I like the M-1 Garand also but would point out that it is much more complicated then the AR-15. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-the-national-gun-of-the-united-states-be/983069/18 "2023-04-23T14:20:04Z")
Either any old 12 gauge double barreled shotgun, or an empty box. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-the-national-gun-of-the-united-states-be/983069/19 "2023-04-23T14:21:16Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > I’d have to go with the Colt Single Action Army (Peacemaker) that went into service in 1873. That’s the one I thought of. An alternative classic is the Thompson submachine gun, but the Brits kind of co-opted it. [![](https://i.insider.com/516dbed5eab8eac563000009?width=2048) ](https://i.insider.com/516dbed5eab8eac563000009?width=2048) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2023, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-the-national-gun-of-the-united-states-be/983069/20 "2023-04-23T14:24:34Z")
How about the [Davy Crockett?](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davy_Crockett_(nuclear_device)) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-should-the-national-gun-of-the-united-states-be/983069.md?page=2)