Maybe it is only a feel-good measure for gun owners amidst challenging times, but on November 3, Idaho voters picked the Winchester Model 1873 rifle (nicknamed the “Gun that Won the West,” in .44-40 cal.) as the leading candidate to be their state firearm.
When they hear this model mentioned, classic film buffs will immediately think of Jimmy Stewart in the 1950 film Winchester ’73, a movie in which a Winchester 1873 lever-action rifle is won by Stewart (as Lin McAdam) in a shooting contest, but then the rifle changes hands over and over again as various villains get their hands on it. Stewart finally gets the rifle back in an epic Western shootout—the carbine was, and still is, a fine choice for any armed citizen looking for a home-defense gun.
Still, this was a non-binding advisory question, so it is not the final say. This question asked voters to choose among six historically significant firearms to guide the state legislature, which would still need to pass a separate law to officially designate any gun as Idaho’s state firearm.
The Model 1873 led with roughly 31 percent of the vote in early returns, which was ahead of the Winchester Model 1894’s (.30-30) 25 percent. The other options trailed further behind: the 1873 Colt Single Action Army Revolver (“Peacemaker,” .45 Colt) had about 15 percent, the Remington Model 700 bolt-action rifle (.30-06) had about 12 percent, the Colt M1911 .45 automatic pistol (.45 ACP) got about 9 percent, and the M1 Garand rifle (.30-06) had about 7 percent of the vote.
Meanwhile, a total of 11 states have picked a firearm that represents their history and values. Utah began this trend in 2011 by naming the Browning Model 1911 pistol as its official state firearm. The still-beloved 1911 was designed by Ogden, Utah, native John Moses Browning. The Model 1911 in .45 ACP, of course, went on to serve as the standard U.S. military sidearm for decades.
Arizona followed Utah by declaring the Colt Single Action Army revolver (also known as the “Peacemaker”), as its official firearm. Indiana then choose a unique one-of-a-kind artifact as its state’s gun: the Grouseland Rifle. Crafted between 1803 and 1812 by John Small (Indiana’s first sheriff) and kept at President William Henry Harrison’s historic home in Vincennes—this is the only state firearm tied to a specific surviving piece rather than a production model.
West Virginia selected the Hall Model 1819 flintlock rifle, an innovative breech-loading design manufactured at the Harpers Ferry Armory—it was the first such rifle adopted by any national military and featured early interchangeable parts.
Kentucky and Pennsylvania soon both honored long rifles central to early American frontier life. Kentucky designated the Kentucky long rifle in 2013, while Pennsylvania named the Pennsylvania long rifle the following year. These accurate, long-barreled muzzleloaders were essential tools for settlers and hunters in the Appalachian and Mid-Atlantic regions.
Alaska picked the pre-1964 Winchester Model 70, nicknamed the “rifleman’s rifle,” which helped so many Alaskans deal with big game in the bush.
Tennessee chose the Barrett M82 (or M107) .50-caliber rifle, designed by its native son, Ronnie Barrett.
Arkansas took a different approach in 2019 by designating the shotgun in general as its official firearm, as it has a strong waterfowl hunting culture.
Texas named the 1847 Colt Walker revolver (developed with input from famed Texas Ranger Samuel Walker) as its official state handgun in 2021.
In 2023, Missouri choose the Hawken rifle, a rifle associated with the Rocky Mountain fur trade and built in St. Louis that was given a lot of applause in the 1972 film Jeremiah Johnson, starring Robert Redford.
All of these firearms can be seen in the NRA National Firearms Museum in Fairfax, Va.
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