Utah’s state flower is the Sego lily; the state animal is the Rocky Mountain Elk, and "Utah ... This Is the Place" is the state song. However, did you know that it also has a state gun? In fact, nine states have official firearms that represent their home of the free!
Alaska: Pre-1964 Winchester Model 70 Rifle
Considered the “rifleman’s rifle,” women and men of the Alaskan bush carried the Model 70 through untamed wilderness and used it to establish themselves from the 30s through the 60s. Governor Sean Parnell signed Senate Bill No. 175 on July 30, 2014, making this classic American sportsman’s rifle the official gun of Alaska.
Arizona: Colt Single Action Army Revolver
One of the most famous Old West guns, the Colt was first manufactured in 1873 and is still produced to this day. Although the Colt Single Action Army revolver was extremely popular in the Wild West, used by lawmen, the military and outlaws alike, it’s still competing with the Winchester Rifle Model 1873 for the title of “The Gun That Won the West.” In April of 2011, Governor Jan Brewer signed Senate Bill 1610 dubbing the Single Action Army Arizona’s state firearm. (Image credit)
Indiana: Grouseland Rifle
The Grouseland rifle was made between 1803 and 1812 by Colonel John Small. He later became Indiana’s first sheriff. “This rifle and its maker are both integral parts of Indiana history, and as such, the rifle is worthy of its designation as the Indiana State Rifle,” said Senator John Waterman. It was inducted as the state’s official rifle in 2012.
Kentucky: Kentucky Long Rifle
While the Kentucky Long Rifle was actually made in Pennsylvania, legendary frontiersman Daniel Boone took his Pennsylvania Long Rifle with him to Kentucky. Boone forged a path through Kentucky in 1775 that would later lead to the state’s first permanent settlement. Daniel Boone’s legacy in Kentucky history spurred his rifle to be named the state firearm in 2013. (Image credit)
Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Long Rifle
The Pennsylvania Long Rifle was more than just Daniel Boone’s gun, it was the first widely used American rifle for hunting and war. Although it was first developed in Pennsylvania, the long rifle symbolizes all of frontier America. It features an uncharacteristically long barrel for the time and and a rifled barrel instead of a smoothbore musket. It was designated as Pennsylvania’s official firearm in 2014.
Tennessee: Barrett M82/M107
Tennessee native Ronnie Barrett, now an NRA Board member and president of Barrett Firearms, built the prototype for the M82/M107 in a one-bay garage with a tool-and-die maker. The design for this shoulder-fired semi-automatic .50-cal. rifle was considered impossible at the time. In 2010 Barrett was honored with the NRA Publications Golden Bullseye Pioneer Award. A U.S. Marine who fired the gun in combat initiated the recognition of this rifle as Tennessee’s state firearm in 2016. (Image credit)
Texas: 1847 Colt Walker
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a resolution in 2021 naming the 1847 Colt Walker pistol the official handgun of Texas. The pistol was designed by Captain Samuel Walker of the Texas Rangers and used during the Mexican-American War from 1846-1848. Walker partnered with Samuel Colt to design and manufacture the pistol. Apparently, it was so large and heavy that Colt supposedly said, “It would take a Texan to shoot it.”
Utah: Browning M1911 Pistol
In honor of the M1911’s 100th birthday in 2011, Governor Gary Herbert named the pistol Utah’s state firearm. The gun is manufactured in Ogden, Utah, where Browning once lived, and represents a large part of both Utah and American history. It was first adopted by the U.S. Army in March 1911, hence the "1911" destination. The pistol was first tested in the field by the military in 1916 during the pursuit through Mexico for Francisco “Pancho” Villa. (Image credit)
West Virginia: Hall Model 1819 Flintlock Rifle
The Hall rifle was first produced in Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, by John H. Hall. The military adopted the Model 1819 in 1819, and it became one of the standard rifles used during the Civil War. This piece of West Virginia history was named the state’s official firearm in 2013.
Utah may have started the trend of adopting official state firearms, but it’s a great way to capture American history and celebrate how firearms have made this country what it is today! If your state isn’t on this list, what do you think your state firearm should be? Let us know on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter (@nrawomen).
