Most American service gun!

[19-3Ben]

Maverick, lighten up. He meant it as a joke.

I voted Winchester. Sure, the 1911 is a very popular pistol even 100 years after it's introduction, BUT Winchester, Henry and Marlin lever guns were already top sellers 40 years before the 1911 was introduced!

THE classic American hunting rifle is the 30-30 levergun. The classic old west rifle was that very same gun (or a different chambering of similar gun).
Everyone owns one, or has a father/grandpa/uncle/etc... who owns one.
Even the antis have never ever gone after leverguns.

While I can appreciate the arguments for the 1911 or the SAA, I can't see a handgun being the "most American gun".

We're a nation of riflemen!!!!

 

[AZ]

I voted for the SAA. Had it been on the list the Kentucky Rifle would've been my choice, the revolution and the wild west, that's what foreigners associate America with.

 

[JohnBT]

I vote for the Saturday Night Special. A common gun for the common man.

 

[Maverick223]

Maverick, lighten up. He meant it as a joke.

In which case a smiley (or most anything else to signify a joke) would have went a long way.

While I can appreciate the arguments for the 1911 or the SAA, I can't see a handgun being the "most American gun".

We're a nation of riflemen!!!!

+1; "You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind every blade of grass" (whether or not Fmr. Japanese Admiral Yamamoto actually said this is immaterial).

 

[Cosmoline]

Can't get much more American than Winchester rifle.

But this is about issued military service firearms. So leverguns are not on the list. I think the military should have gone with a Savage levergun instead of the Krag or the Springfield, but they didn't

Likewise, while flintlock long rifles became a symbol of American independence and served in the War of Independence and 1812, the Army was slow to adopt them as an official firearm. And what they ultimately came up with wasn't as good as what the civilian market was producing.

I think the 1911 is a good choice overall. It's big, throws a large slug and is a JMB design. But for contemporary America, nothing captures the good and bad of our military and foreign policy better than the AR 15 platform. Its reliance on high tech solutions, its adaptability to gadgets, its precision and its vulnerabilities all represent modern US military strength.

 

[Maverick223]

But this is about issued military service firearms. So leverguns are not on the list.

Winchester M-1895:



I'd say that it qualifies despite the limited service life, due to its connection with TR.

 

[19-3Ben]

But this is about issued military service firearms. So leverguns are not on the list.

Per the OP:

the most American Service gun. one that represents America, it's citizens, and what we stand for.

There are plenty of guns that represent our military. But how many ALSO represent the citizens? The impact of the levergun on the every day civilian is a testament to is success as an "American" gun that has served admirably in both military and non-military circles for the last 150 years.

Edit to add:
Maverick- good catch there!

 

[Cosmoline]

Yeah but no levergun was a major US service rifle. It's purely a civilian firearm design, apart from a few uses in the CW and when the Turks and Russians were using them. The 1895 was an issued military arm in Imperial Russia and used in very limited numbers by the Rough Riders and maybe some others. But I'm not even sure those were musket style 1895's. IIRC they were civilian purchased 1895's.

The one in your photo is in 7.62x54R--hardly what one thinks of as an American icon

http://homesteadfirearms.com/appraisals/1895/1895variations.htm

 

[Ole Humpback]

Winchester M-1895

Russia bought something like 300000 of those rifles and had them chambered for 7.62x54R for use in WWI. Teddy outfitted the Rough Riders with 1895's in 30-40 Krag.

 

[19-3Ben]

Yeah I know. But don't you just WANT a levergun to win? I mean, c'mon. It's a levergun!!!!

 

[rcmodel]

More folks my age owned a Daisy BB gun then any of those other guns mentioned.
I'll vote for that!

rc

 

[Maverick223]

The one in your photo is in 7.62x54R--hardly what one thinks of as an American icon

True, I believe that the officers in the Rough-Riders used the carbine version (and was definitely chambered for the .30-40Krag).

That said it's downright un-American to dislike the lever rifle...standard arm of the US and Jesus alike.

 

[Gig 'em]

Distinctly classic pure American would have to be the M1911, SAA, or Winchester. An argument can be made that the Winchesters did not have the longevity of service as the others, but they are still things of beauty. I'm going to call it a toss up between the legacies of the SAA and M1911. That being said the beautiful distillation of the genius of Sam Colt and John Browning in the iconic M1911 is still being copied to this day and will be for many for decades. Then there's the Thompson submachine gun...

 

[M60]

The Winchester lever action.
The Colt Single action.
The "Tommy gun".

 

[Maverick223]

That being said the beautiful distillation of the genius of Sam Colt and John Browning in the iconic M1911...

Samuel Colt had nothing to do with the M-1911...he was long dead by the time JMB designed the pistol.

 

[easyg]

I think if you asked our enemies, they'd say the M16/M4. I voted M16

Yep, the M16 is recognized as a US weapon all around the world by friends and foes alike.

It has a very distinctive appearance that is easily recognized.

 

[Carter]

I think that this question would depend highly on the generation that is answering it. I'm sure WWII Vets would be more likely to say the garand and modern day vets/soldiers would say the m-16.
To those that have fought us recently I'd say the m-16 does scream American.

However, a lot of those weapons have been used by various US allies so they are not totally uniquely American.

The 1911 though just screams 100% american to me. Its got the beloved .45 acp round and carried for decades. IDK if other countries used it or not, but its probably one of the most collectable/sought after and recognized handgun in the US.

 

[kozak6]

I like the M14. The story of its development and cartridge are are classic American stubbornness.

 

[talldragon]

M-1 Carbine gets my vote

Not a front line rifle, but definately a mass produced weapon and U.S. made..
As far as handguns go, M1911A1; Hands Down

http://www.longhunt.com/schematics/popup_m1carbine.html

http://www.carbineclub.com/

 

[kenhwind]

There are several choices for sure, but IMO the "Thompson Submachine Gun" is truly the American gun. Notoriety from the 20s and 30s by being used by the gangsters and bootleggers, and used valiantly by LEO, and the Marines guarding the US Mail and in the banana wars, and of course used by all branches of our Military during WWII.

 

[happygeek]

Nobody has mentioned the M2? Designed by JMB, been in service since the 1920s, used in dozens of roles, and still going strong. It's pure awesome to shoot too.

 

[Black Butte]

How about the Tommy gun? Used by the mobsters during prohibition and during WWII.

 

[FROGO207]

WELL------You said most American service gun and of those on the list IMHO it would be the 1911 hands down. There are many other great firearms in use by the various branches of the service. Now for the civilian answer I would say Peacemaker hands down followed closely by a Winchester lever gun.

 

[azmjs]

The SAA is the most distinctively American firearm, the M1 Garand the most distinctively American service rifle.

Many countries use m-16 pattern rifles. There are many semi automatic pistols in the world that operate in a similar way. Single action cowboy style guns are iconically and uniquely American.

 

[50 cal]

+ 1 on the m2. I own one of these. I think the reason I bought it was because it was the most american gun I could think of. Its been around longer than any gun in american military history and is still serving today. The ma-deuce deserves 1st place in the most american gun. It is a testiment to the brilliance of John Moses Browning. Nobody could improve his design in over 90 years.