As gun nerds, we know the ins and outs of firearms. In our culture, there are plenty of well-known guns. We all know what a Stacatto 2011 is, but does the general public know what that is? Likely not. Today we are going to look at guns that break out of the American firearms culture and into the mainstream consciousness. These guns have reached iconic status, often through an odd variety of circumstances that blend pop culture with real-world performance. These guns have become household names, and let’s talk about not only the iconic guns but why they are iconic.
Uzi
The Uzi is the world’s most iconic submachine gun. This Israeli design has become one of the most famous firearms ever. It’s an innovative design that incorporates a wrap-around bolt design and places the magazine in the pistol grip. This reduced size and reportedly made reloading a bit easier. The Uzi was a massive success for Israel, with over two billion in sales throughout the world.
The Uzi’s key to success is tied to several factors. We had an innovative design. We also have the fact it has an easy and cool-to-remember name. Uzi just rolled off the tongue, and it popped up in movies, music, and more. Plus, the firearm found its way into several iconic situations and pictures, including two famous photos of Ronald Reagan.
The Winchester Rifle
Winchester has made a lot of rifles, and while Winchester fans can break down each one into insane detail, the Winchester rifle is a generic term to refer to all of them. The Winchester rifle is the preeminent lever action rifle of the United States. The Winchester 1873 is often referred to as the gun that won the West.
It became the cowboy gun of the late 1800s, famous for its reliability, high capacity for the era, and capability. The rifle’s iconic status became set in stone by its use by the Texas Rangers, Teddy Roosevelt, and Geronimo. It’s historically one of the most important guns ever created.
AR-15
It’s not just the AR-15 that’s famous. It’s the entire Stoner rifle series. The AR-15 started it all, but it’s since evolved into the M1, the CAR-15, the M4, the C7, and so many more evolutions due to the demand for military service. The AR-15 design has served generations of soldiers, competition shooters, home defenders, and many more. The rifle’s popped up everywhere.
It evolved and adapted to the times and is one of the most modular weapons on the market. It’s equally famous and infamous at the same time, depending on where you fall on civil rights issues. The AR-15 is the most owned firearm in the country and will likely only continue to be more popular.
AK-47
Much like the AR-15, the AK-47 series has grown extremely popular. According to pop culture, it’s the weapon of choice for bad guys around the world. Terrorists, communists, and all other -ists carry AKs, right? That’s what the movies say anyway, and it’s not entirely wrong. The proliferation of the gun has ensured it found its way into the hands of all manner of bad guys.
At the same time, the AK is also in use by numerous allies and plenty of good guys too. The AK became iconic due to its media coverage in the hands of terrorists, its famous use in hundreds of films, and of course, video games.
FN FAL
The FN FAL goes by many names. It’s the STG 58, the L1A1, the M964, and even the T48 when Americans experimented with the rifle. The FAL goes by so many names because it’s been adopted by so many countries. The FN FAL became iconic because of its use with Western military forces.
It became so popular it earned the nickname, ‘The Right Arm of the Free World.’ It saw its way through numerous conflicts and was known for its reliability, power, and capability. The FN FAL series continues to be a popular weapon, and it’s easily the Western equivalent of the AK in terms of proliferation.
Colt Single Action Army
The Colt Single Action Army, aka the Colt Peacemaker, is the weapon we all picture when you say cowboy revolver. It’s become the quintessential cowboy gun and was the gun of the 1950s cowboy craze. It was used by heroes and villains and established itself as the American handgun.
The Single Action Army was an official US Army sidearm and was arguably the Glock of its day. The SAA served in numerous hands but wasn’t as popular as movies make it seem. While it was easily the nicest revolver of the era, it was also quite expensive, so not every shopkeeper and criminal carried one. But we think they did, and that’s what makes it iconic.
Winchester 1897 Shotgun
The Winchester 1897 shotgun was the first successful pump-action shotgun. It sold like gangbusters to hunters who wanted something different than the double barrels used at the time. The pump action design resulted in a lighter, easier-to-handle firearm with a much higher capacity.
The Winchester 1897 also became famous as the war crime stick in World War 1. Americans brought shotguns into the trenches and were effective enough to get an official protest from the Kaiser. The trench gun variant of the Winchester 1897 is most certainly the most iconic shotgun out there. The bayonet and heat shield make it unmistakable.
Desert Eagle
The Desert Eagle is an oddball pistol. If it wasn’t so famous and iconic, it would be such a niche weapon. Yet, its distinct size and design have made it a movie star with a role in over 600 films to its name. The Desert Eagle is one of the rare magnum-powered pistols that work with rounds like the .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, and .50 AE.
This massive pistol is one of the most distinct pistols on the planet. Its eye-catching size and design ensure it stands out in the hand of Bullet Tooth Tony and Agent Smith. It’s also an interesting pistol due to its gas operation and rotating bolt. It’s one of those guns I have no use for but really want.
MP5
Picture a 1980s/90s SWAT officer or counter-terrorist cop, and what gun is he carrying? It’s likely an MP5 and maybe a USP holstered. The MP5 series of SMGs became so popular because the MP5 stormed the beaches with a closed bolt, a roller delayed system, and an excellent overall design.
The MP5 became iconic because of film and media. When Jon McClane gets his machine gun, it’s an MP5. When Riggs fights off South African baddies, it’s with an MP5, and of course, it’s Keanu’s gun in “Speed.” Beyond that, the famous photos of SAS operatives wielding the gun when the Iranian Embassy Siege went down cemented the gun forever.
The Glock
Glock is the Coke of modern handguns. While gun guys and gals tend to be quite specific in their firearms bit, most people aren’t gun guys or gals. Glock just stands for a modern pistol with a lot of people. Glock took over the market by providing an ultra-reliable and capable firearm at a very fair price. The Glock series has since become the dominant pistol in the market.
Movies like “Die Hard” described the Glock are undetectable by metal detectors, which isn’t true, by the way. It became well known in music and TV, and the Glock name is often applied to any modern, polymer frame pistol regardless of who made it. It’s easy to make that mistake when so many guns have copied Glock’s pattern of success.
The Iconic
The term “Iconic” gets tossed around a lot these days, but what makes something truly iconic? To me, it’s when a suburban mom and dad know what you are just by name. It’s when the normies can recognize what you are, and I think most people could easily recognize the above guns.
What does our audience think? Should any other firearms make the iconic list? Let us know below!
