On June 25, the US Surgeon General issued an advisory declaring gun violence a public health crisis. To address the issue, he recommends banning automatic rifles, universal background checks, industry regulations, restrictions on use in public spaces, and the creation of penalties for improper gun storage. His suggested remedies are just that, suggested, because all would require legislation passed by Congress to implement nationwide. According to 2022 Center for Disease Control data, there is an average of 53 gun homicides per day. On a local level, preventative measures can be implemented immediately, such as community violence intervention programs and safe storage education programs.
One billion firearms are circulating worldwide, and 85% of those are in the hands of private citizens. American citizens are estimated to own more guns than all the combined totals of 24 other major countries. The Small Arms Survey, the most comprehensive survey of gun ownership worldwide, rated the United States at 120.50 civilian guns per 100 people. The survey further breaks down firearm possession into citizens (393,000,000), military (4,540,000), and law enforcement (1,020,000) for the US.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed various sources to get estimates of global gun sales to identify the world’s 50 most popular guns. Guns were ranked by estimated lifetime sales. The origin of each gun is the historical country of origin or where the weapon was first created. Different models of the same gun released in different years are included in the gun sales estimates.
Almost half of the firearms that make this list originated in the United States. The iconic Winchester lever-action rifle is part of the Wild West persona from many movies, TV shows, and actual, real people. The AR-15 currently ranks high for many collectors nationwide. Russian influence is evident through the Makarov semi-automatic pistol and Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifle, which has significantly more sales than any of the others mentioned.
Why Are We Talking About Guns?
Source: saechang / Flickr
Understanding the connection between gun sales, gun use, gun violence, and gun deaths helps to participate in conversations about the topic and get involved when it reaches the political realm. Living in a country with a civilian population holding more guns than people, guns are a part of the makeup of the US. The surgeon general’s recent advisory brings to light the need for these conversations to continue, and further education will allow for that to happen.
Here are the most popular 50 guns ever.
50. Winchester Model 1892
Source: Wikipedia / Public Domain
- Approximate Units Sold: 2,000,000
- Country of Origin: United States
49. Winchester Model 1912/1942
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Approximate Units Sold: 2,000,000
- Country of Origin: United States
48. Winchester Models 1900 through 1968
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Approximate Units Sold: 2,000,000
- Country of Origin: United States
47. Marlin Model 1891/1892/1897/1939
Source: Wikipedia
- Approximate Units Sold: 2,200,000
- Country of Origin: United States
46. M14
Source: PEO Soldier / Wikimedia Commons
- Approximate Units Sold: 2,380,000
- Country of Origin: United States
45. Fusil Gras mle 1874
Source: Musee de l'Armee / Wikimedia Commons
- Approximate Units Sold: 2,500,000
- Country of Origin: France
44. Remington Model 740/742/7400 Woodsmaster
Source: Wikipedia
- Approximate Units Sold: 2,500,000
- Country of Origin: United States
43. Gewehr 1888
Source: Wikipedia
- Approximate Units Sold: 2,800,000
- Country of Origin: Germany
42. Browning Auto-5
Source: Wikimedia
- Approximate Units Sold: 3,000,000
- Country of Origin: United States
41. Browning M2
Source: Wikipedia /Public Domain
- Approximate Units Sold: 3,000,000
- Country of Origin: United States
40. Luger Parabellum
Source: Rama / Wikimedia Commons
- Approximate Units Sold: 3,000,000
- Country of Origin: Germany
39. Nagant M1895
Source: Wikipedia
- Approximate Units Sold: 3,000,000
- Country of Origin: Russia
38. QBZ-95
Source: Wikipedia
- Approximate Units Sold: 3,000,000
- Country of Origin: China
37. Ruger Standard
Source: Wikipedia
- Approximate Units Sold: 3,000,000
- Country of Origin: United States
36. Springfield M1903
Source: Wikipedia
- Approximate Units Sold: 3,000,000
- Country of Origin: United States
35. Berdan M1870
Source: Wikipedia
- Approximate Units Sold: 3,200,000
- Country of Origin: Russia
34. Beretta 92
Source: Wikipedia
- Approximate Units Sold: 3,500,000
- Country of Origin: Italy
33. Lebel Model 1886
Source: Wikipedia
- Approximate Units Sold: 3,500,000
- Country of Origin: France
32. Mannlicher M1895
Source: Wikipedia
- Approximate Units Sold: 3,500,000
- Country of Origin: Austria-Hungary
31. Remington Model 1100
Source: Wikipedia
- Approximate Units Sold: 4,000,000
- Country of Origin: United States
30. Ruger Single Six/Blackhawk/Vaquero
Source: Wikipedia
- Approximate Units Sold: 4,000,000
- Country of Origin: United States
29. ‘Brown Bess’ Land Pattern Musket
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Approximate Units Sold: 4,300,000
- Country of Origin: United Kingdom
28. Carcano Modello 1891
Source: Wikipedia
- Approximate Units Sold: 4,500,000
- Country of Origin: Italy
27. STEN Gun
Source: mikedabell / iStock via Getty Images
- Approximate Units Sold: 4,500,000
- Country of Origin: United Kingdom
26. M1911 (and copies)
Source: Wikipedia / Public Domain
- Approximate Units Sold: 5,000,000
- Country of Origin: United States
25. Walther PP/PPK
Source: Wikipedia
- Approximate Units Sold: 5,000,000
- Country of Origin: Weimar Republic, Germany
24. Marlin Model 336
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Approximate Units Sold: 6,000,000
- Country of Origin: United States
23. PPSh-41
Source: Wikipedia
- Approximate Units Sold: 6,000,000
- Country of Origin: Soviet Union
22. Ruger 10/22
- Approximate Units Sold: 6,000,000
- Country of Origin: United States
21. Smith & Wesson Model 10
Source: Wikipedia
- Approximate Units Sold: 6,000,000
- Country of Origin: United States
20. Type 63
- Approximate Units Sold: 6,000,000
- Country of Origin: China
19. M1/M2/M3 Carbine
Source: Wikipedia / Public Domain
- Approximate Units Sold: 6,500,000
- Country of Origin: United States
18. FN FAL (and derivatives)
Source: Wikipedia
- Approximate Units Sold: 7,000,000
- Country of Origin: Belgium
17. Musket Model 1777
Source: Wikipedia
- Approximate Units Sold: 7,000,000
- Country of Origin: France
16. Winchester Model 1894
Source: Wikipedia
- Approximate Units Sold: 7,500,000
- Country of Origin: United States
15. Heckler & Koch G3
Source: Wikipedia
- Approximate Units Sold: 8,000,000
- Country of Origin: Germany
14. M1 Garand
Source: Wikipedia
- Approximate Units Sold: 8,200,000
- Country of Origin: United States
13. Arisaka Type 30/38/99
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Approximate Units Sold: 10,000,000
- Country of Origin: Japan
12. Glock
Source: Wikimedia Commons
- Approximate Units Sold: 10,000,000
- Country of Origin: Austria
11. IMI Uzi
Source: Wikipedia
- Approximate Units Sold: 10,000,000
- Country of Origin: Israel
10. Makarov Pistol
Source: baronvsp / iStock via Getty Images
- Approximate Units Sold: 10,000,000
- Country of Origin: Soviet Union
9. Marlin Model 60
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Approximate Units Sold: 11,000,000
- Country of Origin: United States
8. Remington 870
- Approximate Units Sold: 11,000,000
- Country of Origin: United States
7. Mossberg 500
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Approximate Units Sold: 12,000,000
- Country of Origin: United States
6. SKS
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Approximate Units Sold: 15,000,000
- Country of Origin: Soviet Union
5. Lee-Enfield
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Approximate Units Sold: 17,000,000
- Country of Origin: United Kingdom
4. M16/M4/AR-15 (and derivatives)
Source: blackwaterimages / E+ via Getty Images
- Approximate Units Sold: 20,000,000
- Country of Origin: United States
3. Mosin-Nagant
- Approximate Units Sold: 37,000,000
- Country of Origin: Russia
2. Mauser Gewehr 98 (and similar)
Source: philipimage / iStock via Getty Images
- Approximate Units Sold: 102,000,000
- Country of Origin: Germany
1. Kalashnikov AK-47 (and derivatives)
Source: serikbaib / iStock via Getty Images
- Approximate Units Sold: 150,000,000
- Country of Origin: Soviet Union
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