Firearms likely first appeared in combat in China in the 14th century. From then on, those so-called “hand cannons” began to spread across the globe, to all points westward. Within about a century, the matchlock, the first gun that could be fired mechanically, had been developed in Europe, and soon close-quarters combat became a much less necessary part of war. (also see: the 22 guns that helped fight the Civil War.) Since then, tens of thousands of different unique types of guns have been produced, some targeted for a niche market or price point, others simply not catching on or fading quickly into technological obscurity. But today, there exist some guns that, due to their design or historical significance, have been bought by the millions, and counting.
In order to find the world’s 50 most popular guns, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a variety of sources to get estimates of global gun sales. We ranked guns by estimated lifetime sales. The origin of each gun is the historic country of origin, where the gun was first created. Different models of the same gun released in different years are included in the gun sales estimates.
In 2017, the world passed the estimated 1 billion firearms in circulation figure, and that figure has only grown in the following five years. Most of these weapons are owned by civilians, according to the Geneva-based Small Arms Survey. Over a third of all guns, an estimated 393 million, are in the United States, making the country the most armed population on the planet by a very long shot.
As such a global outlier, it should be no surprise that nearly half of the 50 most popular guns of all time originated in the U.S. — from the iconic Winchester lever-action rifle of the Wild West to the modern AR-15.
Seven of the of the most popular gun models of all time are Russian, including the Soviet-era simple and durable Makarov semi-automatic pistol, and the AK-47 assault rifle, which, along with its many derivatives and knockoffs, is the most popular gun model ever made with a total production run of about 150 million units since its inception in 1946. (Also see: the 17 guns Americans used to help fight WWII.)
Many of the other most popular guns of all time originated in Europe. Other guns that make this list have their origins in China, Japan, and Israel.
Some models on the list don’t exist anymore, such as the French and British muskets of the colonial period and many of the guns used and mass produced during the world wars. Thirteen of these firearm models may have sold as many as 10 million units or more.
Here are the top 50 most popular guns of all time
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
50. Winchester Model 1892
> Estimated units sold: 2,000,000
> Firearm class: Lever-action rifle
> Country of origin: United States
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
49. Winchester Model 1912/1942
> Estimated units sold: 2,000,000
> Firearm class: Pump-action shotgun
> Country of origin: United States
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
48. Winchester Models 1900 through 1968
> Estimated units sold: 2,000,000
> Firearm class: Single-shot bolt-action rifle
> Country of origin: United States
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
47. Marlin Model 1891/1892/1897/1939
> Estimated units sold: 2,200,000
> Firearm class: Lever-action rifle
> Country of origin: United States
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
46. M14
> Estimated units sold: 2,380,000
> Firearm class: Battle rifle
> Country of origin: United States
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
45. Fusil Gras mle 1874
> Estimated units sold: 2,500,000
> Firearm class: Single-shot bolt-action rifle
> Country of origin: France
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44. Remington Model 740/742/7400 Woodsmaster
> Estimated units sold: 2,500,000
> Firearm class: Semi-automatic rifle
> Country of origin: United States
43. Gewehr 1888
> Estimated units sold: 2,800,000
> Firearm class: Bolt-action rifle
> Country of origin: Germany
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
42. Browning Auto-5
> Estimated units sold: 3,000,000
> Firearm class: Semi-automatic shotgun
> Country of origin: United States
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41. Browning M2
> Estimated units sold: 3,000,000
> Firearm class: Heavy machine gun
> Country of origin: United States
Source: zim286 / iStock via Getty Images
40. Luger Parabellum
> Estimated units sold: 3,000,000
> Firearm class: Semi-automatic pistol
> Country of origin: Germany
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39. Nagant M1895
> Estimated units sold: 3,000,000
> Firearm class: Revolver
> Country of origin: Russia
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
38. QBZ-95
> Estimated units sold: 3,000,000
> Firearm class: Assault rifle
> Country of origin: China
37. Ruger Standard
> Estimated units sold: 3,000,000
> Firearm class: Semi-automatic pistol
> Country of origin: United States
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36. Springfield M1903
> Estimated units sold: 3,000,000
> Firearm class: Bolt-action rifle
> Country of origin: United States
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
35. Berdan M1870
> Estimated units sold: 3,200,000
> Firearm class: Single-shot bolt-action rifle
> Country of origin: Russia
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Source: zim286 / iStock via Getty Images
34. Beretta 92
> Estimated units sold: 3,500,000
> Firearm class: Semi-automatic pistol
> Country of origin: Italy
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
33. Lebel Model 1886
> Estimated units sold: 3,500,000
> Firearm class: Bolt-action rifle
> Country of origin: France
Source: alexandarilich / iStock via Getty Images
32. Mannlicher M1895
> Estimated units sold: 3,500,000
> Firearm class: Bolt-action rifle
> Country of origin: Austria-Hungary
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Source: Courtesy of Remington
31. Remington Model 1100
> Estimated units sold: 4,000,000
> Firearm class: Semi-automatic shotgun
> Country of origin: United States
30. Ruger Single Six/Blackhawk/Vaquero
> Estimated units sold: 4,000,000
> Firearm class: Revolver
> Country of origin: United States
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
29. ‘Brown Bess’ Land Pattern Musket
> Estimated units sold: 4,300,000
> Firearm class: Musket
> Country of origin: United Kingdom
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
28. Carcano Modello 1891
> Estimated units sold: 4,500,000
> Firearm class: Bolt-action rifle
> Country of origin: Italy
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
27. STEN gun
> Estimated units sold: 4,500,000
> Firearm class: Submachine gun
> Country of origin: United Kingdom
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Source: caiheng / Flickr
26. M1911 (and copies)
> Estimated units sold: 5,000,000
> Firearm class: Semi-automatic pistol
> Country of origin: United States
25. Walther PP/PPK
> Estimated units sold: 5,000,000
> Firearm class: Semi-automatic pistol
> Country of origin: Weimar Republic Germany
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
24. Marlin Model 336
> Estimated units sold: 6,000,000
> Firearm class: Lever-action rifle
> Country of origin: United States
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Source: Oktober64 / iStock via Getty Images
23. PPSh-41
> Estimated units sold: 6,000,000
> Firearm class: Submachine gun
> Country of origin: Soviet Union
22. Ruger 10/22
> Estimated units sold: 6,000,000
> Firearm class: Semi-automatic rifle
> Country of origin: United States
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21. Smith & Wesson Model 10
> Estimated units sold: 6,000,000
> Firearm class: Revolver
> Country of origin: United States
20. Type 63
> Estimated units sold: 6,000,000
> Firearm class: Assault rifle
> Country of origin: China
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
19. M1/M2/M3 Carbine
> Estimated units sold: 6,500,000
> Firearm class: Carbine
> Country of origin: United States
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
18. FN FAL (and derivatives)
> Estimated units sold: 7,000,000
> Firearm class: Battle rifle
> Country of origin: Belgium
17. Musket Model 1777
> Estimated units sold: 7,000,000
> Firearm class: Musket
> Country of origin: France
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
16. Winchester Model 1894
> Estimated units sold: 7,500,000
> Firearm class: Lever-action rifle
> Country of origin: United States
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
15. Heckler & Koch G3
> Estimated units sold: 8,000,000
> Firearm class: Battle rifle
> Country of origin: Germany
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
14. M1 Garand
> Estimated units sold: 8,200,000
> Firearm class: Semi-automatic rifle
> Country of origin: United States
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
13. Arisaka Type 30/38/99
> Estimated units sold: 10,000,000
> Firearm class: Bolt-action rifle
> Country of origin: Japan
Source: Malachy120 / iStock via Getty Images
12. Glock
> Estimated units sold: 10,000,000
> Firearm class: Semi-automatic pistol
> Country of origin: Austria
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
11. IMI Uzi
> Estimated units sold: 10,000,000
> Firearm class: Submachine gun
> Country of origin: Israel
Source: baronvsp / iStock via Getty Images
10. Makarov pistol
> Estimated units sold: 10,000,000
> Firearm class: Semi-automatic pistol
> Country of origin: Soviet Union
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
9. Marlin Model 60
> Estimated units sold: 11,000,000
> Firearm class: Semi-automatic rifle
> Country of origin: United States
8. Remington 870
> Estimated units sold: 11,000,000
> Firearm class: Pump-action shotgun
> Country of origin: United States
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
7. Mossberg 500
> Estimated units sold: 12,000,000
> Firearm class: Pump-action shotgun
> Country of origin: United States
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
6. SKS
> Estimated units sold: 15,000,000
> Firearm class: Semi-automatic rifle
> Country of origin: Soviet Union
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
5. Lee-Enfield
> Estimated units sold: 17,000,000
> Firearm class: Bolt-action rifle
> Country of origin: United Kingdom
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Source: blackwaterimages / E+ via Getty Images
4. M16/M4/AR-15 and derivatives
> Estimated units sold: 20,000,000
> Firearm class: Assault rifle/semi-automatic rifle
> Country of origin: United States
3. Mosin-Nagant
> Estimated units sold: 37,000,000
> Firearm class: Bolt-action rifle
> Country of origin: Russia
Source: philipimage / iStock via Getty Images
2. Mauser Gewehr 98 (and similar)
> Estimated units sold: 102,000,000
> Firearm class: Bolt-action rifle
> Country of origin: Germany
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Source: serikbaib / iStock via Getty Images
1. Kalashnikov AK-47 (and derivatives)
> Estimated units sold: 150,000,000
> Firearm class: Assault rifle
> Country of origin: Soviet Union
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