Although firearms likely made their combat debut in 14th-century China, taking the form of “hand cannons,” the invention of gunpowder is said to have occurred even earlier, in 9th-century China. This was a significant change in how weapons were handled and revolutionized warfare. These early weapons swiftly spread across the globe westward.
Within a century, Europe developed the matchlock, the mechanically fired gun, changing warfare forever by reducing the need for close-quarters combat. Since then, a variety of diverse firearms emerged, some serving niche markets or fading into obscurity. However, some guns achieved massive popularity due to design or historical importance, achieving millions in sales, sometimes over decades.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed a variety of 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 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.
The world surpassed a billion firearms in circulation by 2017, a count that has only increased in the years since. As reported by the Geneva-based Small Arms Survey, a majority of these arms are held by civilians. Notably, over a third of the global total, about 393 million, are in the United States, making Americans the most armed population on the planet by a significant margin. (also see: the guns used by the Green Berets.)
Almost half of the 50 most renowned firearms trace their roots to the U.S., ranging from the iconic Wild West Winchester lever-action rifle to the contemporary AR-15. Russian influence is evident in seven of the all-time top gun models, including the enduring Makarov semi-automatic pistol from the Soviet era, and the ubiquitous AK-47 assault rifle, along with its many variations and replicas. (Also see: the 17 prototype guns rejected by the US Military.)
A variety of other highly ranked firearms have origins in Europe, while some on the list hail from China, Japan, and Israel. While several models on the list are no longer in production, like the French and British muskets of the colonial era as well as many guns from the world wars, approximately thirteen of these firearm models are believed to have surpassed the 10 million unit mark in sales.
Here are the most popular 50 guns ever
50. Winchester Model 1892
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Estimated units sold: 2,000,000
- Firearm class: Lever-action rifle
- Country of origin: United States
49. Winchester Model 1912/1942
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Estimated units sold: 2,000,000
- Firearm class: Pump-action shotgun
- Country of origin: United States
48. Winchester Models 1900 through 1968
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Estimated units sold: 2,000,000
- Firearm class: Single-shot bolt-action rifle
- Country of origin: United States
47. Marlin Model 1891/1892/1897/1939
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Estimated units sold: 2,200,000
- Firearm class: Lever-action rifle
- Country of origin: United States
46. M14
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Estimated units sold: 2,380,000
- Firearm class: Battle rifle
- Country of origin: United States
45. Fusil Gras mle 1874
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Estimated units sold: 2,500,000
- Firearm class: Single-shot bolt-action rifle
- Country of origin: France
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
42. Browning Auto-5
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Estimated units sold: 3,000,000
- Firearm class: Semi-automatic shotgun
- Country of origin: United States
41. Browning M2
- Estimated units sold: 3,000,000
- Firearm class: Heavy machine gun
- Country of origin: United States
40. Luger Parabellum
Source: zim286 / iStock via Getty Images
- Estimated units sold: 3,000,000
- Firearm class: Semi-automatic pistol
- Country of origin: Germany
39. Nagant M1895
- Estimated units sold: 3,000,000
- Firearm class: Revolver
- Country of origin: Russia
38. QBZ-95
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- 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
36. Springfield M1903
- Estimated units sold: 3,000,000
- Firearm class: Bolt-action rifle
- Country of origin: United States
35. Berdan M1870
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Estimated units sold: 3,200,000
- Firearm class: Single-shot bolt-action rifle
- Country of origin: Russia
34. Beretta 92
Source: zim286 / iStock via Getty Images
- Estimated units sold: 3,500,000
- Firearm class: Semi-automatic pistol
- Country of origin: Italy
33. Lebel Model 1886
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Estimated units sold: 3,500,000
- Firearm class: Bolt-action rifle
- Country of origin: France
32. Mannlicher M1895
Source: alexandarilich / iStock via Getty Images
- Estimated units sold: 3,500,000
- Firearm class: Bolt-action rifle
- Country of origin: Austria-Hungary
31. Remington Model 1100
Source: Courtesy of Remington
- 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
29. ‘Brown Bess’ Land Pattern Musket
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Estimated units sold: 4,300,000
- Firearm class: Musket
- Country of origin: United Kingdom
28. Carcano Modello 1891
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Estimated units sold: 4,500,000
- Firearm class: Bolt-action rifle
- Country of origin: Italy
27. STEN gun
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Estimated units sold: 4,500,000
- Firearm class: Submachine gun
- Country of origin: United Kingdom
26. M1911 (and copies)
Source: caiheng / Flickr
- 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
24. Marlin Model 336
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Estimated units sold: 6,000,000
- Firearm class: Lever-action rifle
- Country of origin: United States
23. PPSh-41
Source: Oktober64 / iStock via Getty Images
- 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
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
19. M1/M2/M3 Carbine
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Estimated units sold: 6,500,000
- Firearm class: Carbine
- Country of origin: United States
18. FN FAL (and derivatives)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- 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
16. Winchester Model 1894
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Estimated units sold: 7,500,000
- Firearm class: Lever-action rifle
- Country of origin: United States
15. Heckler & Koch G3
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Estimated units sold: 8,000,000
- Firearm class: Battle rifle
- Country of origin: Germany
14. M1 Garand
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Estimated units sold: 8,200,000
- Firearm class: Semi-automatic rifle
- Country of origin: United States
13. Arisaka Type 30/38/99
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Estimated units sold: 10,000,000
- Firearm class: Bolt-action rifle
- Country of origin: Japan
12. Glock
Source: Malachy120 / iStock via Getty Images
- Estimated units sold: 10,000,000
- Firearm class: Semi-automatic pistol
- Country of origin: Austria
11. IMI Uzi
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Estimated units sold: 10,000,000
- Firearm class: Submachine gun
- Country of origin: Israel
10. Makarov pistol
Source: baronvsp / iStock via Getty Images
- Estimated units sold: 10,000,000
- Firearm class: Semi-automatic pistol
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
9. Marlin Model 60
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- 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
7. Mossberg 500
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Estimated units sold: 12,000,000
- Firearm class: Pump-action shotgun
- Country of origin: United States
6. SKS
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Estimated units sold: 15,000,000
- Firearm class: Semi-automatic rifle
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
5. Lee-Enfield
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Estimated units sold: 17,000,000
- Firearm class: Bolt-action rifle
- Country of origin: United Kingdom
4. M16/M4/AR-15 and derivatives
Source: blackwaterimages / E+ via Getty Images
- 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
2. Mauser Gewehr 98 (and similar)
Source: philipimage / iStock via Getty Images
- Estimated units sold: 102,000,000
- Firearm class: Bolt-action rifle
- Country of origin: Germany
1. Kalashnikov AK-47 (and derivatives)
Source: serikbaib / iStock via Getty Images
- Estimated units sold: 150,000,000
- Firearm class: Assault rifle
- Country of origin: Soviet Union
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