10 Iconic Wild West-Era Guns

Published: May 2, 2024 by Liam Frady

What are the most iconic Wild West-era guns? The American West was a new frontier, with lawmen and criminals squaring off with strikingly modern firearms. America’s Wild West saw the adoption of metallic cartridges and eventually smokeless powder, both major innovations in firearms technology. Today’s list takes a look at the most iconic weapons of the era and the impact they had.

Sharps Model 1853 Rifle

The Sharps Rifle is one of the most iconic Wild West-era guns and for good reason. It saw use in the American Civil War, and the various conflicts with Native Americans, and was the weapon of choice for buffalo hunters on the frontier. The accuracy and power of the rifle made it noteworthy, the perfect companion for the marksman of the American West.

Colt Model 1851 Navy Revolver

Samuel Colt revolutionized firearms overnight with his invention of the 1836 Patterson revolver. The 1851 Navy is a further refinement, developed with the needs of American servicemen in mind. What ended up making it one of the most iconic Wild West-era guns is that it was the pistol of choice for Wild Bill Hickok. A notorious gunfighter and card

Remington Army Revolver

Remington is one of the oldest firearm companies in the United States. Their Army pattern revolver was stylistically quite similar to the lauded Army and Navy models from Colt. However, it never enjoyed quite the same level of popularity. That said, it is a strong contender for one of the most iconic Wild West-era guns thanks to its reliable performance.

Remington Rolling Block Rifle

Versatility and accuracy were the name of the game when it came to the Remington Rolling Block rifle. One of these was made famous on the stage in the hands of William Cody, otherwise known as Buffalo Bill. The Rolling Block is one of the most iconic Wild West-era guns but wasn’t renowned for its combat prowess.

Smith & Wesson Schofield Revolver

Metallic cartridges changed the game when it came to firearms. Reloads became faster, meaning more firepower could be laid down in a shorter period. While Colt’s take on this was revolutionary, there is a reason the U.S. Army went with the Schofield. This iconic Wild West-era gun was a break action, meaning you could load all six cartridges at once.

Winchester Model 1873 Repeating Rifle

Few weapons are as noteworthy as this iconic Wild West-era gun. The Winchester Model 1873 wasn’t the most powerful rifle, but it brought rapid fire to the fray. When you’re looking for something that can put food on the table and fend off a bandit attack, look no further.

Winchester Model 1895 Repeating Rifle

Winchester earned a coup of sorts with the recruitment of one John Moses Browning. Browning is famous for many reasons, mostly for his standard method of operation for semi-automatic firearms. The Model 1895 Repeating Rifle is one of his earliest designs and certainly makes for an iconic Wild West-era gun. This sort of rifle fed from a box magazine, meaning more powerful cartridges could be used.

Spencer Repeating Carbine

When looking at the most iconic Wild West-era guns, you’re likely noticing a trend of sorts. Repeating weapons started marking a shift in combat, with hints of the weapons we’d see in the World Wars. The Spencer Repeating Carbine superficially resembled the Sharps carbines that became so beloved during the American Civil War.

Springfield Model 1866 Trapdoor Rifle

The U.S. Army utilized Springfield Trapdoor rifles for several years, with some of the weapons even seeing service during the Spanish-American War. They were accurate and could put rounds down range fairly quickly. However, while this is one of the most iconic Wild West-era guns, it paled in comparison to Spain’s bolt-action rifles.

Colt Single Action Army Revolver

Rounding out our list is arguably one of the most iconic Wild West-era guns to ever be made. The Colt 1873 Single Action Army was known by many names but was beloved for its easy handling, accuracy, and reliability. Interestingly, it was not adopted by the U.S. Army, as that honor went to the Schofield. Colt would get the last laugh with their M1911 handgun, which became one of the longest-serving weapons in the American arsenal.