{"id":1739,"date":"2023-12-20T02:44:50","date_gmt":"2023-12-20T02:44:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=1739"},"modified":"2023-12-20T02:44:50","modified_gmt":"2023-12-20T02:44:50","slug":"collectible-firearms-for-serious-gun-collectors-152","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=1739","title":{"rendered":"Collectible Firearms for Serious Gun Collectors"},"content":{"rendered":"


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History has seen dozens of popular firearm models, but what is the most produced gun of all time? We\u2019ll take a look at the 25 most manufactured gun platforms and find out which firearm family comes out on top.<\/p>\n

Most of the gun models on this list have seen numerous updates, iterations, and licensed variants over the decades, as well as copies and derivatives throughout their production life which makes defining a platform somewhat subjective. The production numbers for our most manufactured firearm selections are based on a platform\u2019s shared mechanical heritage. Click on the images and videos throughout this article to learn more about each gun model.<\/p>\n

25) Sten Gun (4 million+)<\/h3>\n

According to Americanrifleman.org<\/a><\/u>, over 4 million Sten guns were made across numerous variants, with the Sten Mk. II accounting for nearly half that number. Assembled at nine different facilities, the stamped steel British SMG could be manufactured for a mere 10 dollars, less than one-seventh the price of a WW2-era<\/a> Thompson submachine gun<\/a>, contributing to the Sten’s status as one of the most manufactured gun models of the era.<\/p>\n

24) 1911 Pistol (4.3 million+)<\/h3>\n

Gun collectors won’t be surprised to find John Moses Browning’s<\/a> iconic 1911<\/a> on any best selling handgun list. Even after more than a century, the 1911 platform remains one of the top handguns in America and a favorite around the world. According to Browning Firearms<\/a>, over 3 million 1911 pistols were produced for the U.S. military alone during the famed firearm’s more than six-decade reign as<\/a> America’s official military sidearm<\/a>. When accounting for civilian models, licensed copies, and unofficial clones, some estimates place production numbers for the 1911 platform in excess of 4.3 million, earning the model a worthy nod as one of the most sold pistols in the world.<\/p>\n

23) Remington Model 700 (5 million+)<\/h3>\n

According to Remington, their Model 700 is \u201cthe number one bolt-action of all time.\u201d A subjective boast to be sure, but there’s no question that the Model 700 is one of the most produced rifle platforms in American history<\/a>. In a 2013 legal case, experts noted that Remington had produced more than 5 million Model 700 rifles and its Model 721 and Model 722 predecessors since 1948, and the reliable bolt action<\/a> platform continues to enjoy strong sales today.<\/p>\n

22) Walther PP\/PPK (5 million+)<\/h3>\n

Any discussion of most sold pistol in the world is bound to include the Walther PP<\/a> series as a top contender. Developed by German manufacturer Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen in 1929, the company introduced the first PPK variant two years later, and the pistol\u2019s popularity soared. Today, the series includes the PPK, PPK\/S, and PPK\/E models and is manufactured in Germany, France, and the United States, with over 5 million pistols produced to date<\/a>.<\/p>\n

21) M1 Garand (5.5 million+)<\/h3>\n

According to The Garand Collectors Association,<\/a> more than 4 million M1<\/a> Garand rifles<\/a> were manufactured by the end of WW2, while \u201c1,500,000 new M1\u2019s were produced in the 1952 \u2013 1957 period.\u201d The companies contracted to make the M1 Garand, including Springfield Armory, Winchester, International Harvester, and Harrington and Richardson, used non-consecutive serial number production runs that didn\u2019t always fill out the full range. The exact serial number ranges can be viewed here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Variants like the M1C and M1D were produced in comparatively modest numbers (12,767 and 21,380), with a limited run of about 22,000 new M1 Garand rifles manufactured by Springfield Armory in 2001. More than 5.5 million M1 Garands<\/a> were made in total, making the iconic American weapon one of the most produced rifle models of the WW2 and Korean War era.<\/p>\n

John Garand’s rifle, serial number 1,000,000, a milestone production number for one of the most manufactured rifle models of all time.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

20) PPSh-41 (Nearly 6 million)<\/h3>\n

Over five million PPSh-41 submachine guns were manufactured by the Soviets during WW2. These numbers alone would make the deadly Russian SMG<\/a> one of the most produced guns of all time, but additional variants and iterations push that number even higher, with some estimating the PPsh-41 reached nearly 6 million manufactured<\/a> across all models. PPSh-41 examples produced outside of the Soviet Union include China\u2019s Type 50, Hungary\u2019s Model 28, Iran\u2019s Model 22, Yugoslavia\u2019s \u00a0M49, North Korea\u2019s Type 49, and North Vietnam\u2019s K-50M.<\/p>\n

19) Smith & Wesson Model 10 (6 million+)<\/h3>\n

On their Model 10 revolver, Smith & Wesson writes<\/a> that, \u201cover six million units have been produced since 1899.\u201d Known by numerous designations, including the S&W<\/a>.38<\/a> Hand Ejector, the S&W Military & Police, and the Smith & Wesson Victory Model, this iconic revolver<\/a> became one of the most produced gun platforms of the 20th century and was once cited by the FBI as the best selling handgun in America.<\/p>\n

18) Makarov Pistol (6 million+)<\/h3>\n

According to 2016\u2019s \u2018The Makarov Pistol: Soviet Union and East Germany\u2019 by Henry C. Brown and Cameron S. White, more than five million Pistol\u00e9t Mak\u00e1rovas had been produced by the Soviet Union and Russian Federation by 2002, with the pistol still manufactured today for civilian<\/a>, police<\/a>, and export sales. Combine this impressive figure with additional variants of the Makarov pistol manufactured by Germany, Bulgaria, and China, and you have total production numbers that some sources estimate could reach well over 6 million units.<\/p>\n

17) M1 Carbine (6.5 million)<\/h3>\n

With nearly 5.9 million manufactured<\/a>, the M1 Carbine became one of the most produced firearms of WW2. Ten companies were contracted to manufacture the M1 carbines<\/a>, with over 2.5 million produced by the Inland Manufacturing Division of General Motors alone. When including the more than 140,000 M1A1 carbine variants, the 500,000 M2 carbines, 3,000 M3 carbines, and the 811 M3(T3) carbines, the production total for the M1 carbine platform climbs to more than 6.5 million.<\/p>\n

16) FN FAL (7 million)<\/h3>\n

Debuting in 1950, the FN FAL earned the nickname<\/a> \u201cright arm of the free world\u201d for its status as NATO\u2019s Cold War battle rifle of choice and became one of the most produced firearms of the era. As noted by NRA Museums Director Philip Schreier, the Belgium FN FAL and its derivatives<\/a> have seen \u201cseven million rifles produced and in use\/adopted by 90 different countries around the globe.\u201d<\/p>\n

15) Musket Model 1777 (7 million+)<\/h3>\n

According to the UK’s \u2018Age of Revolution’ project<\/a>, an educational resource focused on the Battle of Waterloo and the period of revolution<\/a> in Europe between 1775 and 1848, \u201cSeven million Mle 1777 muskets were made by different makers between 1777 and 1843.\u201d Often dubbed the \u201cCharlesville musket\u201d for its design origin at the Royal Arsenal at Charlesville, the Model 1777 was a French standard infantry musket<\/a> that had a profound influence on arms making across Europe and in the United States during the first half of the 19th century and became the most produced gun of its era.<\/p>\n

The Model 1777 infantry musket, one of the most produced guns in history, was used by French troops and some earlier examples were also sent to North America to assist the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War with continued use through the Napoleonic Wars.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

14) Ruger 10\/22 (7 million+)<\/h3>\n

Since its introduction in 1964, Sturm, Ruger & Company has made well over 7 million<\/a> Ruger 10\/22s. As Ruger proudly advertises, the 10\/22 is \u201ca favorite of small bore hunters, competitive shooters and target shooters<\/a> everywhere.\u201d Approaching 60 years of continuous production, it\u2019s no surprise that this popular semiautomatic carbine has become not only one of the most common guns in the U.S. but the second most produced rimfire guns of all time.<\/p>\n

13) Arisaka Type 38\/99 (7.16 million)<\/h3>\n

The Arisaka Type 38 and its Type 99 sibling chambered in the larger 7.7mm cartridge was Japan\u2019s<\/a> most produced rifle platform during WW2. According to author Bill Harrimann\u2019s \u2018The Arisaka Rifle,\u2019 nearly 3.6 million Type 38 rifles were manufactured. John Walther’s \u2018Rifles of the World\u2019 estimates 3.5 million Type 38 rifles were produced. When combined with variants like the 38,200 Type 35 rifles, 21,200 TERA type 2 paratrooper rifles, and 22,500 Type 97 sniper rifles manufactured, the platform\u2019s production total<\/a> exceeded 7.16 million.<\/p>\n

12) Winchester Model 1894 (7.5 million+)<\/h3>\n

John Browning\u2019s classic Winchester Model 94 is unquestionably one of the most produced guns of all time, evidenced by the millions of examples found on gun racks across America. According to Turnbull Restoration<\/a>, more than 7.5 million of these sturdy lever guns have been manufactured since Winchester<\/a> introduced the model in 1894, and many a hunter continues to field these timeless rifles today.<\/p>\n

11) Heckler & Koch G3 (7.8 million)<\/h3>\n

According to N.R. Jenzen-Jones<\/a>, an author, historian, Director of Armament Research Services (ARES), and the Editor of \u2018Armax: The Journal of Contemporary Arms,\u2019<\/a> an estimated 7.8 million examples of the Heckler & Koch G3 have been manufactured, placing the platform behind only the AK-47 and the AR-15 as the most produced self-loading service rifles<\/a> in the world. Introduced in 1959, the German G3 rifle was widely exported around the globe and continues to see service today in more than 60 countries.<\/p>\n

10) Marlin Model 60 (11 million+)<\/h3>\n

Marlin originally billed the Model 60 as \u201c<\/strong><\/em>the most popular 22 in the world,\u201d a slogan that proved prophetic over the years for this tube-fed semi-auto rifle. Introduced in 1960, well over 11 million<\/a> of these quintessential rifles<\/a> have been manufactured, a testament to the gun\u2019s resiliency and ease of use. Though the Model 60 is currently out of production, it continues to rank high on the list of most common guns in the U.S<\/a>. and earns a respectful place on our list of most produced guns of all time.<\/p>\n

Caleb Savant from Brownells shows off the Marlin Model 60, one of the most produced rifle models of any era.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

9) Remington 870 (11 million+)<\/h3>\n

Few firearms have stood the test of time like the Remington 870. Introduced in 1950, millions of 870s have rolled off the production line in Ilion, New York, and the adaptable shotgun<\/a> continues to sell with models like the recently introduced Remington 870 Fieldmaster. With \u201cover 11 million made,\u201d according to Remington<\/a>, one would be forgiven for thinking the sturdy 870 was the most produced shotgun of all time, but our next contender would beg to differ.<\/p>\n

A Remington Wingmaster 870, an impressive example of one of the most produced firearms in America.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

8) Mossberg 500 (12 million+)<\/h3>\n

\u201cWithout question, the 500 is the most versatile shotgun platform available on the market,\u201d Mossberg touts on their webpage<\/a>, adding, \u201cno wonder that over 12 million have been sold.\u201d There\u2019s no debating that the Mossberg 500 series has retained a top spot in the pump shotty market<\/a> since its introduction in 1961. With a production run of more than 12 million, the Mossberg 500 earns the title of the most produced shotgun in history.<\/p>\n

7) SKS (15 million+)<\/h3>\n

Few firearm fans will be surprised to find the SKS<\/a> on our list of most produced guns. Americanrifleman.org<\/a> estimates that over 15 million SKS rifles and carbines have been made across countless manufacturers and variations. The prolific design was invented by Russian Sergei Gavrilovich Simonov in 1943 and saw about 2.7 million units produced by the Soviet Union. Yugoslavia, Romania, Albania, North Vietnam, North Korea, and East Germany would go on to manufacture their own SKS variants<\/a>, but China became far and away the largest producer of the platform with over 10 million made.<\/p>\n

6) Lee-Enfield (17 million)<\/h3>\n

In \u2018The Lee\u2013Enfield Story,\u2019 author Ian Skennerton writes that up to 17 million examples of the British-designed bolt action rifle were produced across all variants after its introduction in 1895. From the Second Boer War in 1899 to the Korean War, the Lee-Enfield served as an infantry standard across the British Empire<\/a> and still sees limited service with Commonwealth police forces today. Though the Lee-Enfield is inarguably one of the most produced guns of all time, there are five contenders ahead of this longstanding British bolt action.<\/p>\n

What is the most produced gun in the world? With 17 million manufactured, the Lee-Enfield platform earns a worthy 6th place on our list.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

5) Glock Pistol (21 million+)<\/h3>\n

\u201cIn 2020, we reached over 20 million handguns sold globally,\u201d Gaston Glock wrote in his company\u2019s 2021 annual report<\/a>. With an estimated 1 million-plus Glocks sold in the USA each year, the pistol family\u2019s total production number is likely closer to 22 million or more today, making it the best selling handgun platform of all time. The polymer-framed, striker-fired<\/a> Glock<\/a> is currently the most sold pistol brand in the world and enjoys a substantial share of both the American law enforcement and civilian markets.<\/p>\n

4) AR-15\/M16 (28 million+)<\/h3>\n

In 2011’s \u2018The M16\u2019 by Gordon L. Rottman, the author estimates over 8 million M16<\/a> variants have been produced since Colt began making Eugene Stoner\u2019s design in 1961. Colt marketed the semi-automatic version of the M16 to the civilian market in 1964 as the SP1 Model AR-15 Sporter<\/a>, and over the next five decades the platform became one of the most produced rifle models in America.<\/p>\n

By 2020, the National Shooting Sports Federation estimated there were 19.8 million AR-15 rifles in circulation. The COVID-19 pandemic saw a sales spike that pushed this number even higher, with some estimates placing production numbers for the platform<\/a> closer to 23 million. Even a conservative estimate of these impressive numbers earns the AR-15 platform<\/a> a top spot on the list of most produced firearms.<\/p>\n

3) Mosin-Nagant (37 million+)<\/h3>\n

In \u2018The Mosin-Nagant Rifle,\u2019 author Bill Harriman estimates that over 37 million<\/a> Mosin Nagant rifles<\/a> were produced since the Russian bolt action\u2019s introduction in 1891 as the M91\/30. Manufacturers were numerous, with the Soviets producing the Mosin at Tula, Izhevsk, and Sestroryetsk, while over three million more rifles were manufactured in America with Remington and Westinghouse alone. France, Estonia, Finland, Poland, Romania, China, and numerous other nations manufactured variants of the mighty Mosin<\/a> over the years, making the platform one of the most produced guns in history.<\/p>\n

2) AK-47 (76 million+)<\/h3>\n

What is the most produced gun in the world? If you guessed the AK-47, you wouldn\u2019t be far off the mark. \u201cAt least 76 million AK-type rifles, including variants, copies, and derivatives, have been produced to date,\u201d according to author and small arms historian N.R. Jenzen-Jones.<\/p>\n

In his January 2017 paper for ‘Small Arms Survey’, ‘Global Development and Production of Self-loading Service Rifles: 1896 to the Present,’<\/a> Jenzen-Jones writes that his 76 million AK-47 production estimate, \u201clargely agrees with several other sources, including Walter (2006; estimate of 70 million), Kalashnikov and Joly (2006; 60\u201380 million), Rottman (2011; 75 million), and primary Russian Federation small arms manufacturer Kalashnikov Concern\u2019s own estimate of \u2018more than 70 million Kalashnikovs\u2019 (Johnson, 2015).\u201d<\/p>\n

Such impressive production numbers make the AK-47 a strong candidate for the most produced firearm of all time. Only one platform comes anywhere close to these lofty figures, a classic bolt action platform that helped conquer the world.<\/p>\n

1) Mauser Model 98 (100 million+)<\/h3>\n

In \u2018Mauser Military Rifles of the World,\u2019 author Robert W.D. Ball writes that the Mauser 98 was \u201cthe world\u2019s most popular rifle; 30 countries used it, and 100 million units were manufactured between 1898-1945, during which it was employed in both world wars by the German Army.\u201d In the May 2010 issue<\/a> of \u2018WWII History Magazine,\u2019 author Blaine Taylor observes that another estimate places that number at \u201can astounding 102 million.\u201d<\/p>\n

With the numerous licensed versions of the platform manufactured alongside countless clones and derivatives, the classic German-born bolt action rifle<\/a> earns the title of most produced gun in history.<\/p>\n

Most Produced Guns and More<\/h3>\n

Numerous other firearm platforms like the Remington Model 1100 (4 million)<\/a>, Marlin Model 336 (3.5 million)<\/a>, and Luger pistol (3 million)<\/a> deserve honorable mentions as close contenders on our list of 25 most produced guns, while other popular models like the Colt Single Action Army<\/a> and Winchester Model<\/a> 1897 shotgun<\/a> earn a nod for their profound impact on generations of firearms to follow.<\/p>\n

Subscribe to the Rock Island Auction newsletter<\/a> for weekly gun blogs<\/a> and gun videos<\/a> on some of the most popular firearms every produced, including the SVT-40<\/a>, the Browning Hi Power<\/a>, the IMI Uzi<\/a>, the Colt Python<\/a>, the Smith & Wesson Model 29<\/a>, the C96 Broomhandle<\/a>, the Browning Citori<\/a>, the Savage 99<\/a>, the Springfield Model 1861<\/a>, and more<\/a>.<\/p>\n

From ultra-rare firearms to seldom-seen variants of popular models, Rock Island Auction offers it all!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n


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History has seen dozens of popular firearm models, but what is the most produced gun of all time? We\u2019ll take a look at the 25 most manufactured gun platforms and find out which firearm family comes out on top. The British \u201cBrown Bess\u201d musket, a worthy runner-up on our most produced gun list. Most of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1740,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1739","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1739","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1739"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1739\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1740"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1739"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1739"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1739"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}