Idaho Voters Select Winchester Model 1873 as State Gun

Idaho voters selected the Winchester Model 1873, known as the gun that won the West, as the state's symbolic firearm in a non-binding advisory referendum on November 4, 2026. The Winchester Model 1873 led the vote with 31.2%, followed by the Winchester Model 1894 at 25.4% and the Colt Single Action Army at 15.1%. Other options included the Remington Model 700, the Colt M1911, and the M1 Garand.

Jason Monks, the Idaho House Majority Leader, proposed the initiative in March to increase voter turnout and align Idaho with eleven other states that have designated state firearms. The measure was introduced via House Bill 932 and signed into law by Governor Brad Little on April 2. The initiative aimed to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the role of firearms in the Revolutionary War and westward expansion.

Because the referendum was advisory, the results are not binding. The Idaho state legislature must now consider formal legislation during the 2027 session to officially designate the winner. While the vote was ceremonial, some firearm specialists criticized the initiative, arguing the provided options failed to reflect Idaho's specific firearms history or the contributions of local figures such as gun writer Elmer Keith.