Official state gun?

[Mark W.]

Oregon became a state in 1859. Do we want to consider dates before that? If so the Hawken might be in consideration, but there was also heavy English and French influence. There probably wassn't any one "Oregon gun". True--the Winchester 73 was popular on the later wagon trains, but so was the Spencer and a BUNCH of civil war leftovers. Heck---probably the most prevalent long gun with the settlers was a shotgun of some sort.

Maybe we need to go further back in time? How about the Lewis and Clark air rifle?
I can't think of a single firearms inventor from Oregon. Anybody?

Actually since the Railroad was to CA by the end of 1869 and it was much easier to travel to CA via the train for $69.00 and then hop a ride on a lumber schooner heading back north then to spend half the year walking to Oregon. By the time the model 73 Winchester hit the market the wagon trains were but a trickle and by 1883 the railroad made it to Portland. I doubt a lot of them made the trip via Wagon. Despite what Hollywood would have us believe.

And the majority of farmers in those wagons would have had a MUCH greater use for a shotgun then an expensive Winchester.

My vote would go to a plain old 12 gauge side by side shotgun.

 

[coosbaycreep]

Due to all the hunters and rednecks, either a .30-30 or an SKS, but I think calico should be it since they're currently (or at least were till recently) made here. They're politically incorrect and gnarly looking too.