In honor of Independence Day tomorrow, here are a few famous firearms owned by some of our most prominent presidents. We’ll start with George Washington, of course.

Damascus Saddle Pistols, Carried by George Washington

6th PA Regiment

George Washington carried these two pistols throughout his life following the revolutionary war. They were a gift from Gilbert du Motier, a young French soldier who fought on the American side during the Revolution. Incidentally, Motier was also known as the Marquis de Lafayette, and he later authored a highly influential political treatise called “Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.”

Spencer Repeating Rifle, Tested and Approved by Abraham Lincoln

On August 18, 1863, Christopher Spencer, the inventor of the world’s first military repeater, walked straight into the White House, past the sentries, and into Abraham Lincoln’s office carrying a rifle and a few cartridge boxes. The two men walked out onto the Mall, near the site of the Washington Monument, and shot at some targets. Following this, the Union ordered a supply of over 13,000 of the rifles, which General Ulysses S. Grant called “the best breech-loading arms available.”

Here’s Lincoln’s target:

Simpkins Military History Museum

.32 Rimfire Smith & Wesson Model 1 ½, carried by Ulysses S. Grant

George Gamble Collection, Autry National Center

This ornate gold inlaid 5-shot revolver was presented to Ulysses S. Grant in 1870 and eventually donated to the National Firearms Museum by the Grant family.

North African Jezail, Owned by Thomas Jefferson

Packmule’s Rare Firearms

Smithsonian

This unusual musket was presented to Thomas Jefferson in 1805 by Sidi Suleiman Melli Melli, an emissary of the Bey of Tunis.

Winchester Model 21 20-Gauge, the Skeet Gun of Dwight Eisenhower

Good Guys with Guns

Bob Woodruff, the president of Coca Cola, invited Eisenhower to hunt on his Georgia property on numerous occasions. They became good friends, and Woodruff presented Eisenhower with this one-of-a-kind Winchester as a gift.

FN M1900, Carried by Theodore Roosevelt

NRA Museums

This John Browning Model 1900, chambered in .32 ACP, was a striker-fired pistol built for concealed carry, which is exactly the use case for which Teddy Roosevelt applied it. By the way, his niece, FLOTUS Eleanor Roosevelt, also carried – a Smith and Wesson .38.

Like you, all these presidents (and most of the others) proudly exercised their Second Amendment right. May it ever be thus.

 

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27 COMMENTS

  2. Our United States Constitution has no expiration date. Our 2nd amendment is granted us by our forefathers. Their blood spilled for it. May it ever be thus.

  3. Are we not going to mention the framed Glock 18 GWB kept in the oval office?

  4. I’m most taken with the matched pistols,gifted to General Washington by the Marquis de Lafayette,simple stunning works of craftsmanship and art.

    • American Rifleman had an article on them a few months ago, with bettef pictures. They’re pretty impressive!

  5. Oh my god, that 1900. What a classy little pistol.

    What about JFK’s Garand?

    As mentioned above, GWB’s G18 is pretty cool. Doesn’t the WH have a firing range? It’d be fun to take that for a test drive.

    • I have read that there is a gun range in the basement used by the Secret Service. And an occasional president. It is probably next to the bowling alley.

    • Fully semi-automatic 0.9mm Creedmore, with the shoulder thing that goes up. So says Pelosi…

    • Back during the campaign, I remember reading he owns a Smith&Wesson j-frame of some sort and an H&K .45 (model unknown)…
      Those are the only ones I recall being mentioned, he may have more.
      🤠

      • Dems probably think he has a fully automatic 50 caliber assault rifle that he concealed carries

    • My guess is that he does not carry. He doesn’t need to with all of those armed guards around who, in the event of gun fire, will bury him under a pile of their own bodies until he can be safely moved or stuff him into the back of his armored limo.

  8. I CAN NOT believe the FOX shotgun(s) made for president “Teddy” Roosevelt is not on here….I believe “He” gave it the Moniker of The Finest Shotgun Ever made!

    • You would need a whole article for Teddy’s firearms. All his western stuff. African rifles. Weapons he took on the exploration of the River of Doubt. Cuba. And that’s probably just scratching the surface.

  9. Christopher Spencer, the inventor of the world’s first military repeater, walked straight into the White House, past the sentries, and into Abraham Lincoln’s office carrying a rifle and a few cartridge boxes. The two men walked out onto the Mall, near the site of the Washington Monument, and shot at some targets.
    Try doing that nowadays.

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