February 24 in Firearms History

2 dates for gun owners on February 24

  • Remembered 1
  • Law or Ruling 1
  1. Remembered1904 · 122 years ago

    James Paris Lee – Died (72)

    James Paris Lee - (72)
    August 9, 1831 – February 24, 1904

    Inventor invented action and magazine used in Lee–Metford and Lee–Enfield

    1843 - built his first gun at the age of 12

    1861 - Developed a breech loading cartridge conversion for the Springfield musket  Model 1861
    Acquired a contract for 1,000 rifles from the US Army during the American Civil War.

    November 4th, 1879 - patent #221,328 for the vertical box magazine

  2. Law or Ruling2016 · 10 years ago

    Barrett M82 adopted as State Rifle of TN

    Tennessee Adopts the Barrett M82 as State Rifle of TN

    8th state to adopt a state gun (out of just 11 states so far)

    February 24, 2016 (HJR 231)

    Tennessee Barrett M82

    • 1st = Utah - March 16, 2011 - M1911 pistol
    • 2nd = Arizona - April 28, 2011 - Colt Single Action Army revolver
    • 3rd = Indiana - March 6, 2012 (final passage; signed March 15) - Grouseland Rifle
    • 4th = West Virginia - March 15, 2013 - Hall Model 1819 flintlock rifle
    • 5th = Kentucky - June 25, 2013 - Kentucky long rifle
    • 6th = Pennsylvania - June 26, 2014 - Pennsylvania long rifle
    • 7th = Alaska - July 2014 - Winchester Model 70 rifle
    • 8th = Tennessee - February 24, 2016 - Barrett M82 rifle
    • 9th = Arkansas - April 5, 2019 - Shotgun
    • 10th = Texas - May 24, 2021 - Colt Walker revolver
    • 11th = Missouri - July 6, 2023 - Hawken rifle
    • Texas adds a second state gun - May 29, 2025 - Cannon
    • Idaho - November 3, 2026 - Winchester Model 1873 wins an advisory vote (not yet law)