The Hawken rifle is Missouri’s Official State Rifle. The State of Missouri is showcasing a piece of its history by making a rifle an officially recognized state symbol. A new state law is the result of a provision sponsored by Rep. Mazzie Boyd of Hamilton. Boyd said the idea came from Dekalb County Commissioner Kyle Carroll.
The Hawken was created in St. Louis. The muzzle-loading rifle was created to meet the needs of fur trappers, explorers, and traders in the 1800s and it was very important to the economy at the time.