Few historical flags have had a second life quite like the Come and Take It flag. It was made by Texian settlers to defy Mexican troops at the Battle of Gonzales in 1835. Almost two centuries later, the same black cannon and four defiant words show up at Texas festivals, football tailgates, political rallies and on everything from hats to truck windows.
New to the flag? Start with our complete guide to the meaning and history of the Come and Take It flag, read how it became a gun-rights symbol in the Come and Take It flag and the Second Amendment, or see the classic 1835 design on our Gonzales Come and Take It cannon flag.
Why the Flag Caught On
The flag’s design is a big part of its staying power. A single cannon, a lone star and a four-word dare on a plain white field is easy to recognize at a distance and easy to reproduce. The message is just as portable. “Come and Take It” works for anyone who wants to say “this is mine, and I’m not giving it up,” whatever “it” happens to be.
It also has deep roots. The flag flew at the first battle of the Texas Revolution, and the phrase echoes the ancient Spartan reply “Molon labe” and the American Revolutionary answer at Fort Morris in 1778. That history gives the flag weight that a modern slogan wouldn’t have.
Texas Heritage and Celebrations
In Texas, the flag is first and foremost a piece of state history. The town of Gonzales, sometimes called “the Lexington of Texas,” celebrates its role in the revolution every October with its Come and Take It Celebration. The flag also appears at Texas Independence Day events on March 2, at historical reenactments and in Texas history classrooms.
For many Texans, flying it is simply a way to show pride in where they come from, often alongside the Texas state flag. Read more in our history of the Texas flag.
Sports, Tailgates and Everyday Pride
Walk through a Texas football tailgate and you’re likely to spot a Come and Take It flag on a pole, a tent or the back of a truck. Its message of defending home turf fits naturally with sports rivalries, and the design appears on shirts, hats, decals, patches and other gear far beyond Texas.
The Gun-Rights Movement
Outside Texas, the flag is best known today as a symbol of the right to keep and bear arms. Because the original standoff was over a cannon that settlers refused to surrender, gun-rights supporters see a direct parallel to modern debates over firearms laws. The flag is a common sight at Second Amendment rallies and gatherings around the country.
That movement also produced the most popular redesign: replacing the cannon with a modern rifle. Our M4 Come and Take It flags show this version. For the full story, read the Come and Take It flag and the Second Amendment.
Molon Labe: The Ancient Version
Alongside the Gonzales flag, the Greek phrase “Molon labe” (“Come and take them”) has become a popular companion design, often shown with a Spartan helmet. According to Plutarch, it was King Leonidas’s reply to the Persian demand that the Spartans surrender their weapons at Thermopylae in 480 BC. The phrase is also used as a motto by military units, including Greece’s First Army Corps. See our Molon Labe flag.
Redesigns and New Versions
Part of the flag’s popularity is how easily it adapts. Common variations include:
- Classic Gonzales: the black cannon and lone star on white, closest to the 1835 original.
- Black or tactical: the same design in black and gray, like our black Come and Take It flag.
- Rifle versions: an M4 or AR-style rifle in place of the cannon.
- Combination designs: the cannon or slogan paired with the Texas flag, the American flag or other patriotic symbols.
People have also borrowed the format to make their own statements, swapping the cannon for other objects. Whether serious or tongue-in-cheek, those spinoffs show how recognizable the original has become.
A Symbol With More Than One Reading
Like many powerful symbols, the Come and Take It flag means different things to different people. For many Texans it is about heritage and the courage of a small frontier town. For gun-rights supporters it stands for individual liberty and resistance to government overreach. Some critics see the rifle versions in particular as confrontational. Knowing where the flag came from helps make sense of all of these reactions, because each one traces back to that standoff over a cannon in 1835.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Come and Take It flag so popular?
Its simple design is easy to recognize, its message is easy to adapt, and it carries the history of the first battle of the Texas Revolution.
Why do some Come and Take It flags show a rifle instead of a cannon?
The rifle versions were created by gun-rights supporters, who see the settlers’ refusal to give up their cannon as a parallel to defending the right to bear arms today.
Where can I see the Come and Take It flag in Texas?
Gonzales celebrates its history every October with its Come and Take It Celebration, and the flag is common at Texas Independence Day events, reenactments, football games and tailgates.
Find Your Come and Take It Flag
From the classic Gonzales cannon flag to modern rifle and Molon Labe designs, browse our full Come and Take It flag collection.
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Come and Take It Flag: Meaning, History & the Battle of Gonzales