Author: browningcollectors_pfpw2l

Posted on by

HISTORY / TIME-FRAME

JAN. 23, 1855
Birth of John Moses Browning in Ogden, Utah.

OCT. 1869
John assembles a slide rifle out of spare parts.

SPRING, 1878
John Browning begins work on his first single shot rifle.

APRIL 10, 1879
John Moses Browning marries Rachel Teresa Child.

MAY 12, 1879
The application for patent on the single shot rifle is filed.

OCT. 7, 1879
U.S. Patent No. 220,271 is granted to the single shot rifle.

1880
With the aid of his brothers, John Browning establishes his arms factory in Ogden.

MAR. 20, 1882
Patent application is filed on bolt-action repeating rifle with a tubular magazine.

JULY 25, 1882
U.S. Patent No. 261,667 is granted to the bolt action repeater.

SEPT. 13, 1882
Patent filed on lever action, exposed hammer, tubular magazine rifle.

SPRING, 1883
Mr. T. G. Bennett, Vice-President and General Manager of Winchester Repeating Arms Company, comes to Ogden, Utah Territory, and forms an alliance that is to last nineteen years and is to change the course of firearms development. As part of the transaction, the Single Shot is sold to Winchester, and Mr. Bennett is assured of first rights on a new repeater. The Single Shot becomes the Winchester Model 1885.

MAY 26, 1884
Patent filed on lever action repeating rifle that employs sliding vertical locks.

OCTOBER, 1884
Patent No. 306,577 is granted on the new repeater and John, together with his brother Matt, travel to New Haven, Connecticut, to deliver to T. G. Bennett what is to become the famous Winchester Model 1886.

FEB. 16, 1886
Patent No. 336,287 is granted on a lever action repeating shotgun. Known as the Winchester Model 1887, it is the first successful repeating shotgun.

MAR. 28, 1887
John leaves for Georgia to spend two years as a Mormon missionary.

DEC. 13, 1887
Patent is filed on a 22 caliber pump action repeating rifle. It has been called “the most popular 22 caliber pump action rifle ever made.” Patent No. 385,238 was granted on June 26, 1888. First marketed as the Winchester Model 1890.

FALL, 1889
Begins development of the first models that were designed to employ the expanding gases behind the bullet to operate the action.

JAN. 6, 1890
John files his first patent dealing with gas operation.

JUNE 30, 1890
Patent application is filed on a pump action repeating shotgun later marketed as the Winchester Model 1893. A later, improved take-down version was known as the Winchester Model 1897.

AUG. 3, 1891
Patents filed on two separate automatic gas operated guns.

NOV. 7, 1892
Files first patents on the Colt Model 1895 Automatic Machine Gun. Earned the name “Browning Peacemaker” during the Spanish-American War. Also known as the “Potato Digger.”

JAN. 19, 1894
Files patent on what would become the Winchester Model 1894, the first repeating action sporting rifle to handle smoke-less powder cartridges. This rifle is ascribed by many to be the most popular high powered rifle ever built.

NOV. 19, 1894
Patent is filed on a lever action repeating rifle with a non-detachable box magazine de-signed for jacketed sharp-nosed bullets. Marketed as the Winchester Model 1895.

SEPT. 14, 1895
Files patent application on first semi-automatic pistol.

OCT. 31, 1896
Three basic pistol patents are filed that concern blow-back action, a locked recoil sys-tem with a turning lock, and a locked recoil system with a pivoting lock.

JULY 17, 1897
A contract between Browning and Fabrique Nationale is signed which authorizes the Belgium firm to manufacture a blowback operated, 32-caliber semi-automatic pistol for all markets outside the United States. Production commences in 1899.

FEB. 17, 1899
Application for patent is filed on a single shot 22-caliber plinking rifle known as the Winchester Model 1900.

FEB., 1900
Colt places a Browning designed 38-caliber recoil operated semi-automatic pistol on the market. It was the first semi-automatic pistol in the United States.

FEB. 8, 1900
The first of four patents is filed on the revolutionary autoloading shotgun. It would be manufactured by Fabrique Nationale in 1903 and by Remington Arms Company in 1905.

OCT. 6, 1900
The first successful auto-loading high-power rifle receives Patent No. 659,786. U.S. manufacturing and sales rights are granted to Remington Arms Company, and the rifle first appears in 1906 as the Model 8.

JULY 16, 1901
Browning submits a blow-back operated 32-caliber semi-automatic pistol to Colt, who immediately accepts it. The marketing agreement stipulates that the pistol will be priced low enough to compete with the revolvers of the period.

JAN., 1902
In a disagreement about the public acceptability of the auto-loading shotgun, John Browning severs his nineteen-year relationship with T.G. Bennett of Winchester.

JAN. 8, 1902
An appointment is made to show the new shotgun to Mr. Marcellus Hartley of Remington. This meeting is cancelled due to Mr. Hartley’s untimely death that afternoon.

FEB., 1902
With his autoloading shot-gun securely tucked under his arm, John Browning embarks on his first ocean voyage. He offers the new shotgun to Fabrique Nationale.

MAR. 24, 1902
A contract is signed granting FN exclusive world rights to manufacture and sell the auto-loading shotgun.

JULY 10, 1903
Patent application is filed on a pump action shotgun that would become the Stevens Model 520. SUMMER,

1903
At the request of FN, Browning develops a 9mm military semi-automatic pistol.

1904
In the face of restrictive tariffs, FN agrees to cede to Remington the rights to manufacture and sell the autoloading shotgun in the United States. It appears as the Remington Model 11.

JUNE 21,1909
The application for a patent on a 25-caliber semi-automatic pistol was filed. It is manufactured and sold by both FN and Colt. It is part of the Browning Arms Company line from 1955 to 1969.

FEB. 17, 1910
Patents were filed on a 45-caliber semi-automatic pistol. It serves as the official United States military sidearm for al-most 75 years.

NOV. 26, 1913
Files patent on a pump shot-gun that would be marketed as the Remington Model 17. It is John M. Browning’s last repeater-type shotgun.

JAN. 6, 1914
Patents are granted and production begins on a semi-automatic 22-caliber rifle. Remington also produces this rifle as the Model 24.

FEB. 27, 1917
First public demonstration of the Browning 30-caliber Heavy Machine Gun at Congress Heights, Washington, D.C.

JULY, 1917
Begins work on the 50-caliber Water Cooled Machine Gun. Completed too late for World War I, this weapon plays a prominent role in World War II and Korea.

AUG. 1, 1917
Application for patent filed on the Browning Automatic Rifle. The B.A.R. first saw combat in 1918.

JULY 26, 1919
Patent application filed on a 22 pump action rifle that would be produced exclusively by Fabrique Nationale.

EARLY 1921
John M. Browning begins work on his first 37mm Aircraft Cannon.

OCT. 15, 1923
The first of two patents are filed on the Superposed Over/ Under shotgun.

JUNE 28, 1923
Patent application was filed on a 9mm short-recoil, locked-breech, exposed-hammer semi-automatic pistol. This was John M. Browning’s last pistol development.

NOV. 26, 1926
John Moses Browning dies of heart failure at Liège, Belgium.

SEPT., 1927
J.M. & M.S. Browning Company is incorporated in Utah with the Browning Arms Company as a subsidiary.

1928
The Superposed shotgun is introduced into the Browning Arms Company line.

1930
St. Louis distribution center and sales organization is established. Ogden remains the headquarters, directing all activities.

1936
Auto-5″Sweet Sixteen” is introduced.

1940-42
After the German occupation puts a stop to Belgian production, Remington makes an American-made Auto-5 for Browning. This is their Model 11, but included the magazine cut-off, which was not a part of the Model 11. U.S. entry into the war ended this production.

1945-49
Remington resumes making the American-made Auto-5 for Browning until discontinuing production of the Model 11 to introduce their new 11-49 auto-loader.

1946
FN resumes Auto-5 production. JUNE, 1948 Light 12 Auto-5 is introduced; 12 gauge Superposed is reintroduced to the American market.

1949
New 20 gauge Superposed introduced.

1951
J.M. & M.S. Browning Company liquidated, and Browning Arms Company be-comes an importer with whole-sale functions.

1954
25-caliber. 380 caliber and 9mm pistols introduced into line.

1955
Double Automatic 12 gauge shotgun introduced.

JAN. 1, 1955
A newly created Browning Industries assumes the import functions previously held by J.M. & M.S. Browning Company. Browning Arms Company becomes the parent company.

1956
22-caliber semi-automatic rifle introduced

1958
Browning Arms of Canada created, 70% Browning owned, 30% FN owned. Also a 20 gauge model of the Auto-5 added to the line. 3″ Auto-5 Magnum 12 introduced.

1960
FN Mauser Bolt Action rifle added to the line. Trombone 22 introduced to Canada.

1962-63
Acquires Silaflex and Gordon Plastics, makers of bows, rods and vaulting poles.

1962
22-caliber pistols added: Challenger, Nomad and Medalist. Archery equipment, fishing rods, ski poles and vaulting poles are added to the catalog.

1964
Browning Corporate Head-quarters relocates to Route 1, Morgan, Utah.

1965
T-Bolt 22 rifle introduced. A line of leather goods including belts, holsters and flexible gun cases also becomes available.

1965
Browning begins negotiations with Miroku Firearms in Japan. Enters the sailboat business with the acquisition of Newport Boats of California and Virginia. Assets liquidated in 1976.

1966
Archery accessories added to the line.

1967
BAR semi-automatic sporting high powered rifle is introduced. 3″ Auto-5 Mag. 20 gauge introduced.

1968
St. Louis sales operation re-located to Morgan, Utah. Ware-house/parts and service moved to Arnold, Missouri. Barth Leather Company and Caldwell Lace Company (Auburn, Kentucky) acquired. Hunting clothing introduced. Introduced BT-99 single barrel trap shotgun.

1969
Acquired Harwill, Inc., manufacturers of Fiberglass out-board and inboard motorboats as well as small aluminum boats and canoes. Liquidated in 1974. BL-22 Lever Action 22 rifle and knives added to the line.

1970
Medalist 22 target pistol added.

1971
New 380 pistol and BLR Lever Action high-power rifle added to the line.

1972
B-SS 12 gauge side-by-side shotgun added.

1973
New guns introduced: 12 gauge Citori over/under shot-gun, 12 gauge Liege over/under shotgun, B-SS in 20 gauge, B-78 single shot rifle in round or octagon barrel options.

1974
Browning line was enlarged with the B-2000 automatic shotgun in 12 gauge, the Citori 20 gauge and the Citori Trap & Skeet models.

1975
Citori 20 gauge Skeet introduced. B-2000 in 20 gauge added to the line.

1976
Further additions: Challenger II 22 pistol, BT-99 Competition, B-78 in 45-70 and 7mm, and BLR 358, Citori became available with extra barrels, Auto-S 16 gauge discontinued, Auto-5 production went to Japan latter part of 1976.

1977
Superposed discontinued (Grade I, Diana, Midas), Presentation Superposed introduced. BAR 22 and BPR 22 introduced, BPS pump shotgun introduced (12 gauge only), Jonathan Browning Mountain Rifle introduced, BBR bolt action rifle introduced, B-2000 Trap & Skeet introduced with high post rib, BDA pistol introduced in 45, 9mm and 38 Super. Also, 90% of Browning Arms Company outstanding stock was purchased by FN and Miroku.

1978
Browning enters the company’s Centennial year. To commemorate this event, five limited Centennial editions were prepared. The included a Super-posed Continental over/under rifle combination, a Centennial edition of the Jonathan Browning Mountain Rifle, a replica of the Winchester Model 1892 called the Centennial Browning 92, a chromed version of the 9mm Hi-Power, and a special set of folding knives.

1979
B-92 in 44 Magnum introduced.

1980
Grade II BAR 22 introduced, 9mm nickel and Water-fowl Superposed, (Mallard Issue) introduced. Citori Sideplate and the B-80 gas operated shotgun introduced.

 
Posted on by

INTRO TO JOHN M. BROWNING’S LIFE

A Short Introduction

John M. Browning has generally been popular throughout the United States since World War I, especially in connection with automatic rifles and machine guns.

The straightforwardness, roughness, and adequacy of both his recoil operated and gas operated automatic guns and rifles, together with the basically current characteristics of flexibility to large-scale manufacturing and compatibility of parts have made these weapons standard equipment in the military of the United States, the decision of one of the best educated and most demanding groups of specialists of any country, the United States Ordnance Department.

Under the rigorous conditions of actual battle that they write indelibly in history these guns have been found to be very powerful, the name of their modest inventor, being among the best weapon manufacturers who have positively impacted the course of human events. However these weapons may have independently gained the limelight of public praise, they are but a comparatively small part of the prodigious work of John M. Browning.

Browning spent his early life during that transition period when breech loaders replaced the muzzle loaders. The whole vista of conceivable sorts and classes of breech stacking weapons was opened to his real imagination, extraordinary mechanical sense, and affection for his work, resolute enthusiasm, and endless humility. Evidently, these attributes would without a doubt have made him exceptional in any line of the mechanical attempt.

It happened that he was born and raised in the Pioneer Far West when the firearm was regarded as the most critical component of every man’s belongings for purposes of protection from the beast, hunger and salvage man.Browning’s father was himself an outstanding maker of guns and had specifically developed a conviction which drives men to love and become proficient in the use of any weapon. For Browning, it became obvious that he should take advantage of the opportunities presented by the gas-tight cartridge case invention and perfection, the percussion cap, and later smokeless powder presented.

How many police officers know who designed the semi-automatic sidearm which efficiently helps them in maintaining law and order? How many individuals are aware that the little pistol which inspires a feeling of security from marauders of their persons and homes is a product of the same man who designed the machine guns? Much pleasure, physical development, and relaxation are afforded true sportsmen in the lure of the great outdoors. The call of the marshes, the forests, and prairies, echoes and re-echoes in the heart of the man with a gun. Do the millions of sportsmen in the field or at target and traps which are enjoying the fruits of the imagination of this American inventor, realize the origin of their pet ultra-modern rifle or shotgun, or perhaps the still efficient favorite gun handed down to them by the father? It is the purpose of this website to set down briefly, and without an attempt at great descriptive embellishment or technical detail, the accomplishments of the Browning’s.

Posted on by

THE MAGNIFICENT 20

About “The Magnificent 20”

This is one of a kind twenty rifle consecutively serial# set of Belgium Browning Exhibition Grade Olympian Browning Rifles. Collectively the set contains 85 different Master and Grand Master engraved animal scenes. The series includes every caliber manufactured by Browning in their catalog of 1966. Each rifle is signed. The set is unfired and immaculate. The matched set took 3-1/2 years to build. A once in a life time opportunity to own the best.
 
 
 
 
Posted on by

NATIONAL DEFENSE

Browning Guns in Times of National Defense

 

It is at the outset of the World War I (1914-1918) that the machine gun literally gained popularity as a defensive and offensive weapon necessary in the armaments of nations. In their strategic attempt to world domination, the Germans had spent years building up vast supplies of the Maxim type gun which, in order to obtain sufficient durability, had to be assembled with such heavy components so as to pose difficulty in the matter of mobility and transport under combat conditions.

The Allied Armies possessed almost negligible and woefully inadequate machine guns to meet this threat. How close the Germans came to succeeding in their endeavored triumph! What a case of how about the long, persistent endeavors of the German Armorers, in the hands of heartless aggressors, came to changing the whole part of human life and freedom, may not, even now, be completely acknowledged by many. With their eyes opened by occasions, the countries opposing the Central Powers now set forth wild endeavors to secure automatic rifles. What were around then thought to be huge amounts of any accessible sorts of guns were requested in this nation and, by virtue of the limited time, the expense of building plants, and training work were astounding.

In any case, the American small arms industry was starting to stir up itself and the long torpid assumption for sufficient readiness in this nation was stimulated. The Armed Forces of the United States were calling for quality guns than were then accessible and the month of May 1917, was set with the objective of conducting aggressive tests. John M. Browning expected his part of the assignment and quickly gave the issue his consideration. When the trial time came, Mr. Browning purchased two new guns to the competition. He named the first one the Browning Heavy Water-cooled Machine Gun, which weighs around 37 pounds with the water coat filled. Belt bolstered and recoiled operated, it is his enhanced version of the recoil-operated machine gun designed several years back and mentioned previously herein.

The second one is called the Browning Machine Rifle, (later known as the “Light Browning”, and now known as the “Browning Automatic Rifle” or “B.A.R.”). This is an operated, air-cooled, programmed rifle that may be shot from the hip or shoulder. It can be discharged one shot at once or changed over in a split second to shooting full automatically by basically moving a small lever. It comprises 20-round magazine which can be emptied by actual firing in 21/2 seconds. The empty magazine can then be replaced with a loaded magazine in the same time difference. The cyclic firing rate is more than 600 rounds for each moment. One of Mr. Browning’s machine guns finished the 20,000 round tests without a breakdown in the Government tests. This astonishing performance was met with the instant endorsement of the specialists in control. Together with his assistants Mr. Browning’s chose to test the gun further and kept shooting until they had put about 40,000 rounds through the firearm without any failure.

In order to check the phenomenal performance of the first gun, another of these same guns was put through the 20,000 round tests. It was continuously fired for 48 minutes and 12 seconds in finishing the test, and was so fruitful in this, and other performances that its mechanism is presently utilized in a few diverse sorts of water, and air cooled automatic guns. The firing rate of these automatic guns can be adjusted to the distinctive modern fighting units and can be regulated on a need basis.

A notable superior quality of these guns was the simplicity of design. It was so simple that machine gun operators in the Army were able to dismantle and assemble the Browning Machine Guns while blind-folded. This simplicity was valuable to the Government since it was made after the conclusion of the tests by the five Army officers board and the two civilians who were appointed by the war secretary to analyze the problem. It possible to get the production quickly—a most important consideration at that time.

The period between May 1917, and the marking of the Armistice, the following year, more than 48,000 of these guns were dispatched abroad to some place in France. According to the book, “America’s Munitions of 1917-1918” by Honorable Benedict Crowell, Assistant War Secretary, at the request of the Secretary of War, so that: “All the general population ought to be given a chance to comprehend what has been done for their benefit in weapons productions” the following data gives us some thought on how production of Browning Water-cooled Machine Guns and Browning Machine Rifles advanced. “The day by day most extreme creation of Browning Rifles achieved 706 preceding our assembling efforts were abruptly halted and that of Browning Heavy Machine Guns 575.” Another very interesting quotation from Mr. Crow-ell’s book portrays what is demanded of both men and guns during the war. “Both types of Browning guns proved to be unqualified successes in actual battle, as numerous reports of our Ordnance officers overseas indicated.

In addition to carrying historical information of interest to those following our machine-gun development, the following report from an officer is typical of numerous other official descriptions of these weapons in battle use: ‘The guns (heavy Brownings) went into the front line for the first time on the night of September 13. Until the advance, starting September 26, the sector was quiet, and the guns were practically not used at all. The guns were used on several occasions for an overhead fire in the action which followed, one company firing 10,000 rounds per gun into the wood in which there were enemy machine-gun nests, at a range of 2,000 meters.

The guns performed well, although on account of rain and mud the conditions were extremely unfavorable for machine guns. According to the Machine-gun officer’s report, even though covered with rust and using muddy ammunition, during the engagement the guns came up to the fullest expectations and, they functioned whenever called upon to do so. 17 guns from one company were sent in for my inspection after the division had been relieved.

One of these had been struck by shrapnel, which punctured the water coat. The greater parts of the firearms were totally covered with mud and rust on the outside although however the instrument was genuinely clean. Without touching them or cleaning them in any way, except to run a rod through the bore, a 250 rounds belt was fired from each gun without a solitary stoppage of any sort. From the experiment in this division, ‘it can be concluded that the gun in its functioning and operation, when taken care of by men in the field, is a success.’ “The Browning Automatic Rifles were also highly praised by our officers who had to use them. Although these guns received hard usage, being on the front for days at a time in the rain and when the gunners had little opportunity to clean them, they invariably functioned well.” After the United States Government formally received the guns and the enormous production schedules were under way, a meeting occurred between the Government delegates and J. M and M. S. Browning.

2016-06-19 11.23.57On the use of all of the Browning patents, the Government delegates proposed a certain sum of money as remuneration including the .45 caliber automatic pistol. Without hesitation or quibble, the Browning’s accepted the Government proposal which resulted to less than one-tenth of the amounts usually paid as royalty on such guns. Later the War Secretary wrote Mr. Browning the following letter.

WAR DEPARTMENT
WASHINGTON
November 13, 1917.
My dear Mr. Browning: I have learned from Major Little of the patriotic and generous attitude taken by you in the negotiations for the use of your patents of light and heavy machine guns in this emergency, and beg to express my appreciation of it. You have performed, as you must realize, a very distinct service to the country in these inventions, and contributed to the strength and effectiveness of our armies. You have added to that service by the attitude you have taken in the financial arrangements necessary to make your inventions available to the Government.

Cordially yours,
NEWTON D. BAKER, Secretary of War.

The war was over; John M. Browning kept at work. “There will come another war,” he immovably asserted, “and the skies will swarm with warriors. This nation must by any chance not be gotten without the exceptionally most recent type weapons and again pay the terrific cost of attempting to do, in a few months, what different countries had spent long patient years in doing! By then he had made an air-cooled model of the recoil-operated machine gun, weighing just 22 pounds, and with firing rate expanded to seven hundred shots per minute.

This was the first main gun in this nation to be effectively fixed before the pilot of a pursuit plane to enable the pilot look along its sights and point the gun by moving his ship; to do this the shooting mechanism of the gun was synchronized with the engine of the plane so that a stream of shots could be discharged through the way of the spinning propeller without hitting it. But planes and tanks could be armored to avoid the normal .30 bore bullets! Browning made a .50 caliber automatic gun on the same mechanical principle as the .30, however shooting a progression of bullets one-half inch in the distance across at the rate of five hundred every minute.

Browning then made models of three different 37 M/M (one and one-half inch caliber) automatic cannons at the request of progressive-minded officers of the U. S. Ordnance Department. At his experimental shop in Ogden, the first model, made fired projectiles weighing more than one pound, with a velocity of about 1,400 feet per second, at the rate of more than one hundred fifty per minute. He went back to the factory to make the second and third models, which fired heavier shells at greater velocities. Interest in military weapons then became apathetic.

Finances were reducing for development work, and the feeling throughout the nation turned out to be by and large really threatening towards anybody in any capacity associated with military arms. A standout amongst the most magnificent machine gun factories in the world, Colt’s, changed its efforts towards, electrical gear, dish-clothes washers, and plastics to keep its wheels turning and work utilized. John M. Browning’s most recent models were filled away, yet were bound to have influence later, with retaliation.

Posted on by

JONATHAN BROWNING

Jonathan Browning (Father of J. M. Browning )


Jonathan designed and forged, by hand, his first repeating rifle as early as the year 1831. Since then action efficiency and simplicity of construction were critical in the making of this early gun and every other product by Browning’s.

Browning was originally from Tennessee. He moved to the mountains of Kentucky while still a young boy at a time when the Kentucky rifle had gained popularity. It is in this environment that he acquired the knowledge of making guns that helped him start his own shop at a young age. He later relocated from Kentucky and started a gun shop in Nauvoo, Illinois. He later moved his shop to Kanesville, Iowa, near Council Bluffs, where he stayed for two years.

On September 19, 1849, he produced two repeating rifles in a humorously worded advertisement in the “Frontier Guardian”, and published in Kanesville. Notably, the “slide” repeater was among the few guns he developed which had considerably superior features. The gun had a five-shot magazine consisting of a rectangular bar of iron with holes to accommodate the hand loads, the bar sliding through an aperture at the breech from right to left and being manually operated. This gave it from the shoulder, additionally added to the rate for which the firearm could be fired as compared and the conventional muzzle-loader.

Pressure loss was prevented, and velocity increase was achieved by making a positive the advantage of advance loading so that the magazine could be put into the gun and moved quickly into firing position for five comparatively fast shots. Additionally, it was convenient for the shooter to carry several extra loaded magazines which could be promptly slipped into the gun as required. The closeness of the forefinger to the hammer, which could be cocked without bringing the firearm down the gas-tight connection between the slide magazine and the barrel. It was achieved using a lever situated on the guns right-hand side, and operated by the thumb which forced the slide against the barrel as each load moved into line with the bore.

As compared with the guns of those days, this gun was a great improvement and credit goes to this designer for skills necessary to make by hands such an arm with the few crude tools available in a frontier country. The repeater was the next gun in line that comprised of a cylinder holding six shots. A cap was placed on each nipple while the powder and ball were loaded into the cylinder. Cocking the gun involved drawing the hammer backward which as well revolved the cylinder in the same manner as the single-action revolver.

Compared to the slow single-shot which was the people’s only rifle, the two repeating rifles which were produced here gave the Pioneer people greater protection from Indian invasion and massacre. Although they were never patented, they were very reliable which increased their popularity. Jonathan Browning and his family later left their home after accumulating enough money. Due to his reliability and knowledge, he was appointed to captain a wagon train westward and despite the risks associated with traveling in those days, he managed to bring his company safely into the Mormon settlement which is presently referred to as the State of Utah where he opened a gun shop in Ogden in 1851.

Posted on by

CARTRIDGES INVENTED

Cartridges John M. Browning Invented



• .25 ACP
• .32 ACP (“Automatic COLT Pistol”)
• .38 ACP
• .380 ACP (“9 MM Kurz, also known as the 9 MM Short)
• .45 ACP
• .50 BMG
• 9mm Browning Long

When the U.S. military was involved in the Filipino insurrection in the early 1900 decade with a tribe of people known as the “Moros” our military was using an anemic .38 Caliber weapon. The Moros were known for their fighting abilities, but they also would ingest some sort of a hallucinogenic herb that evidently numbed their pain.

The story is told that a U.S. soldier would encounter one of these fighters, completely empty his revolver into the person of the Moro and be found dead, hacked to death by the machete the Moro used and the Moro was nowhere to be found. General “Blackjack” Pershing was evidently troubled by the fact that the weapon our soldiers were using was not of sufficient killing power to take care of the Moro tribesman. Pershing requested the U.S. Government develop a more powerful weapon for our troops.

One of the requirements was it had to be at least .45 Caliber. The call went out from the Government to develop such a weapon being at least .45 caliber. JMB, Savage, and several others submitted their weapons for testing. JMB submitted his weapon, which came to be known as the 1911, .45 ACP. Browning not only invented the weapon, he also invented the cartridge.

The last one JMB invented was at the request of the U.S. Government during WW I. Browning had invented the 1895 “Peacemaker” spoken of earlier, he had invented the .30 Caliber Water cooled machine gun, but the government found they needed more punch to knock down aircraft and penetrate heavy armor. Browning then took a 30-06 cartridge, which his .30 caliber water cooled machine gun used, also the B.A.R. and just upsized it … the angles and proportions are the same on his new caliber as the 30-06… it is just the “Big Brother” to the 30-06…. and it is the .50 Caliber machine gun… also known as the Ma Duece (M-2) or the .50 BMG (Browning Machine Gun).

Posted on by

JOHN M. BROWNING INVENTIONS

Notable Inventions

 

 

  • Most popular sporting firearm in history, Model 1894 Winchester 30-30 Still in
    (Over 6 million have been produced)

     

     

  • Most popular shotgun produced, Model Auto 5 until it was surpassed by Remington’s 870. Manufactured by Browning from 1903 until 1998.  It was also produced by Remington, Savage, and others.
    (Over 4 Million produced)

     

     

  • Most popular pistol ever produced, Model 1911 Colt Army. Produced by Colt and others from 1911 until now. (Estimated over 10 million produced)

     

     

  • Most popular machine gun ever produced, Model 1917 and various models using the same recoil system. Produced from 1917 until present. (Estimated over 10 million produced)

     

     

  • Most popular .22 caliber rim fire rifle ever produced, Model 1890 Winchester. Produced from 1890 until present. (Winchester produced over 2.5 million.  Other manufacturers are still producing)

     

     

  • Most popular .22 caliber pistol semi-automatic design. Colt Woodsman-Challenger-Huntsman line. 
    (Over 650,000 produced)


Firearms Firsts

  • Gas operated machine gun, 1889.

     

     

  • Gas operated machine gun to be adopted by U.S. Government, Model 1895 Colt Peacemaker,
    Also known as “The Potato Digger”

     

     

  • Gas operated semi-automatic pistol, 1895

     

     

  • Lever action shotgun, Model 1887 Winchester

     

     

  • Recoil operated semi-automatic shotgun, Model Auto 5, 1900

     

     

  • Gas operated assault rifle, Browning Automatic Rifle (B.A.R.) circa 1908-1909

     

     

  • Water cooled recoil operated machine gun, Model 1917, .30 caliber, 1901

     

     

  • .50 caliber water cooled machine gun, 1918

     

     

  • 37 MM Aircraft cannon, later used on the Model P39 Air Cobra, WWII, 1921