-
John Browning patents his first rifle
In 1879, John Browning created and patented his first firearm; a self-cocking single-shot rifle which would end up being called the Winchester model 1885. This would mark the beginning of a very promising future for the gun industry. “John Moses Browning | Biography, Facts, & Gun Designs | Britannica.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 2024, www.britannica.com/biography/John-Moses-Browning. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024. -
Period: to
Evolution of firearms
-
Browning patents the first semi-automatic shotgun
In 1902, John Browning patented his design for the world's first successful semi-automatic shotgun; the Browning A5. This shotgun worked by utilizing the recoil of the spent rounds to drive the bolt back to the full length of the casing, allowing rapid rates of fire. This was very similar to the recoil systems used in automatic rifles. -
Browning patents the m1917 machine gun
In 1901, the US army took into service one of the most influential firearms to ever come into their hands. Without this invention, the tide of WW1 might have changed. This was the first successful gas-operated firearm adopted by the US army, and paved the way for our troops victory. -
Colt firearms produces the model 1903 pistol
The Colt model 1903 was a hammerless pistol that was produced as a sidearm to be used by both the US army and the US air force. This small-caliber pistol was chambered in .380 ACP cartridges which weren't exactly what one would call powerful. The gun was meant to be used as a compact sidearm for pilots and US troops to be able to easily tuck it away. -
Browning patents the m1911 pistol
The 1911 pistol was patented on February 14, 1911 by John Browning. This larger caliber handgun was more powerful and was easier to handle compared to older colt revolvers because of its simplicity. This provided the soldiers of the US army with a more durable and reliable sidearm. -
Browning patents the BAR
The m1918 Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) was patented in 1917 by John Browning after seven years of being unused. It was originally created as a prototype and was shown to the US military as early as 1910. The US military did not see a use for it at the time and would not accept the design until eight years later. -
John Browning patents his last firearm
Browning's final piece of work was a huge upgrade from the double-barreled shotguns of old. The Browning superposed shotgun was referred to as a very reliable, yet expensive tool by both hunters and sport shooters alike. Similar to many other shotguns at the time, the superposed shotgun had two barrels. The difference between them however, was revolutionary, as Browning's design featured the barrels aligned in a vertical fashion rather than side by side. This made huge differences in accuracy. -
John Browning patents the m2 Browning machine gun
The main difference between this weapon and it's predecessor is the much larger caliber. The m1 machine gun was built to fire the powerful 30-06 cartridge, but it was considered not powerful enough by the army. This is where the m2 Browning came into play with its massive .50 caliber rounds. These are also referred to as 12.7mm rounds. -
Browning patents the Browning Hi-Power
Browning began work on the HP but died in 1926 before he could finish it. His partner at FN at the time, Dieudonne Saive, had to complete the project. The Browning HP outperformed the French army's previous sidearm; the model 1892 revolver, in several ways, including capacity, accuracy, speed, and reliability.
https://www.thearmorylife.com/the-story-of-john-brownings-hi-power/ -
Gaston Glock patents the Glock-17
On April 30th, 1981, Gaston Glock patented the famous Glock-17, which would grow to become one of the most renowned handguns on the market. This weapon was made almost entirely of polymer and was far superior to its predecessors in several aspects, including weight, capacity, durability, and speed. The Glock brought about a huge change in both the manufacturing processes and material composition of future firearms.