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John Moses Browning : A "Quick" Biography Pt 1

C&Rsenal
Published on January 7, 2025
Category: General
Duration: 52:34

This video provides a comprehensive biographical overview of John Moses Browning, focusing on his early life, family background, and the genesis of his prolific firearms inventions. It details his upbringing in a gunsmithing family, his initial forays into firearm design and patenting, and his crucial early business dealings with Winchester Repeating Arms. The narrative highlights the development and sale of iconic firearms like the Winchester Model 1885, 1886, 1890, 1894, and 1895, as well as his early work on machine guns and automatic pistols, showcasing his innovative spirit and business acumen.

Tags

John Moses Browning
Firearms Inventor
Firearms History
Patent History
Winchester Model 1885
Winchester Model 1886
Winchester Model 1890
Winchester Model 1894
Winchester Model 1895
Colt Model 1900
FN Browning Model 1900
Lever Action Rifles
Pump Action Shotguns
Machine Guns
Early Automatic Pistols

Quick Summary

John Moses Browning, born in 1855, was a prolific firearms inventor whose father, Jonathan Browning, was a blacksmith and gunsmith. His first patented rifle, filed in 1879, was a single-shot falling block design that led to the Winchester Model 1885. Browning's innovations also resulted in iconic firearms like the Winchester Models 1886, 1894, and 1895, as well as early automatic pistols like the FN Browning Model 1900.

Chapters

  1. 00:16Introduction to John Moses Browning Biography
  2. 01:43Importance of Firearm Preservation (Ballistol)
  3. 02:11Jonathan Browning: Father and Gunsmith
  4. 03:14Birth and Early Life of John Moses Browning
  5. 04:13Early Forging and First Firearm
  6. 04:38Impact of the Transcontinental Railroad on Ogden
  7. 05:15First Patented Rifle Design (1878)
  8. 05:37Browning Brothers Take Over the Shop
  9. 05:51Marriage to Rachel Theresa Child
  10. 06:07Death of Jonathan Browning
  11. 06:46Business Growth and Brother Ed's Involvement
  12. 06:54Manufacturing John Moses' Patented Rifle
  13. 07:11Frank Rushon and Mass Manufacturer Lessons
  14. 07:39Birth of John Moses Browning Jr. (Jack)
  15. 08:02Hand Loading Tool Patent (1881)
  16. 08:21Sale of Loading Tool Patent to Marlin
  17. 08:48Bolt-Action Rifle Design (1882)
  18. 09:02Unsuccessful Lever-Action Rifle Design
  19. 09:17Births and Infant Mortality
  20. 09:33Winchester Salesman Spots Browning's Tools
  21. 09:51Browning's Invention Fills Winchester's Gap
  22. 10:39Thomas Gray Bennett and Winchester's Strategy
  23. 11:21Negotiations with Winchester Vice President
  24. 11:54Winchester Model 1885 Single Shot Rifle
  25. 12:13Developing the Lever Action Repeater
  26. 12:37Ingenious Locking Block Design
  27. 12:53Browning Brothers Travel East
  28. 13:16Winchester Model 1886 Lever Action
  29. 13:44Further Lever Action Long Arm Development
  30. 13:46Front Locking Bolt Arrangement (1885)
  31. 14:01Out of Battery Safety and Ejection Improvements
  32. 14:37Developing a Lever Action Repeating Shotgun
  33. 14:51Winchester Model 1887 Shotgun Design
  34. 15:38Birth of Louie Browning
  35. 15:47Pump Action Shotgun Concepts
  36. 16:11First Attempt at Pump Action Shotgun
  37. 16:52Pump Action Rifle Design (1886)
  38. 17:11Tipping Block Pump Action Shotgun (1886)
  39. 17:36Improved Single Shot Rifle Design
  40. 17:48Missionary Work in the Deep South
  41. 18:47Lever Action Patent with Lock Work in Lever
  42. 19:09Front Locking Pump Action Rifle Design
  43. 19:39Winchester Model 1890 .22 Caliber Repeater
  44. 20:10Birth of Carrie Browning
  45. 20:19Pump Action Shotgun Patents (1888)
  46. 20:44Return to Shop and Business Involvement
  47. 21:19Shotgun Fever Continues: Tilting Block Design
  48. 21:38Favorite Unrealized Browning Invention
  49. 22:10Gas Operation Concepts Begin
  50. 22:33Experimenting with Gas Expansion
  51. 23:03Gas Trap Lever Action Rifle Design
  52. 23:24Rapid Fire Concepts: 15 Shots with One Trigger Pull
  53. 23:34Winchester Not Interested in Gas Operation Work
  54. 23:40Machine Gun Development for Colt's
  55. 24:09Colt Model 1895 Machine Gun Patent
  56. 24:58Government Not Spending on Machine Guns
  57. 25:03Solving Rapid Barrel Overheating
  58. 25:31Pump Action Shotgun Development Continues
  59. 25:41Winchester Model 1893 Pump Action Shotgun
  60. 26:36Winchester Model 1873 Replacement Challenge
  61. 27:14Winchester Model 1892 Lever Action Rifle
  62. 27:38Vertical Magazine Rifle and Accordion Action
  63. 28:46Repeating Shotgun with Accordion Action
  64. 29:03Vertical End Block Magazine Rifle
  65. 29:35End Block Concept Fitted to Accordion Series
  66. 30:03End Block Clip Rifle with Trigger Guard Lever
  67. 30:22Birth of Manida Browning
  68. 30:28Gas Operation Adaptation into Shoulder Arm
  69. 30:50Simplified Single Shot Rifle Designs
  70. 31:17Overlapping Projects and Patent Appeals
  71. 31:27Machine Gun Patent (November 1892)
  72. 31:54Toggle Lock Machine Gun Version
  73. 32:03Tipping Bolt Machine Gun Version
  74. 32:10Tipping Block Machine Gun Design (September 1893)
  75. 32:32Colt Model 1895 Machine Gun Contract
  76. 33:03Hart Osterberg: A Helpful Friend
  77. 33:38Top Feeding Automatic Rifle Patent (December 1894)
  78. 34:02Automatic Blow Tube Concept
  79. 34:17Winchester Model 1892 Success and Cartridge Limitations
  80. 34:32Developing a More Powerful Winchester Rifle
  81. 34:42Winchester Model 1894 Development
  82. 35:11.30-30 Winchester Cartridge Popularity
  83. 35:32Revisiting Vertical Magazine Option
  84. 35:38Winchester Model 1895 Lever Action Rifle
  85. 36:171895 Rapid Loading Option Consideration
  86. 36:28Charger Packet for Rifle Magazines
  87. 36:43Tubular Magazine Variation of Winchester 1895
  88. 37:00Another Pump Action Shotgun Design
  89. 37:21Laterally Tilting Locking Bolt Shotgun
  90. 37:35Addressing Winchester 1893 Pump Action Issues
  91. 37:43Internal Improvements for Pump Action Shotgun
  92. 38:06Squared Off Shotgun Attempt (March 1896)
  93. 38:23System to Prevent Breach Opening Prematurely
  94. 38:43Birth of Val Allen Browning
  95. 38:56Winchester 1893 Fix and Model 1897
  96. 39:25Gas Operated Pistol Development
  97. 39:34Lock Breach Handgun with Overhead Lever
  98. 39:47Gas Operation Abandoned, Lockwork Carried Forward
  99. 40:13Three Handgun Patents Filed Simultaneously
  100. 40:20Tubular Gun with Rotating Locking Lugs
  101. 40:47Slide Operated Handgun with Integrated Barrel/Shroud
  102. 41:11Handgun Using Links Mated to Barrel
  103. 41:31Colt Model 1900 Development
  104. 41:58Blowback Pistol Snubbed by Colt
  105. 42:15Hart Berg's Move to Fabrique Nationale (FN)
  106. 42:21FN's Legal Battle with Mauser
  107. 43:00FN Seeking New Products
  108. 43:14Browning's First Transatlantic Voyage to Liege
  109. 43:35Trip to Berlin to Display Wares to DWM
  110. 43:43Hugo Borchardt and the C93 Pistol
  111. 43:59Contract Signed with FN for Pocket Pistol
  112. 44:03Slide Operated Blowback Pistol Patent (December 1897)
  113. 44:18LE Pisto Browning (FN 1899)
  114. 44:59Rewinding to Other Patents: Iterative Invention
  115. 45:20Lever Action Vertical Magazine Rifle (May 1897)
  116. 45:37Magazine Rifle with Overhand Rocking Lever
  117. 45:48Birth of Kenneth Sandifer Browning
  118. 46:02Simple Single Shot Small Bore Bolt Action Rifle
  119. 46:09Winchester Model 1900 Production
  120. 46:35Semi-Automatic Shotgun Application (May 1899)
  121. 46:57Toggle Locking Autoloading Shotgun
  122. 47:07Inspiration from Borchardt C93 Pistol
  123. 47:24Tooling Up FN 1899 Pistol Production
  124. 47:34Testing and Modifying Prototype Shotgun
  125. 47:56Winchester's Hesitation on New Shotgun
  126. 48:52Stalling Tactics for New Shotgun Contract
  127. 49:16Conflict with Borchardt Story for Part Two
  128. 49:30Supporting the Show: Patreon and Player
  129. 49:42Executive Producer: The House of Browning
  130. 50:01Links to Other Browning Episodes

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was John Moses Browning's father and what was his profession?

John Moses Browning's father was Jonathan Browning. He began his career as a blacksmith and later transitioned into gunsmithing after an apprenticeship under Samuel Porter in Nashville.

What was John Moses Browning's first patented rifle design?

John Moses Browning's first patented rifle, filed in 1879, was a simple, rugged, single-shot falling block metallic cartridge rifle. It was loosely based on the Sharps breech-loader design.

How did John Moses Browning's early work lead to the Winchester Model 1885?

Browning sold the patent for his first single-shot rifle to Winchester. This design was then modified and produced by Winchester as the Model 1885, also known as the Winchester Single Shot rifle.

What was the significance of the Winchester Model 1894?

The Winchester Model 1894 was a highly successful lever-action rifle, with over 6.5 million produced. It became particularly popular in its .30-30 Winchester chambering, which was many Americans' first experience with smokeless cartridges.

What was the FN Browning Model 1900?

The FN Browning Model 1900, often called the 'Pocket Browning,' was a compact and reliable .32 caliber blowback automatic pistol developed with Fabrique Nationale (FN) in Belgium. It featured a slide-operated system and was an important step in Browning's handgun designs.

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