John Moses Browning (1855-1926) John Moses Browning - What Can't You Say? With more than 100 patents to his credit, no other individual contributed more to U.S. National Security than John Moses Browning.    Links About John Moses Browning http://www.m1911.org/ Visit The John Browning Museum In Ogden Utah's Union Station http://www.theunionstation.org/browning.htm

John Browning began his career in a small family-run gun business in Ogden Utah.  Manufacturing single shot lever-action rifles of John's own design, they soon found the demand for their rifles was far beyond their ability to produce them.  When one of these fine weapons was brought to the attention of the owners of the Winchester Firearms, they immediately wanted to buy the rights to produce the fine weapon. This was not only to eliminate competition but also to produce it under the Winchester name.  Browning, knowing within himself that he was more interested in designing guns than manufacturing them,  accepted Winchester's offers to buy his patented designs.  Browning designed the Winchester Models 1885, 1886, 1892, 1894, 1895, 1887,1901 lever action rifles.   He is accredited with the invention of the semi-automatic shot gun, pump action shot gun and .22 rifle.  Browning invented water-cooled machine guns, the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR), and the Colt 1911 style .45 automatic pistol.  This is a very brief synoposis of his life time of work.  The video series "The History of the Gun" offers a great biography of the man and his work.  No lesson in the history of American firearms is complete without considering the massive impact of this gifted American.