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-Short Attention Span Theater-

Today in History: Happy Birthday John Moses Browning!

2009-01-23

John Moses Browning (January 21 or January 23, 1855 -- November 26, 1926), born in Ogden, Utah, was an American firearms designer who developed many varieties of firearms, cartridges, and gun mechanisms, many of which are still in use around the world. He is the most important figure in the development of modern automatic and semi-automatic firearms and is credited with 128 gun patents.

One significant contribution is the pistol slide design, found on nearly every modern automatic handgun, developed in the 1890s and introduced on Colt and Fabrique Nationale (FN) pistols such as the M1911.

He also developed the first gas-operated automatic machine gun, the Colt-Browning Model 1895 -- a system that would surpass recoil operation in popularity. Other successful designs include the Browning .50 caliber machine gun, the Browning Automatic Rifle, and a ground-breaking semi-automatic shotgun, the Browning Auto-5....

Posted by:Mike

#14 Yep, could stop a drug crazed Moro* [Muslims] even a hundred years ago - Knocking out the Moros.

"The four-day battle of Bagsak Mountain on Jolo Island in the Philippines took place from 11 to 15 June 1913. Americans of the 8th Infantry and the Philippine Scouts, personally lead by Brigadier General John J. Pershing, brought to an end years of bitter struggle against the Moro pirates. These Bolo men, outlaws of great physical endurance and savage fighting ability, were well organized under their Datus or chiefs. They had never been conquered during several centuries of Spanish rule in the Philippines. The U.S. Army .45-caliber pistol was developed to meet the need for a weapon with enough striking power to stop fanatical charges of lawless Moro tribesmen in hand-to-hand fighting."

*who's occupation and hobby of piracy and slaving were not rationalized back then as multiculturalism or owing to their 'poverty'.

Posted by: Procopius2k 2009-01-23 22:46

#13 you guys need to check out the AA-12 shotgun. (saw it on youtube) Would make JMB proud.

thanks for the gracious compliment .5MT.

Posted by: Bob Cheaper aka Broadhead6 2009-01-23 20:35

#12 My sporterized BAR in 7 mm Rem Mag has been the demise of several vegetarians, and the start of many a full stomach.

Lovely machine.

Posted by: no mo uro 2009-01-23 20:22

#11 Also Happy Birthday to JarHed, purdy good American in his own right.

Posted by: .5MT 2009-01-23 20:20

#10 I have a Winchester Model 94 - style in .44 Magnum. It's not accurate very far out, but it sure knocks the shit outta things. Fun to shoot, but the ammo's expensive

Posted by: Frank G 2009-01-23 18:13

#9 Gawd I love a .50 caliber machine gun.

you can chew up so much landscape with one of those.

I also owe my life to a M1911A1 that I used to shoot my way out of my hooch went my fire base was over run by NVA Sappers. You know a .45 slug will knock a small person a long ways when you center punch them. None of this gasping and falling over stuff you see in movies.........they go backwards.

He should have a statue at the National War College.

He should be canonized.

Posted by: James Carville 2009-01-23 17:41

#8 Lots of people loved the BAR, TU - Clyde Barrow among them. No pansy-ass pistol-cartridge Thompson for him, he wanted full-on .30-06 power...

Posted by: mojo 2009-01-23 15:34

#7 Dad was a BAR man in the Marines. He loved that damn thing.

Posted by: tu3031 2009-01-23 13:26

#6 Should be regarded as a saint. If MLK deserves a day off, certainly Browning ought to qualify.

Posted by: Woozle Elmeter 2700 2009-01-23 11:09

#5 it's heartening to know I share a b-day w/such a great fellow American.

Posted by: Andy Ulusoque aka Broadhead6 2009-01-23 10:45

#4 No worries there, no huge difference in price either way. Unless you're planning on selling, a professional re-blue will only serve to protect your family keepsake. I compliment your father for his wise choice in hand-me-downs.

Posted by: Besoeker 2009-01-23 10:30

#3 Yes, mine is pre '64. 1948 if I read the serial number charts correctly.

Too bad my father had it re-blued 20 years ago. {8^(

Still, she's a sweet shooter.

Posted by: Parabellum 2009-01-23 10:22

#2 Looks like it could be a Pre-64. Good choice and a good investment as well Para.

Posted by: Besoeker 2009-01-23 09:18

#1 Hey, guess what's sitting just 10 feet away from me right now. No, not a Ma Deuce, a Winchester model 94, my favorite Browning design.

Posted by: Parabellum 2009-01-23 09:12

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