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Gents:
I bought a copy of The Winchester Book and find it a treasure of information. But I do have one question:
Winchester made the 1866, then the 1873, then the 1876. Following were almost 10 years of no introductions.
Then, new firearms came out in rapid fire: 1885, 1886, 1887, 1890, 1892, 1894, 1895, 1901 (and I’m sure I missed some).
Tell me how did this run of wonderful firearms come about in such rapid succession after 3 models in 11 years that were basically the same action?
Was it John Browning or…?
Excuse my ignorance but I find the history amazing!
Cal
April 15, 2005
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Yes, it definitely was the brilliant & genius mind of John Moses Browning that spawned a large number of new models in a relatively short period of time. Add the Models 1893, 1897, and 1900 to the list, and if T.G. Bennett had not been so short-sighted, the list should have included the Auto-5 Shotgun!
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 1, 2013
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Bert H. said
…if T.G. Bennett had not been so short-sighted, the list should have included the Auto-5 Shotgun!
Not to mention the Browning .22 Auto, STILL in production (unlike the Auto-5) 105 yrs after its introduction in 1914! I know it well, as it was my first rifle (in its Rem M24 “Lesmoke” incarnation), which I still own. Don’t know how it can possibly compete against Ruger 10-22s, & a multitude of other modern high-tech .22 autos, but amazingly, it somehow does.
November 7, 2015
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clarence said
Bert H. said
…if T.G. Bennett had not been so short-sighted, the list should have included the Auto-5 Shotgun!
Not to mention the Browning .22 Auto, STILL in production (unlike the Auto-5) 105 yrs after its introduction in 1914! I know it well, as it was my first rifle (in its Rem M24 “Lesmoke” incarnation), which I still own. Don’t know how it can possibly compete against Ruger 10-22s, & a multitude of other modern high-tech .22 autos, but amazingly, it somehow does.
Bennett may have indeed stubbed his toe but it was Browning who wanted to depart from the way they had been doing business for years, an arrangement that benefitted both parties in a big way. I think JMB’s subsequent work with other manufacturers and engineers and his products’ exposure to new markets was all in all a good thing….for everyone except Winchester. Who knows how many guns resulted from Bennett’s stubbornness. A gun like the Browning 22 auto may have found favor at Winchester but what about the early Browning semi-auto pistols? JMB’s departure let some of Winchesters other engineers like T C Johnson step up and introduce some new models and refinements to old models.
Sometimes change is good.
Mike
March 31, 2009
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TXGunNut said
Bennett may have indeed stubbed his toe but it was Browning who wanted to depart from the way they had been doing business for years, an arrangement that benefitted both parties in a big way. I think JMB’s subsequent work with other manufacturers and engineers and his products’ exposure to new markets was all in all a good thing….for everyone except Winchester. Who knows how many guns resulted from Bennett’s stubbornness. A gun like the Browning 22 auto may have found favor at Winchester but what about the early Browning semi-auto pistols? JMB’s departure let some of Winchesters other engineers like T C Johnson step up and introduce some new models and refinements to old models.
Sometimes change is good.
Mike
I sure agree. Take a look at the evolution of the Colt semi auto pistols, FN and the military semi autos and machine guns.
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