January 23 1855 Birth of John Moses Browning
October 1869 John assembled a slide rifle out of spare parts for his brother's birthday.
Spring 1878 John Browning begins work on his first single shot rifle.
April 10, 1879 John Moses Browning married Rachel Teresa Child.
May 12, 1879 The application for patent on the single shot rifle was filed.
October 7, 1879 U.S. Patent No. 220,271 was granted for the single shot rifle.
1880 With the aid of his brothers, John Browning established his arms factory.
March 20, 1882 Patent application was filed on a bolt-action repeating rifle with a tubular magazine.
July 25, 1882 U. S. Patent No. 261,667 was granted to the bolt action repeater.
September 13, 1882 Patent file on lever action, exposed hammer, tubular magazine rifle.
Spring 1883 Mr. T.G. Bennett, Vice President and General Manager of Winchester Repeating Arms Company, comes to Ogden, Utah Territory and forms an alliance that is to last nineteen years and is to change the course of firearms development. As part of the transaction, the Single Shot is sold to Winchester and Mr. Bennet is assured of first rights on a new repeater. The Single Shot becomes the Winchester Model 1885.
May 26, 1884 Patent filed on lever action repeating rifle that employed sliding vertical locks.
October 1884 Patent No. 306,577 was granted on the new repeater and John, together with his brother Matt, Free Travel Infoed to New Haven to deliver what was to become the famous Winchester Model 1886.
February 16, 1886 Patent No. 336,287 was granted on a lever action repeating shotgun. Known as the Winchester Model 1887, it was the first successful repeating shotgun.
March 28, 1887 John leaves for Georgia to spend two years as a Mormon missionary.
December 13, 1887 Patent was filed on a 22 caliber pump action repeating rifle. It has been called "the most popular 22 caliber pump action rifle ever made." Patent No. 385,238 was granted on June 26, 1888. First marketed as the Winchester Model 1890.
Fall 1889 Began development of the first models that were designed to employ the expanding gases behind the bullet to operate the action.
January 6, 1890 John filed his first patent dealing with gas operation.
June 30, 1890 Patent application was filed on a pump action repeating shotgun. Marketed as the Winchester Model 1898. A later take-down version was known as the Winchester Model 1897.
August 3, 1891 Patents filed on two separate automatic gas-operated guns.
November 7, 1892 Filed first patents on the Colt Model 1895 Automatic Machine Gun. Earned the name "Browning Peacemaker" during the Spanish-American War.
January 19, 1894 Filed patent on what would become the Winchester Model 1894, the first repeating-action sporting rifle to handle smokeless powder cartridges. This rifle is ascribed by many to be the most popular high-powered rifle ever built.
November 19, 1894 Patent was filed on a lever action repeating rifle with a non-detachable box magazine designed for jacketed sharp-nosed bullets. Marketed as the Winchester Model 1895.
September 14, 1895 Filed patent application on first semi-automatic pistol.
October 31, 1896 3 basic pistol patents were filed that concerned blowback-action, a locked-recoil system with a turning lock, and a locked recoil system with a pivoting lock.
July 17, 1897 A contract between Browning and Fabrique Nationale was signed which authorized the Belgium firm to manufacture a blowback operated 32 caliber semi-automatic pistol for all markets outside the United States. Production commenced in 1899.
February, 1900 Colt placed a Browning designed 28 caliber recoil operated semi-automatic pistol on the market. It was the first semi-automatic pistol in the United States.
February 8, 1900 The first of four patents were filed on the revolutionary autoloading shotgun. It would be manufactured by Fabrique Nationale in 1903 and by Remington Arms Company in 1905.
October 6, 1900 The first successful autoloading high-power rifle received Patent No. 659,786. U.S. manufacturing and sales rights were granted to Remington Arms Company and the rifle first appeared in 1906 as Model 8.
July 16, 1901 Browning submitted a blowback operated 32 caliber semi-automatic pistol to Colt, who immediately accepted it. The marketing agreement stipulated that the pistol would be priced low enough to compete with the revolvers of the period.
January 1902 In a disagreement about the public acceptability of the autoloading shotgun, John Browning severed his nineteen year relationship with T.G. Bennet of Winchester.
January 8, 1902 An appointment was made to show the new shotgun to Mr. Marcellus Hartley of Remington. This meeting was canceled by Mr. Hartley's untimely death that afternoon.
February 1902 With his autoloading shotgun securely tucked under his arm, John Browning embarked on his first ocean voyage. He would offer the new shotgun to Fabrique Nationale.
March 24, 1902 A contract was signed granting F.N. exclusive world rights to manufacture and the sell the autoloading shotgun.
July 10, 1902 Patent application was filed on a pump action shotgun that would become the Stevens Model 520.
Summer 1903 At the request of F.N., Browning developed a 9mm military semi-automatic pistol.
1904 In the face of restrictive tariffs, F.N. agreed to cede to Remington the rights to manufacture and sell the autoloading shotgun in the United States.
June 21, 1909 The application for a patent on a 25 caliber semi-automatic pistol was filed. It has been manufactured and sold by both F.N. and Colt. It was part of the Browning Arms Co. line from 1955 to 1969.
February 17, 1910 Patents were filed on a 45 caliber semi-automatic pistol. It served as the official United States military sidearm for almost 75 years.
November 26, 1910 Filed patent on a pump shotgun that would be marketed as the Remington Model 17. It was John M. Browning's last repeater-type shotgun.
January 6, 1914 Patents were granted and production began on a semi-automatic 22 caliber rifle. Remington also produced this rifle as the Model 24.
February 27, 1917 First public demonstration on the Browning 30 caliber Heavy Machine Gun at Congress Heights, Washington, D.C.
July 1917 Began work on the 50 caliber water cooled machine gun. Completed too late for World War I, this weapon played a prominent role in World War II and Korea.
August 1, 1917 Application for patent filed on the Browning Automatic Rifle. The B.A.R. first saw combat in 1918.
July 26, 1919 Patent application filed on a 22 pump action rifle that would be produced exclusively by Fabrique Nationale.
Early 1921 John M. Browning began work on his first 37mm Aircraft Cannon.
October 15, 1923 The first of two patents were filed on the Superposed Over-Under Shotgun.
June 28, 1923 Patent application was filed on 9mm, short-recoil, locked-breech, exposed-hammer semi-automatic pistol. This was John Browning's last pistol development.
November 26, 1926 John Moses Browning died of heart failure at Liege, Belgium. The great gunmaker had laid down his tools.
September 1927 J.M. and M.S. Browning Company was incorporated in Utah with the Browning Arms Company as a subsidiary.
1928 The Superposed Shotgun was introduced into the Browning Arms Company line.
1930 St. Louis distribution center and sales organization established. Ogden remained the headquarters, directing all activities.
1936 Auto-5 "Sweet Sixteen" was introduced.
1940-1942 After the German occupation put a stop to Belgian production, Remington made an American made A-5 for Browning. This was their Model 11, but included the magazine cut-off which was not a part of the Model 11. U.S. entry into the War ended this production.
1945-1949 Remington resumed making American made A-5 for Browning until they discontinued production of the Model 11 to introduced their new 11-49 autoloader.
1946 F.N. resumes A-5 production.
June 1948 Light 12 Auto-5 introduced. 12 gauge Superposed re-introduced to the American market.
1949 New 20 gauge Superposed introduced.
1951 J.M. & M.S. Browning Company liquidated and Browning Arms Company became an importer with wholesale functions.
1954 25 ca., 380 cal. and 9mm pistols introduced into the line.
1955 Double Automatic 12 gauge shotgun introduced.
January 1, 1955 A newly created Browning Industries accepted the import functions previously held by J.M. and M.S. Browning Company. Browning Arms Company became the parent company.
1956 22 Semi-Automatic rifle introduced.
1958 Browning Arms of Canada created, 70% Browning owned, 30% F.N. owned. Also a 20 gauge model of the A-5 added to the line. 3" Auto-5 Mag 12 introduced.
1960 F.N. Mauser Bolt Action Rifle added to the line. Trombone 22 introduced to Canada.
1962-1963 Acquired Silaflex and Gordon Plastics, makers of bows, rods and vaulting poles.
1962 22 pistols added: Challenger, Nomad and Medalist. Archery equipment, fishing rods, ski poles and vaulting poles were added to the catalog.
1964 Browning Corporate Headquarters relocated to Route 1, Morgan, Utah.
1965 T-Bolt 22 rifle introduced. A line of leather goods including belts, holsters, and flexible gun cases also became available. Browning began negotiations with Miroku Firearms in Japan. Entered the sailboat business with the acquisition of Newport Boats of California and Virginia. Assets liquidated in 1976.
1966 Archery accessories added to the line.
1967 BAR semi-automatic sporting high-powered rifle was introduced. 3" Auto-5 Mag 20 gauge introduced.
1968 St. Louis sales operation relocated to Morgan, Utah. Warehouse/parts and service moved to Arnold, Missouri.
May 1968 Hunting clothing introduced. Introduced BT-99 Single Barrel Trap shotgun.
1969 Acquired Harwill, Inc., manufacturers of Fiberglass outboard and inboard motorboats as well as small aluminum boats and canoes. Liquidated in 1974.
May 1969 BL-22 Lever Action 22 rifle and knives added to the line.
1970 Medalist 22 target pistol added.
1971 New 380 pistol, and BLR Lever Action high-powered rifle were added to the line.
1972 B-SS 12 gauge side-by-side shotgun added.
1973 New guns introduced: 12 gauge Citori Over/Under shotgun, 12 gauge Liege Over/Under shotgun, B-SS in 20 gauge, B-78 single shot rifle in round or octagonal barrel options.
1974 Browning line was enlarged with the B-2000 Automatic Shotgun in 12 gauge, the Citori 20 gauge, and the Citori Trap & Skeet models.
1975 Citori 20 gauge skeet introduced. B-2000 20 gauge added to the line.
1976 Further Additions: Challenger II 22 pistol added, BT-99 Competition added, B-78 in 45-70, and 7mm mag., and BLR 358 added. Citori became available with extra barrels, Auto-5 16 gauge discontinued, Auto-5 production went to Japan latter part of 1976.
1977 Superposed discontinued (Grade I, Diana, Midas), Presentation Superposed introduced, BAR 22 and BPR 22 introduced; BPS Pump Shotgun introduced (12 gauge only), Jonathan Browning Mountain Rifle introduced; B-2000 Trap & Skeet introduced with high post rib. BDA Pistol introduced in 45, 9mm and 38 Super.
1977 90% of Browning Arms Company outstanding stock was purchased by F.N. and Miroku.
1978 Browning enters the company's Centennial year. To commemorate this event, five limited Centennial editions were prepared. They included a Superposed Continental Over/Under Shotgun and Over/Under rifle combination; a Centennial edition of the Jonathan Browning Mountain Rifle, a replica of the Winchester Model 1892 called the Centennial Browning 92; a chromed version of the 9mm Hi-Power, and a special set of folding knives.
1979 B-92 in 44 Magnum introduced.
1980 Grade II BAR 22 introduced. 9mm nickel and Waterfowl Superposed (Mallard Issue) introduced. Citori Sideplate and the B-80 gas-operated shotgun introduced.
1982 Waterfowl Superposed (Pintail Issue) introduced. BBR Lightning Bolt, 9mm Silver Chrome pistol and Inc. BAR (Big Game) introduced. Model '81 BLR offered (it featured new flush magazine, flat sides). New B-80 Superlight, B-92 in 357 Magnum and Challenger III pistol added.
1983 Invector chokes offered. Black Duck Waterfowl Superposed, Citori grade VI and grad I Superposed introduced. Sidelock (B-SS) introduced. Challenger III Sporter with 6 3/4" barrel added to the line.
1984 Gold Classic A-5 introduced. Model 1895 in 30-06 caliber, Citori Upland Special and Sidelock 20 gauge introduced. BPS Upland Special offered.
1985 A-Bolt centerfire introduced. Model 1885, Gold Classic 9mm, Pigeon, Pointer, Diana, Midas Supers and the Grade III Citori introduced. New finishes offered in the 9mm pistols.
1986 Model 1886, Inc. Edition A-Bolt, A-Bolt 22, Gold Classic Over/Under introduced. B-80 Upland Special introduced. BPS pump Youth & Ladies model offered.
1987 Sweet 16 Auto-6 and Citori 16 gauge introduced. Model '71 introduced in 348 Win. A-500 shotgun introduced. 3-barrel Skeet Citori set introduced. BPS Stalker and Stainless Steel Stalker A-Bolt introduced. A-Bolt Camo Stalker offered. Grade VI Semi-Auto 22 introduced. Buck Mark 22 Plus, Silhouette and Varmint model added.
1988 Custom Gun Shop reinstated in Belgium featuring the B-125 and B25 Superposed. B-80 "plus" offered for a short time. Model 12 20 gauge in High Grade and Grade I introduced. A-Bolt Composite Stalker introduced. A-Bolt 22 Gold Medallion, Micro-Medallion and Composite Stalker introduced. Lightning model Citori and new calibers in 280 and 338 BAR included.
1989 Citori Sporting Clays introduced, no Invectors, 2 3/4" only. BT-99 Plus and Recoilless introduced, but the latter gun not released. 3 1/2" magnum BPS introduced. 284 cal. A-Bolt introduced. Model 65 introduced in 218 Bee Limited Edition. A-Bolt 22 mag. offered. Ambidextrous safety appears on all 9mm models.
1990 Model 12 in 28 gauge added. Gran Lightning Citori and BT-99 Plus introduced with backbored barrels; 10 gauge and 3 1/2 12 gauge BPS added. The model 53 in 32-20 caliber limited edition offered.
1994 BOSS (Ballistic Optimizing Shooting System) offered for the A-Bolt rifle line.
1995 Gold shotgun introduced.
