House of Browning

US patent No. 465340 is a John Browning design for a unique action which is cycled by first forcing the forearm forward. The receiver is made in two sections and partially separates when the action is cycled. This type of action saw some popularity among competition trap-shooters between 1890 and 1910. It was so short lived, however, that no name became standard for the action type.

This rifle is a .22 caliber rimfire utilizing a carrier similar to the Winchester 1890. The receiver is constructed in two parts, with the inner section having rails which slide within grooves of the outer section. The outer section of the receiver is attached to the barrel, magazine, and forearm. The inner section of the receiver is attached to the buttstock. When the action is cycled the halves are forced apart and brought together by a pumping motion inverse, but similar to, the motion used to cycle an action using a foregrip and action bar.

While is this rifle can be easily seen as an alternative arrangement to that of the Winchester 1890, it is noteworthy as being Browning’s first use of the action type. This action type was mostly used with shot shells, and found its niche of popularity with professional competition shooters.

Inventor: John Browning, Matthew Browning

Patent Attorney: Earle & Seymour

Assigned: Winchester, August 1891