House of Browning

The design for US patent No. 513301 is one of several .22 rifles John Browning submitted to Winchester between 1892 and 1900. It is a falling block action of very simple construction comprised of less than 20 parts. It was never produced.

In 1888 Winchester gained a controlling interest in the Whitney Arms Company and Remington Arms Company. Shortly after, they began a development program for an inexpensive .22 rimfire rifle. The program was likely the result of seeing how profitable the simple .22s of Whitney and Remington were, combined with lackluster sales of Winchester’s more expensive model 1885 chambered in .22 rimfire.

Winchester’s .22 rimfire project was headed by William Mason and William Wetmore. Their designs included rolling block, falling block, and tipping barrel actions. Wetmore and Mason’s designs under this program were often complex or expensive to produce. In stark contrast Browning’s designs were perhaps too simple for the quality Winchester’s reputation demanded. The above design does not appear to have seen any further development.

Inventor: John Browning

Patent Attorney: Earle & Seymour

Assigned: unknown