Johnathan Browning
After settling his family in Ogden in 1852, Johnathan Browning built a small blacksmith repair shop which would provide income throughout his life. In addition to the shop Johnathan was involved in many other business ventures, though by available records most were short lived and none financially successful. While family anecdotes suggest Johnathan’s sons worked in his various businesses at one time, it seems that only John Moses Browning was under full-time employ in the repair shop, where he excelled as a gunsmith.
During 1878 John, age 23, designed and built a single shot falling-block rifle.
Browning Brothers
In January 1879 John and Matt bought the property containing the blacksmith shop for $500, and Matt joined John in running the shop full-time. In May John submitted a patent application for his single shot rifle. After Johnathan’s death in June, the business began being referred to as “Browning Brothers”, though it is unclear if John and Matt were operating under a business started by their father or if they had formed their own company. In October patent was granted to John Browning for his rifle.
Throughout 1879 John and Matt looked for ways to bolster business. They put up signs along the main roads and made a deal with a blacksmith, who got more foot traffic, to send firearm repair jobs to the Browning shop. In October 1879 John organized the Amateur Rifle Association, with “the object … to inculcate a love of rifle shooting in our midst.” By the end of the year John and Matt had more work than they could handle and enlisted another brother Ed Browning to work in the shop.
By 1880 John and Matt had decided to produce John’s patented rifle themselves. Throughout the year John, Matt, and Ed continued running the old shop, while also constructing a new brick building in a better location to serve as factory and sales room. Another two brothers would be enlisted to help build the new factory, Sam and George Browning. While the shop was undergoing construction the Browning’s were joined by Englishman Frank Rushton. Frank came from the Birmingham gun manufacturing industry and was instrumental in setting up the factory and training the brothers on the production process.
The earliest surviving rifles are marked only “J.M. Browning”. Signage on their factory originally read “J.M. Browning & Bro.” Additional signage was quickly added to include the name “Browning Bros.” Most rifles produced between 1880 and 1883 are marked with the latter name.
Sporting Goods
With the factory completed and the first batch of rifles sold, Matt and Ed convinced John to expand as sporting goods dealers. Browning Brothers began stocking an increasingly diverse range of products.
During 1881 an all-in-one reloading tool and a bolt action rifle were designed and patented, citing John and Matt as co-inventors. The tool was produced alongside the single shot rifle and sold as part of an accessory package with rifle sales, the bolt action was never produced. Matt Browning would be cited as co-inventor on every John Browning patent from 1881 to 1892. While Matt was a skilled mechanic, machinist, and stock maker, the brothers gave inventive credit to John.
Beginning in 1881 newspaper ads were placed advertising the sale of guns, pistols, ammunition, and sporting goods. By 1882 the ads emphasized Browning Brothers as dealers of Ballard and Marlin rifles.
The reloading tool patent was sold to Marlin in January of 1882, for a rumored $500. With the reloading tool sold, John designed another to continue offering a Browning tool to accompany the Browning rifle. Also in 1882, the Amateur Rifle Club organized the Amateur Wing Shooting Club, with John Browning as Vice-President.
In late 1882 or early 1883 Winchester became aware of Browning’s single shot rifle and their second reloading tool. Winchester claimed the tool infringed on a patent held by the company and settled with Browning Brothers for the fine of $1 and discontinuing tool production. Thomas Bennett , then Vice-President of Winchester, personally visited the Browning’s during a cross-country business trip in December 1883 to negotiate the purchase of Browning’s single shot patent.
Browning & Winchester
It was well reported that the sale to Winchester profited the Browning’s $10,000, though the details are inconsistent. Winchester records show that Bennett paid out $8,000. In negotiating for the rifle patent, John and Matt also took payment in Winchester products to stock for resale in their store as well as favorable pricing on future supply orders. This sale afforded John the confidence and capital to forego attempting to manufacture his own designs. Instead, he concentrated on growing the Browning Brothers Company, which allowed him to seek out the best manufactures to produce his inventions that he could then sell through the company.
In 1883 and 1884 Browning designed two lever action rifles. The second of which would be sold during 1884 and produced as the Winchester Model 1886. The patent sale was eventually rumored to have been $50,000, but neither Winchester nor Browning would comment on the price paid until many years later. The successful sale of the Model 1886 cemented the beginning of a nearly twenty year relationship in which Winchester would patent and purchase almost every rifle and shotgun prototype Browning brought to them.
Between 1883 and 1885 Browning Brothers expanded to open another store in Salt Lake City, with Sam Browning as General Manager. Back in Ogden a division of labor settled between John and Ed in which Ed would do the majority of the machine work to produce prototypes under John’s design.
In 1886 Browning Brothers purchased the Browning Arms Company, presumably the company formed by their father under which he had operated the gunsmith and repair shop.
The 1890s
In 1889 John began work on a gas operated automatic rifle. Within the year he completed two working prototypes. In 1890 the design was adapted to a belt-fed machine gun. When both Winchester and Colt showed interest in developing the gun for the U.S. military, Browning instead chose to continue development at his own pace back in Ogden. By 1893 Browning Brothers contracted with Colt for continued development of the machine gun, which would be produced as the Model 1895.
Colt generally operated on a different business model than most manufactures of the time. Rather than large initial payments to acquire total patent rights to designs, Colt would pay out smaller sums initially and then pay royalties on each unit produced which utilized patented features. This arrangement appealed to John because in the long run it was potentially more profitable, but in the short term it incentivized manufactures to promote and produce his designs.
During the 1890s John and Matt used their acquired capital to heavily diversify the Browning Brothers Company. They purchased land in Ogden and Salt lake, invested in mining and processing of gold, silver, and coal throughout the West and in Mexico, sugar production in Cuba and Utah, hydro-power generation and rapid-transit systems for Ogden, and bought controlling interest in local banks. Within the store they offered about every sporting good possible, including purchasing the largest single order for bicycles in the country in 1895.
This was also John Browning’s most productive period, with twelve patents submitted in 1892 alone. In general terms Browning and Winchester perfected the lever action rifle, created the most popular .22 rifles in the U.S., and popularized the pump action shotgun. With Colt John set the ground work to revolutionize the machine gun and the automatic pistol. In Europe Browning created an entirely new market for compact, concealable automatic pistols.
In 1897 John designed a small blowback pistol for production with the Belgian firm Fabrique Nationale d’Arms de Guerre (FN). The pistol was in production by 1899 and with minor changes was adopted by the Belgian military as well as being wildly popular in commercial sales.
In addition to everything else Browning Brothers regularly sponsored local rifle and shotgun tournaments. John, Matt, George, and Sam competed extensively throughout the west, with John and Matt setting national records during shotgun tournaments in 1895.
The 1890s were also a difficult time, with financial panics, recession, high unemployment, and bank failures throughout the country. Despite the success and diversification of the Browning Brothers Company, the Salt Lake City branch was sold in 1900. Sam moved back to Ogden where he became the company purchasing agent and sales manager.
A New Century, A New Company
The relationship between Browning Brothers and Winchester during the later half of the 1890s was increasingly strained. After releasing the Model 1893, the shotgun quickly became the object of a patent lawsuit against Browning/Winchester. While the lawsuit was ongoing design flaws forced Winchester to modify the design to implement safety features. Not only did John not participate in redesigning the shotgun, he sold Winchester another three entirely new pump action designs. Immediately following this, John sold Winchester a design for an automatic shotgun. Under heated negotiations Winchester agreed to the same type of royalty payments the Browning’s had with Colt and FN. Throughout development, however, the shotgun was plagued by revisions due to reliability issues, and also became the object of another patent lawsuit. With the lawsuit and shotgun development ongoing, John designed and patented yet another automatic shotgun and an automatic rifle. Winchester had no interest in developing another shotgun, even less interest in the rifle, and would delay purchasing the designs for nearly two years.
Things came to a head in 1902, when John broke ties with Winchester. After the break, John took the new automatic rifle and shotgun designs to FN in Belgium. FN immediately began setting up production of the shotgun. Back in Ogden, John, Matt, George, Sam, and Ed incorporated the Browning Automatic Arms Company in 1903 to import and distribute shotguns and rifles from FN. The original agreement gave FN exclusive production rights, with the Browning Automatic Arms Company having exclusive distribution rights within the United States. As guns trickled across the Atlantic during 1903 it became clear that production would need to be expanded to meet the demand of the American market. By the end of the year, contracts were negotiated ceding production and distribution rights within the U.S. to Remington.
In January 1908 the J.M. & M.S. Browning Company was formed to consolidate the Browning Brothers varied business interests. The new company was incorporated by John, Matt, and John’s eldest son, also named John, to “own, improve, sell, lease and deal in real and personal property of every description, to buy and sell merchandise, to own, operate and develop mines and mills, and to act as agent, trustee, executor and administrator of any person, corporation or estate”. Throughout the year Browning Brothers also continued to expand the company. A new automobile garage was built for auto sales, storage, and maintenance, and the number of auto brands offered was expanded.
During 1909 the Browning Automatic Arms Company was disincorporated.
By 1914 Browning Brothers opened an office in New York, headed by John Browning’s eldest son. The office oversaw distribution of arms from FN, Remington, Colt, and Savage. Back in Utah, the Browning Brothers expanded their automobile branch by opening a garage in Salt Lake City.
In 1916 the Browning Automobile & Supply Company was incorporated to take control of all automobile related interests of Browning Brothers. By the end of the year another branch was opened in Idaho.
World War I
By the time the U.S. entered the Great War in 1917 the Browning Brothers had invented and contracted to have produced several machine guns, an automatic rifle, and the M1911 pistol. The military need for arms was so great that the War Department forced designs to be shared among various manufacturers. Throughout the war members of the Browning Brothers were called upon to oversee production of their arms with those manufactures, most notably John, Matt, George, and Sam. During early negotiations on machine guns and the automatic rifle, John Browning agreed to forego royalties in exchange for a one-time payment. The U.S. government rewarded that patriotism by reclaiming 60-percent of that payment as income tax.
After the war Val Browning spent the majority of his time in Belgium assisting recovery of FN arms production. In 1924 Val married and moved to Liege to oversee company interests at FN.
Browning Arms Company
In 1927, after John M. Browning’s death in Nov 1926, the Browning Arms Company was formed as a subsidiary of the J.M. & M.S. Browning Company, with John’s eldest son President of both companies. Val and Marriner Browning served as Vice President, though Val remained in Belgium. Browning Arms once again began importing FN products under the Browning name to the United States.
In 1930 a warehouse and distribution center for imported arms was build in St. Louis, Missouri.
During 1935 Val Browning and his family fled the looming conflicts in Europe and took over as President of Browning Arms Company.
In 1951 the J.M. & M.S. Browning company was liquidated and by 1955 Browning Industries was created to replace its function as an arms importer.
In 1958 Browning Arms Canada was formed, with FN owning 30-percent interest.
In 1961 the Browning Arms Company became publicly traded and in 1963 Val Browning retired as President, being succeeded by his son John Val Browning.
The 1960s was a decade of rapid expansion. Browning Arms acquired producers of fishing rods, bows, arrows, ski equipment, hunting clothing, sailboats, fiberglass motorboats, and aluminum canoes.
Browning
To reflect the increasingly diverse product lines offered in their stores the Browning Arms Company became simply “Browning” in 1972.
In 1976 John Val Browning retired and the first non-Browning was elected President of the company. Under the new president production of several rifle and shotgun lines was moved from FN to Miroku in Japan.
In 1977 control passed out of the hands of the Browning family completely during a hostile takeover by FN.
During the 1990s and 2000s the Browning company was purchased by several financial equity firms. Eventually the company was purchased by a division of the Belgian government and formed into what is currently the FN Browning Group. FN Browning Group currently owns the Browning, Winchester, and FN brands as well as being a shareholder of Miroku.
Products manufactured by Browning Brothers Company in Ogden, UT (1879-1883)
- 1878 Single Shot Rifle (1880-1883)
- 1881 Loading Tool (1880-1882)
- Loading tool, 2nd model (1882-1883)
- Loading tool, 3rd model (1883)
Founders and Associates:
Prototypes produced by the Browning Brothers Company
– Most prototypes were produced in Ogden by Ed Browning under the direction of J.M. Browning. Prototypes were also made under J.M. Browning’s direction at Colt’s, and in Belgium at F.N. Rifle and shotgun models are presumed to be of repeating type, utilizing a tube magazine, unless stated. Machine guns are fed from rounds contained on a belt.
| Approx. Date of Manufacture | Description | Current or Last Known Location |
| 1878 | Single shot rifle, falling block, Patent Model | Smithsonian National Firearms Collection |
| 1878 | Single shot rifle, falling block, patented | stolen 1880 from Ogden store/factory |
| 1878 | Single shot rifle, falling block, with separate trigger guard and lever | Frank Browning Collection (1964) |
| 1881 | Bolt action rifle, patented | unknown |
| 1882 | Lever action rifle, patented | Browning Firearms Museum |
| 1884 | Lever action rifle, patented | Cody Firearms Museum |
| 1884 | Lever action rifle, patented | Browning Firearms Museum |
| 1885 | Lever action rifle, patented | Cody Firearms Museum |
| 1885 | Lever action rifle, patented | Cody Firearms Museum |
| 1885 | Lever action shotgun, patented | Browning Firearms Museum |
| 1885 | Pump action shotgun, patented | unknown |
| 1886 | Pump action shotgun, patented | unknown |
| 1886 | Pump action rifle, patented | Cody Firearms Museum |
| 1886 | Pump action shotgun, patented | Cody Firearms Museum |
| 1886 | Single shot rifle, falling block, patented | unknown |
| 1887 | Lever action rifle, patented | Cody Firearms Museum |
| 1887 | Pump action rifle, patented | unknown |
| 1888 | Pump action shotgun, patented | unknown |
| 1888 | Pump action shotgun, patented | unknown |
| 1889 | Pump action shotgun, patented | unknown |
| 1889 | Lever action rifle, internal box magazine, patented | Cody Firearms Museum |
| 1889 | Automatic rifle, patented | Browning Firearms Museum |
| 1889 | Automatic rifle, box magazine | Browning Firearms Museum |
| 1889 | Pump action rifle, .22 rimfire, patented | Browning Firearms Museum |
| 1889 | Rolling block rifle, .22 rimfire | Cody Firearms Museum |
| 1890 | Pump action shotgun, patented | Browning Firearms Museum |
| 1891 | Lever action rifle, detachable box magazine, patented | Cody Firearms Museum |
| 1891 | Push action rifle, .22 rimfire, patented | Cody Firearms Museum |
| 1891 | Machine gun, patented | Browning Firearms Museum |
| 1892 | Push action shotgun, patented | Cody Firearms Museum |
| 1892 | Lever action rifle, en bloc magazine, patented | Cody Firearms Museum |
| 1892 | Lever action rifle, en bloc magazine, patented | Cody Firearms Museum |
| 1892 | Push action rifle, en bloc magazine, patented | Cody Firearms Museum |
| 1892 | Lever action rifle, en bloc magazine, patented | Cody Firearms Museum |
| 1892 | Lever action rifle, patented | Browning Firearms Museum |
| 1892 | Single shot rifle, open bolt, .22 rimfire, patented | Cody Firearms Museum |
| 1892 | Single shot rifle, open bolt, .22 rimfire, patented | Cody Firearms Museum |
| 1893 | Single shot rifle, falling block, .22 rimfire, patented | unknown |
| 1893 | Lever action rifle, patented | Browning Firearms Museum |
| 1894 | Lever action rifle, internal box magazine, patented | Browning Firearms Museum |
| 1894 | Pump action shotgun, patented | Cody Firearms Museum |
| 1894 | Automatic rifle, patented | Browning Firearms Museum |
| 1895 | Lever action rifle, patented | Cody Firearms Museum |
| 1895 | Pump action rifle, internal box magazine, patented | Cody Firearms Museum |
| 1895 | Pump action shotgun, patented | Cody Firearms Museum |
| 1895 | Rifle cartridge clip, patented | unknown |
| 1895 | Semi-auto pistol, toggle lock, patented | Browning Firearms Museum |
| 1896 | Pump action shotgun, patented | Cody Firearms Museum |
| 1896 | Semi-auto pistol, blowback, patented | Browning Firearms Museum |
| 1896 | Semi-auto pistol, rotating barrel, patented | Browning Firearms Museum |
| 1896 | Semi-auto pistol, short recoil, patented | Browning Firearms Museum |
| 1896 | Semi-auto pistol, short recoil | Browning Firearms Museum |
| 1896 | Semi-auto pistol, short recoil | Browning Firearms Museum |
| 1897 | Lever action rifle, internal box magazine, patented | Cody Firearms Museum |
| 1897 | Semi-auto pistol, blowback, patented | Browning Firearms Museum |
| 1898 | Lever action rifle, internal box magazine, patented | Rock Island Auction (2016) |
| 1899 | Bolt action rifle, .22 rimfire, patented | unknown |
| 1899 | Semi-auto shotgun, toggle lock, patented | Browning Firearms Museum |
| Semi-auto shotgun, toggle lock | Browning Firearms Museum | |
| 1899 | Machine gun belt loading tool, patented | unknown |
| 1900 | Semi-auto shotgun, long recoil, patented | Browning Firearms Museum |
| 1900 | Semi-auto rifle, long recoil, patented | unknown |
| 1900 | Machine gun, patented | Browning Firearms Museum |
| 1901 | Semi-auto shotgun, long recoil, patented | Browning Firearms Museum |
| 1901 | Semi-auto rifle, long recoil, patented | unknown |
| 1901 | Semi-auto pistol, blowback | Browning Firearms Museum |
| 1902 | Semi-auto pistol, blowback, patented | Colt Museum Collection (1956) |
| 1902 | Semi-auto pistol, blowback, patented | Browning Firearms Museum |
| 1903 | Pump action shotgun, patented | unknown |
| 1904 | Semi-auto rifle, long recoil, patented | Browning Firearms Museum |
| 1905 | Semi-auto pistol, blowback | Browning Firearms Museum |
| 1908 | Semi-auto pistol, blowback | Browning Firearms Museum |
| 1909 | Semi-auto pistol, short recoil | Colt Museum Collection (1956) |
| 1910 | Semi-auto pistol, short recoil, patented | Browning Firearms Museum |
| 1910 | Semi-auto pistol, short recoil | Colt Museum Collection (1956) |
| 1910 | Semi-auto rifle, .22 rimfire, patented | Browning Firearms Museum |
| 1910 | Semi-auto pistol, short recoil, patented | unknown |
| 1913 | Pump action shotgun, patented | unknown |
| 1914 | Semi-auto pistol, blowback, .22 rimfire, patented | Colt Museum Collection (1956) |
| 1916 | Machine gun, patented | Browning Firearms Museum |
| 1919 | Pump action rifle, .22 rimfire, patented | Browning Firearms Museum |
| 1921 | Semi-auto pistol, blowack | Browning Firearms Museum |
| 1921 | Semi-auto pistol, short recoil, patented | Browning Firearms Museum |
| 1923 | Double-barrel shotgun, superposed, patented | Browning Firearms Museum |
| 1923 | Automatic cannon, patented | Browning Firearms Museum |