Remington Autoloading Rifle

The Autoloading Rifle

John Browning’s autoloading rifle, produced by FN as the Model 1900 and by Remington as the Model 8 and 81, was one of his favorite inventions. It saw extensive field testing and was his preferred rifle for hunting.

While development for production took place at the various manufacture’s facilities, it should be remembered that a large portion of prototype development was done at Browning’s private workshop in Ogden, UT. John Browning traveled extensively between Utah, Connecticut, New York, and Belgium, often spending months at a facility to assist during tool up.

Origins with Winchester

About 1898 John Browning began designing an action that operated on the long recoil principle. This action was first applied to a tube-magazine shotgun, followed quickly by a box-magazine rifle. Prototypes for each were completed during 1899 and patents filed in 1900. This initial work was done in association with Winchester, while Browning was also developing another autoloading shotgun, which Winchester had purchased but would not reach production.

– US patent No. 659507, submitted Feb 1900 – The initial patent for the long recoil shotgun covers the long recoil principle in conjunction with a vertical locking block and the basic fire control group that would be used in later designs. It features a charging lever that is housed within the buttstock. This patent application was drafted by Winchester, though never purchased.

– US patent No. 659786, submitted Jun 1900 – The first patent for the long recoil rifle adapts the design to use a box magazine and a recoil spring which encompasses the barrel. A charging handle, now, is again housed within the stock. Perhaps the largest departure, however, is the use of a rotating bolt with forward locking lugs. In this design the cam surfaces protrude outward from the body of the bolt. Interestingly this patent application appears to have been drafted by Browning and filed by an independent attorney.

– US patent No. 701288, submitted Mar 1901 – The second rifle patent was again prepared by Winchester, likely due to features that could also be used in Browning’s shotgun. Minor changes were made to the recoil spring and magazine. The most important feature covered in this patent is the combination of the charging handle with the bolt carrier. Thanks to Winchester’s thorough patent preparation Browning would maintain a monopoly on this concept for nearly twenty years.

– US patent No. 701289, submitted Dec 1901 – Details an improved method of attaching the front sight assembly to the barrel shroud. Patent application also prepared by Winchester.

By late 1901 relations between the Browning Brothers and Thomas Bennett of Winchester had soured. Though wider reaching, the conflict became centered around royalty contracts. John Browning believed in the commercial potential of his designs and had begun using royalty agreements to ensure Winchester’s full efforts to produce, promote and sell them. Bennett, on the other hand, was accustomed to free use of Browning’s designs once purchased, having full discretion whether or not to implement design features into Winchester products. Things came to a head when Browning demanded Bennett produce his second autoloading shotgun design, even though his first design was plagued with ongoing revisions and legal disputes. Browning would leave Winchester with every unpurchased prototype then in development, including the autoloading rifle and, apparently, its new cartridge.

The Autoloader Abroad

In 1902 Browning turned to FN for development and production of his autoloading designs, granting FN “exclusive world rights” to manufacturing. FN had been fully aware of Browning’s developments and were eager for a production-ready design. Tooling up began immediately and FN was completing autoloading shotguns by fall 1903. An initial order of 10,000 were imported into the US and all sold within the first year. The rifle, however, was still in need of refinement, and development continued.

The earliest documentation relating to cartridge development for the autoloading rifle comes from a Winchester drawing dated 1903. The “proposed” cartridge is nearly identical to the cartridge produced by FN as the 35 (9mm) Browning, and by Remington as the 35 Remington.

In 1904 newly enacted tariff laws made importation of firearms so costly that contracts were renegotiated and FN ceded production rights within the US to Remington.

– US patent No. 984263, submitted July 1904 – Patent covers final major design changes, presumably made while in Belgium. New features include a combined safety lever/dust cover, lever added to the takedown screw, cam surfaces changed to a slot within the bolt, and a bolt release on the right side of the receiver. The patent application was filed in Browning’s name by Colt’s attorneys.

Remington was just as eager to begin production of Browning’s autoloading designs, and began tooling up in 1904. Production of the shotgun began 1905, followed by rifle production in 1906.

Minor changes from the prototype and patent features were made in the production models. Namely the addition of a thumb ledge to operate the safety lever, and relocating the bolt release to the left side of the receiver.

– US patent No. 853438, submitted Aug 1905 – Covers the final form of the operating handle with provision for toolless takedown. Patent application also filed by Colt’s attorneys.

In 1906 Remington released the Autoloading Rifle, chambered for the 35 Remington cartridge, for sale in a special catalog dedicated to the rifle.

In 1907 the 30-30 Remington and 32 Special Remington cartridges were added as chambering options. The cartridges were ballistically equivalent to their Winchester counterparts, and advertised as such. Due to confusion the names were changed by 1910 to 30 and 32 Remington.

In 1908 the 25-35 Remington cartridge was offered, also equivalent to the Winchester cartridge. Likewise, by 1910 the name was shortened to 25 Remington.

Early advertising promoted the rifle as capable of 3.5″ 10-shot groups at 100 yards with 25 Remington, and 4.5″ groups with 35, 32, and 30 Remington. It is noted, however, that production rifles are sighted-in at the factory with express cartridges.

In 1910 FN began production of the autoloading rifle, calling it the “Fusil Automatique Browning Cal. .35”, or Browning Automatic Rifle. Eventually the name was changed to the Model 1900, referring to the original patent. Differences to the Remington guns were minor, but parts were never interchangeable. Prices for Europe were high, with a standard rifle costing $57 compared to $30 for a Remington in the US.

In May of 1910 UMC produced samples of a 38 Remington cartridge by necking up the 35 Remington. The new cartridge was announced at the District Sales Manager’s Convention in 1913, but never put into production. Only one rifle was chambered for the cartridge and it resides in the Remington Firearms Collection.

Remington Model 8

In 1911 Remington, after an internal reorganization following a merger with UMC the year before, renamed the Autoloading Rifle the Model 8.

It is believed that production of rifles at FN only actually lasted from 1910 until the factory was captured in 1914. Following the war it is likely that a final clean-up run was made to use up any remaining parts. The high cost and novelty in post-war Europe contributed to the rifle’s poor sales. Total production resulted in only 4,913 rifles, the last not selling until 1932.

During the Great War, however, around 100 FN rifles were in use by the French Military Air Service. Additional rifles were ordered from Remington but problems sourcing materials related to ammunition resulted in the order being canceled. By 1917 all remaining FN and Remington rifles in service were transferred to secondary ground units, such as guards.

In the US, Remington had not altered its production schedule, even during the war, and by 1936 had produced 69,899 Model 8 rifles.

After WWI several companies began offering services to modify Model 8’s with extended or detachable magazines for use by police departments. Remington never offered a factory “Police Model”, but did advertise the model in their catalog. Rifles ordered would be sent to the third-party companies to be modified before shipping to customers.

Remington Model 81 Woodsmaster

When DuPont acquired 60% interest in 1933, Remington began reevaluating the arms it had in production, going so far as to commission an independent report in 1935. In regard to the Model 8, the report expanded upon the same complaints that sales managers had been receiving since 1911. Namely that the appearance of the rifle was too utilitarian, the buttplate was uncomfortable, the placement of the charging handle and magazine made the rifle difficult to carry, and cartridges were under-powered.

In 1935 Remington, completely ignoring the report just as they had the previous complaints, launched the “redesigned” Model 81 Woodsmaster. It featured a better buttstock similar to what FN had always offered, a slightly larger trigger guard, a larger forearm, and an increased trigger pull weight of 4-6lbs. Both models were produced concurrently until 1937, as nearly all parts are interchangeable.

In 1937 Remington discontinued the Model 8 and removed the 25 caliber cartridge as an option in its catalog, though 25 Remington was available on request in the Model 81.

Between 1935 and 1937 Remington’s Production Committee proposed modernizing the rifle as the Model 82. Desired changes included a streamlined appearance, detachable flush-fit double-stack magazine, cross-bolt safety, and folding-style bolt handle. However, every year discussion was postponed. At one point a small amount of money was allocated to the project and a single rifle was modified to charge via a forward grip as a pump action. No other funds would ever be allocated to the project.

In 1940 rifles chambered for the 300 Savage were offered, quickly becoming the preferred cartridge for the rest of Model 81 production.

From 1942-1944 production was officially shut down. 119 rifles were produced, however, with 100 being allocated for the US Navy.

Following the end of WWII, in 1945 production resumed until cost of production caused the Model 81 to be discontinued in 1949.

After being discontinued in 1949 limited production continued for a stockpile of stocks to last 10 years, and “functional parts” for 15 years. By 1950 the rifle was no longer offered for sale in the catalog, but was available by special order until 1955.