House of Browning

When the Spencer Slide Action Shotgun was released in 1884 Winchester realized they were behind on the development of a repeating shotgun. As the Spencer shotguns rose in popularity Winchester released the Model 1887 Lever Action Shotgun. In 1889 financial problems sent the Spencer Arms Company into bankruptcy. Francis Bannerman beat out Winchester’s attempts to purchase Spencer Arms and began producing the Shotgun in even greater numbers. Winchester abandoned the lever action for competition in the repeating shotgun market, and turned again to John Browning. Despite already purchasing six pump action shotgun patents from Browning, Winchester chose to purchase and develop yet another Browning design. It combined an improved, but obvious, Spencer-inspired carrier with a typical Winchester breach-block and hammer arrangement. After Winchester released the Model 1893, Bannerman filed suit for patent infringement. By the time proceedings were decided in Winchester’s favor in 1897 the Model 1893 had come to dominate the repeating shotgun market.

The rising popularity and availability of smokeless powder shotshells after 1890 caused immediate issues when the Model 1893 was released. The 1893 had been developed for black powder cartridges and the higher pressures and unreliable ignition of the smokeless powder prompted the addition of a “recoil lock”. The lock worked to delay the opening of the action until a cartridge had fired or the operator moved the foregrip forward. In 1895 when several guns found to be defective raised customer concern, Winchester committed to redesigning the shotgun. The design changes would result in the Model 1897. There is no indication that John Browning had any involvement in the changes to the 1893 or development of the 1897. In fact, between 1893 and 1897 Browning sold Winchester three new pump action shotgun designs.

The Model 1893 is often cited as being the first case of a company issuing a “safety recall” for a firearm. This, however, is a misinterpretation of events perpetuated in books about the Winchester Company history. Winchester never issued a “recall” nor did they destroy guns returned for service. The misunderstanding starts in 1897 when Winchester discontinued production of the Model 1893 in favor of the newer model. Because most parts were not interchangeable with the Model 1897 spare parts were quickly used up. In 1901 Winchester began offering to exchange a Model 1893 returned for service with a new Model 1897 if the customer desired. Records show that 2,219 of the 34,179 Model 1893 shotguns produced were exchanged under that program. The guns exchanged were broken up and used to replenish supply of spare parts.

Patents:

• 1890 – US Patent 441390 – John M Browning
• 1892 – US Patent 487677 – William Mason