John M Browning Museum

[mbliss57]

This could go in the semi auto section but I think it belongs here..

I had a chance to go through the John M Brown Museum in Ogden UT last week when I was on business. That was his birth place and where he invented many of his guns. I was surprised that he only manufactured in production a few hundred single shot rifles. All his other inventions (including the Colt 1911) were licensed to other companies like Colt or in his earlier days the rights were sold.. especially to Winchester. Most of his brownings were made at FN in Belgium where he spent a great deal of time and actually died at his desk there. If you ever get a chance to stop there it is more than worth the $5 admission. I have copied a pic his original .45 auto that became the 1911. Read the description that sits beside it. The lighting was not good for pics taking as you can see. But they had no problem with folks bringing cameras.

Mike

 

[deadin]

Neat museum!! Did you notice that all of his "finished" models were named a year earlier than the Winchester Models? i.e. The 1894 Win. was the Model 1893 Browning, the 95 was the 94, etc.

 

[mbliss57]

Yes I did. I was amazed how many models that we attribute to Winchester and other manufactures were actually invented by Browning.

 

[DWFAN]

Got to visit there when the convention was in Utah. Didn't want to leave. The train station next door was very cool also. The view from there looking up the main street of the town into the mountains is unforgettable. My cousin lives there , retired USAF, and you couldn't get her to come back to the East coast for anything.
DW

 

[mbliss57]

Paul I left Connecticut for Ohio. I was in Ogden on a job interview. (Same company) I will have no problem leaving Ohio for Utah. It's one of the most beautiful states in the country. And they have lots of guns out there!
Mike

 

[dacoontz]

Paul I left Connecticut for Ohio. I was in Ogden on a job interview. (Same company) I will have no problem leaving Ohio for Utah. It's one of the most beautiful states in the country. And they have lots of guns out there!
Mike

Mike,
Wishing you luck on the job as it is always good to get another S&W nut out this away. And you're right, there's plenty of guns to go around.
Now to get myself out to that museum. I have probably driven past it enough times on my way to the semi-annual UGCA shows in North Ogden.

 

[NE450No2]

I hope you went to the train and car museums there as well.

The first time I was there the guns were not behind glass.

That happened a few years later after somebody was cought with one of Brownings guns down his pant leg...

So the guns had to become more secure...

 

[mbliss57]

I only had 45 minutes so I only saw the gun museum and walked quickly the train museum as I was leaving. Hopefully I'll be back...

 

[DWFAN]

45 minutes is not even close to being enough time. I think we spent over two hours in there and I'm sure I missed something. It was like being a kid in a candy store.
Paul

 

[max]

I am hoping to get there in a couple of weeks after the Boise meeting.

 

[mbliss57]

Hey Paul.. all I had was 45 minutes! It closes at 5PM I got there right after the interview at 4:15PM. I spent the most time on the handguns as I knew I wouldn't be able to take it all in properly. The rest I walked through and read fast
For those who plan to visit, I would allocate a minimum of 2 hours maybe even 3 for the Browning Museum and then and hour for the train and car. They brochure says you need an hour for the John M browning museum. But that is for normal people. We aint normal

 

[Tom K]

I remember some years back when I knew less about guns, being startled when I realized that the M-1 Garand was not designed by Browning.