John Moses Browning Masterpiece

[koussevitzky]

Which one do you think is JMB's masterpiece, the 1911 or the BHP?
Given that most people here are american, I bet that the winner will be the 1911, (I have one, and I love it), But I would like you to be as unbiased as possible.

I'm aware that the BHP was introduced way after the man died, and a lot of mods were made by FN's Dieudonne Saive, but the 1911 also had certain features not meant by JMB, but the army.

So which one and why gentlemen?

 

[ugaarguy]

The 1911. Over 70 years as the standard issue sidearm of US armed forces and approaching 100 years in limited issue. Combine that with it's commercial success as a defensive, competition, and law enforcement sidearm and it has a distinguished pedigree.

 

[No_Brakes23]

I am a 1911 guy, but I have to think that the BHP represents what JMB thought to be a better pistol, if only becase he designed it later. I like the CZ75 because it seems to draw from both of them, (Though most obviously from the BHP.) As to his masterpice, the BAR and Ma Duece are more awe-inspiring to me than either of his pistols.

 

[ARTiger]

I'm partial to the A-5 Autoloading Shotgun. Close second would be the 1911.

 

[steveracer]

Why isn't the M2 a choice?

Steve

 

[outofbattery]

I find it fairly impossible to believe that when he designed the 1911,JMB said " that's it- I have achieved the pinnacle of the auto-loading handgun and see no need to improve on the design or to experiment with different actions,construction techniques or calibers.The US Army has come up with something that even if it isn't exactly what I had in mind,is nothing short of perfect".Bollocks,had he lived long enough I am 100% certain that he eventually would have construced double action,double stack pistols of many different calibers and very possibly might even have come up with the idea of a polymer frame.
The fact that he started work on the BHP shows that he thought improvements were possible.How it would have turned out had he lived long enough to see the design to fruition,who knows.I tend to like the BHP much more than the 1911 but am back down to just 2 of each.

 

[BADUNAME13]

1911. B/c that is the one I carry every day.

I have and like the P35, but the 1911 is the one I carry.

 

[BigG]

One of the frequent posters here, Jim Keenan - IIRC, stated, correctly, I believe, that JMB designed a certain pistol for the 1907 board, led by Capt. Thompson (of later SMG fame). The pistol was submitted by Colt and only through several iterations, led by the Army's requirements, emerged the pistol that became known as the 1911.

Without the Army making the demands, JMB would have left them with a much cruder design. JMTC

I voted for the 1911, but think the Army had as much to do with it as JMB.

 

[Detachment Charlie]

Ma Deuce

I'm with steveracer. .50 cal. BMG. Then, the BHP.

 

[Glockfan.45]

The M2 is his crowning glory IMHO. All these years and its still in wide spread service with quite a few armies (and still just as effective) . Then the 1911, I never could get into the HPs.

 

[koussevitzky]

Ok, gentlemen, I know that browning genius was beyond pistols (BAR, shotguns, , machine guns) but this being the autoloader forum, I tried to stay in context.

 

[No_Brakes23]

I tried to stay in context.

Ah, but you did not frame your question that way. Perhaps a better question would have been "Which of the two pistols best represents JMB's genius?"

 

[Sniper X]

I'd say both but my favorite is of course the 1911, not only because it has saved my life numerous times in my 10 years in the US Army, , but I also compete with it, and CCW it every day.

 

[byf43]

1911 fits my hand. It hits where it's aimed.

 

[Cliff47]

I would like to take this opportunity to nominate JMB as a Higher Power.

 

[Stinger1]

Both are great guns, and I love the BHP! JMB wasn't around for most of the design work on the HiPower it was Dieudonne Saive. But 1911 design was influential in the finished HiPower product. Based on this I voted for the 1911 as the masterpiece that both were conceived from, and off springs today.

RC

 

[Gunny45]

What ugaarguy said. Plus I have owned both. I still own several 1911's. It's the trigger...

 

[GW]

The 1911
Close to 100 years old but still immensely effective and popular

How many companies make 1911's these days anyhow?

 

[DogBonz]

Yea, true. but...

I find it fairly impossible to believe that when he designed the 1911,JMB said " that's it- I have achieved the pinnacle of the

I bet that Da Vinci didn't say "Thats it..." after painting the Mona Lisa, but that is the piece that he is best known for, not because it is necessarily his best work, but because the work was ground breaking.

Often people are not known for their best work, but their work that was revolutionary. Not to take anything away from the 1911, I would never do that, it is my favorite design.

 

[hksw]

Although I think the HP to be a better design in terms of the lock-up (i.e. no swivel link), I do have to say the 1911 set the stage. It was the lock that opened the gate to tilt lockers that predominate the market today, even the HP.

 

[Rod B]

The 1911, it's been proven for almost a century & when picking it up it feels like the handshake of an old friend.

 

[10-Ring]

Why pick? Isn't that why we all have our collections because we can't decide which one? Me I like'em both!





because I'm wishy washy & can't decide