I'm surprised Browning does not make a 1911

[SureThing]

With so many 1911's out there, I'm surprised Browning does not make a 1911 line.

With the name and historyl, I would make since to me....

Truthfully, they should have bought Dan Wesson and started calling them Browings...maybe even J.M. Brownings....or John Brownings....


Just a thought.

 

[Mauserguy]

I agree, it's odd that Browning doesn't market a line of 1911s. I'm not aware that any were every sold under the Browning name, as Colt was the primary manufacturer back in the old days, but I would think that the name association would bring premiums in todays market.
Mauserguy

 

[BHPshooter]

Back on the eve of WWI, FN had tooled up to make their version of the 1911, in 9.65mm, called the "Grand Browning." They had just gotten tooled up for production when the Germans invaded, dooming production. It was never produced, which is a shame, because it looks beautiful in pictures.

There's a chapter about it in "The Browning High Power Pistols," by R. Blake Stevens. Highly recommended.

Wes

 

[dogtown tom]

Browning doesn't make guns.

Shocking news?

Browning is an importer of guns made by others. Always has been.

The Hi Power, Challenger, Medalist, 1955, the Baby .25, Auto 5 shotgun? All manufactured by Fabrique Nationale of Belgium. JMB had a long business relationship with FN until his death. FN now owns Browning.

In the late '60's Browning contracted with Miroku of Japan to make shotguns.

The first Sigs imported into the US were "Brownings": the big BDA .45, 9mm and .38 Super.

The little BDA .380 was rollmarked with THREE names: Browning, FN and Beretta who actually made the gun for FN who shipped it to the US for Browning.

I agree, a Browning 1911 would be a hit.

 

[Northslope Nimrod]

I AGREE, A Browning 1911 would be great.

OK, an FN 1911, carrying the Browning name, would be great.

Better yet, a Browning 1911 in 9mm would be sweetness.

 

[jaysouth]

Dogtown!!!

I am shocked. I ran into an aisle vendor names Burlap Doggins at a recent gun show. He assured me that he was shouldering a genuine browning auto five made in either St. Louis or Montreal. I observed what the two locations were pretty far apart, did he know for sure where it was made. He said "nope", wiped tobacco juice off his jaw and 'tol me that iffen he knew, the price would be $900, not the $600 he was asking for this fine rare piece'.

Old Burlap wouldn't lie would he? Say it ain't so.

 

[loop]

Aw geez...

 

[dogtown tom]

jaysouth: Dogtown!!!

I am shocked. I ran into an aisle vendor names Burlap Doggins at a recent gun show. He assured me that he was shouldering a genuine browning auto five made in either St. Louis or Montreal. I observed what the two locations were pretty far apart, did he know for sure where it was made. He said "nope", wiped tobacco juice off his jaw and 'tol me that iffen he knew, the price would be $900, not the $600 he was asking for this fine rare piece'.

Old Burlap wouldn't lie would he? Say it ain't so.

I don't remember if it was on GunBroker, THR or TFL, but within the last year someone listed a Browning Hi Power for sale. In the description they put "Made in Belgium, Assembled in St Louis & Montreal".

Of course, "Made in Belgium Assembled in Portugal" is rollmarked on newer HP's, but HP's have never been assembled in St Louis or Montreal- those are/were cities where Browning had offices in North America.

Many collectors abhor "import marks" on a firearm, especially military guns. Every Hi Power that has "Browning Arms..." rollmarked IS import marked because Browning is the importer.

 

[SwampWolf]

Given the huge and popular market, I'm kind of surprised that Ruger hasn't rolled out a 1911 of their own yet.

 

[mljdeckard]

I asked the same question a while ago, I believe the reply was something to the effect of; "Why would Browning want to increase the competition against their existing pistol lines?", which didn't make much sense to me.

Many manufactures import part or all of their lines from other manufacturers. I don't know why Browning couldn't contract out Kimber or one of the other hi-capacity machine houses to sell a Browning-branded 1911.

 

[Hardrada55]

FN "Grand Browning" 9.65mm

Here is a photograph of the rare pre-WWI Fabrique Nationale (FN) "Grand Browning". Apparently, before WWI, FN was planning on making a European version of the John Browning pistol which was produced by Colt as the famous Model 1911. This new pistol was a 9 shot, 7/8 size, copy of the Model 1911 chambered for a cartridge called 9.65mm. From what I understand, in the USA Colt was also going to make the same pistol but it was going to be chambered for a cartridge called 9.8mm. There is a lot of discussion and argument about whether the 9.8 and the 9.65 were the same cartridge. I think the guys over at International Ammunition Association (whose forum is down right now) did some measurements on the two and determined they are for all practical purposes the same cartridge. I know they've examined some of the 9.8mm cartridges and determined that they were made with two different sized bullets. The early 9.8mm bullets were approximately 150 grain and the later 9.8mm bullets were loaded with what look to be 130 grain bullets. The 9.65mm cartridges all appear to be loaded with 130 grain bullets. Both of the 130 grain loadings had muzzle velocities of about 355 m/s which works out to about 1165 fps. The 150 grain bullet loading was supposed to be capable of about 1000 fps. Anyway, WWI and the "Guns of August" got in the way of any production of the Grand Browning pistol as Belgium was an early victim of the German advance. Supposedly FN made 12 of these "Grand Browning" pistols and 100,000 rounds of 9.65mm ammo. Today, the 9.8mm and 9.65mm cartridges are collector's items.

 

[Balrog]

Aren't most Brownings made by little girls in Europe who can't handle the wrist breaking recoil of the 45 ACP?

 

[Coltman 77]

Wow, I started reading this thread and then realized it's more than a year old.