If He Were Alive Today

[11xray]

My very first post here at what looks to be a fantastic replacement for TFL. Thank you Oleg and others.

I never had much time to participate at the other site, and hope to be more active here.

Now, let's talk about guns:

If John Moses Browning were alive today, what kind of firearms would he be developing and inventing?

What features would he be working to improve on existing firearms?

If you could ask JMB to invent a new firearm, what would it be?

 

[jmbg29]

If you could ask JMB to invent a new firearm, what would it be?

A straight pull "A-bolt" style hunting rifle. In the vein of Blasers or Schmidt-Rubins.

I would also ask him to reproduce the Winchester Model 1895 in its original form. Sleek and tapered, and light in comparison to the ugly klunky PsOS that USRAC makes currently.

I have an antique Mod. "95 in .405 W.C.F. and it is a thing of beauty. I would love to have a new one to take into the mountains without having to worry that I might trash the thing in bad weather.

And a 10mm High-Power made by FN. (although I do hear a lot of good things about the CZs in 10mm)

 

[Hal]

If you could ask JMB to invent a new firearm, what would it be?

Without a doubt it would be a so called "smart gun". JMB is one of the few that I really think could do the job properly.

 

[Tamara]

A new semi-auto shotgun. His first one is just starting to get a little long in the tooth; I figure a slight redesign and we'll be good until 2099 or so...

 

[Triad]

Semi auto .22 rifle or pistol.

(although I do hear a lot of good things about the CZs in 10mm)

Are you talking about the EAA clones or did CZ make one and I missed it?

 

[Preacherman]

I'd ask him to perfect the Steyr Scout Rifle, which is pretty darn good as it is, but could be improved: and I'd ask him to make "Glock perfection" a reality instead of a slogan!

 

[BigG]

I think we would have found out what a "phased plasma rifle in the 40-watt range" looks like.

 

[11xray]

Smart guns!? My guns are already plenty smart.

The problem you are addressing is decidedly not a technological one, but a sociological one which could be solved, were people willing.

No sir, I don't want my guns to be any smarter than they are now.

 

[45R]

A sister pistol to the 1911 that would last a few hundred years.

 

[Tamara]

WWJMBD?

 

[80fl]

Well let's see... If he were alive today, having already built his empire, the possibilities would be endless. However, if he were just a young upstart, I don't believe he would be able to develop anything, unless he went to work for a large corporation.

Virtually every "new" firearm design was performed by the "back yard machinist/engineer".

In today world, I don't see how a young, brilliant mind could perform the R&D necessary to develop a great new design unless employed by the .gov or an existing manufacturer.

A very sad state of affairs to be sure.

 

[11xray]

Tamara, I had thought of "WWJMBD" for the title of this thread. I don't know how I talked myself out of it.

Great minds...

 

[11xray]

80fl- This is still the USA. Anything is possible with vision, dedication and hard work.

John Browning did not have a research and developement department, he was the R&D section.

The possibilities are still endless.

 

[80fl]

11: Although I wish I could agree with you, I can't. The world that JB lived in was an engineers dream. If you could think it, you could build it. If you could build it, you could sell it (assuming there was a market for it).

Today, unfortunately, we rarely have that opportunity. The insidious .gov regulations, coupled with the overly litigious society have crippled new development.

With the exception, most notably, of the computer arena, there really are very few earth shattering developments that come out of "my neighbors' back yard".

In the late 1800's through the early to mid 1900's, virtually every engineering marvel came from humble roots.

If I have a dream, along with some engineering prowess, to build a new style firearm, just how far do you think I would get in my machine shop before the .gov was on my case for illegally manufacturing firearms?

 

[11xray]

80fl, if I remember the regs correctly, you can build the first functioning model of a firearm with no liscense needed at all, as long as it is not a destructive device or a machine gun.


After the first one, then you need a manufacturer's liscense, and have to pay the 11% excise tax on each one manufactured.


I will look into it and get back to you on it.

 

[Hal]

The problem you are addressing is decidedly not a technological one,<snip>

No, I'll stand by my statement. The so called "smart gun" is hell bent for election a' comin, despite how you or I feel about it. If the media and the politicians are so determined to force it on us, then by all means, what we need is a true genius like JMB to make it work. The alternative is to leave it to the media and the politicians to design. Is that what you want? (remember. saying no to the idea isn't an option,,,older guns are only going to last for so long,,the day's a'comin when there just aren't anymore old used "dumb guns")

 

[80fl]

11: I believe, sir, you have made my point.

The America of yesterday was a land of unbridled opportunity.

I would like you to read the above sentence again. I will emphasize unbridled.

In the era of JB as well as , Ford, Harley and the Davidson's, and literally thousands of other pioneers, the "bridle" of the .gov was not upon them. Theese innovators were able to fly freely without the fear of EPA compliance, crash testing, litigious Attorneys, random .gov regulations, OSHA inspections, the onerous IRS, State licensing, local zoning, the ability of neighbors to shut them down because they don't like the smell/noise/traffic/equipment, and on and on and on!!!

I have been self employed all of my adult years. No, I'm not an innovator like the engineering pioneers of yesterday; I'm just an ordinary guy trying to make a buck. A good portion of my time is WASTED in an effort to comply with .gov regulations. Not to mention the dollar figure that is wasted each year.

Your initial response says it all.

I will look into it and get back to you on it.

"I'll have to check with the government". We're having a discussion on a Board, and we've already hit our first roadblock.

edited for early morning horrendous spelling!

 

[dog3]

If JMB were alive today,
The BATF would have imprisoned him a long
time ago.

 

[80fl]

ding, ding, ding, Give that dog a bone god boy