Tuesday, October 9, 1900. Auto 5.
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John M. Browning was granted a patent for what would become the "self loading" Auto 5 shotgun, which would go into production in 1902.
A phenomenally successful shotgun, it blazed the trail for all later semi automatics. It became so popular that Browning had trouble ceasing to offer it in its catalog even after it desired to do so. The shotgun was manufactured in Belgium for Browning and also offered in the United States by Remington, as the Model 11. Remington's production of Browning's design ceased in 1947, but FN's for Browning carried on until moved to the Japanese firm Miroku in 1975. In 1998 full production finally ceased, with FN carrying on with commemoratives for one final year.
Primarily a hunting weapon, you'll oddly see a lot of inquiries on the net today about whether it saw military use. It did, but mostly as a training weapons. As great as it was, it's action was not suitable for combat conditions, although you'll occasionally see some that were used as police riot guns.
It still has a huge following.
Blog Mirror: Browning Auto 5 Shotgun Review: Still One of the Greatest Semiautos of All Time
Last edition:
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