This is John Moses Browning’s place of business in Ogden Utah, circa 1880. There’s something inherently comforting about a good outfitter store, one that carries all of the guns, ammo, knives, boots, and other assorted gear that you need for being out in the wild. If you’ve ever been in one, you know. You can practically smell the interior of the Browing & Bro. store just by looking at that almost 140-plus-year-old photo.
John Moses Browning was and remains the greatest firearm innovator the world has ever known. In 1878, he and his brother Matthew took over their father’s gun shop and established Browning Bros. Matthew was the front-of-the-house guy who dealt with customers and running the business while John worked in the back, doing what he’s justly become world famous for.
There’s an excellent article about JMB and his collaboration with Fabrique Nationale d’Herstal at that other blog where I spent some time. It’s worth a read. Browning.com also has a good series on the great man’s life beginning here.
The 169th anniversary of JMB’s birthday passed recently while we were at SHOT Show. We were so busy it slipped by without our noticing. Shame on us.