Which gun designer made the largest contribution to the firearms world?

[45fan]

Had to go with Browning as well, many important names on that list that have left a mark in the gun world, but J.M.B has left several marks, many of which were of an original design or idea. Even today, there are multiple companies making their fortunes based on his designs. A close runner up would have to be Sam Colt, having been one of the pioneers in the era that brought us into cartridge firearms.

 

[richardraw316]

The poll should be called "greatest US gun designers".
Besides Kalashnikov and Glock they are all (I think) Americans.
That's just a small part of gun designers and doesn't include many foreign designers.
What about George Johann Luger, Benjamin Robins, Claude Minié and many other designers from Europe to Asia.
All the designers listed are part of modern history, some of them even still alive today.
I dont think you can call any of them "the greatest", they all changed and created great designs but it's only because the designer before them came up with a great design himself.
The guy who came up with the musquet, modern ammo, the rifling, the flintlock design and all those things is just as important as the latest designer who created guns that we use today.

i am sorry i only had space for ten.
stuff like rifling and modern ammo will be in the next poll.

 

[Rollerman]

I'm going with Browning too.
His designs no matter if it was an improvement to a design or a complete design of his own cover a lot of firearms that are still in use today.

 

[awilson82]

Have to go with Browning.

 

[Oliver]

Went with Kalashnikov...I mean, I DID just pick up my first rifle ever about an hour ago that just happened to be an AK. He obviously influenced me a bit.

 

[GlockRock]

Eugene Stoner. Hard for me to argue against the AR15/M16.

 

[richardraw316]

suprised that no love going towards garand. rifle pretty much won world war 2

 

[Sylvain]

suprised that no love going towards garand. rifle pretty much won world war 2

Im sure the soldiers behind it kinda helped too.
Your question was about the best gun designer, not the weapon that changed history the most.So im not surprised that the Garand doesn't get much love.

Also im not sure it's the most important gun of WW2 anyway, many good guns were used by the Allies, including British, Russian, Polish and others.
Even the Germans had some great gun designed who could have been more important than the US Garand (like the StG 44 that inspired the AK 47).

 

[JohnP82]

Wow what a tough choice to pick just one. They were all great and thankfully we had them all! I had to go with Browning though since I could only pick one.

 

[richardraw316]

Im sure the soldiers behind it kinda helped too.
Your question was about the best gun designer, not the weapon that changed history the most.So im not surprised that the Garand doesn't get much love.

Also im not sure it's the most important gun of WW2 anyway, many good guns were used by the Allies, including British, Russian, Polish and others.
Even the Germans had some great gun designed who could have been more important than the US Garand (like the StG 44 that inspired the AK 47).

yes you got me on that one.
i would have included the makers of the stg 44, but it was designed by a company, not a person.
the garand design is still used today. its the design idea, not the weapon that deserves the most credit.
and yes i reconize the soldiers had alot to do with winning ww2. i was just trying to point out the signifigance of the design. yes i cant spell.

 

[HICKMAN]

Browning... the man did too many things with too many guns.

 

[ghuns]

Browning, no contest. My daughter chose him for her 8th grade history fair at school. I bought her a book that contains a biography and all his patents. The man was a flat out genius and one hard workin SOB.

 

[Jake46184]

Browning and Colt were the obvious answers to this question but I'm surprised that Glock did not receive more votes. Like them or hate them, Glock revolutionized the world of non-metal gun materials and built a line that puts all others today to shame when the topic is reliability. Sig used to tout themselves as the "To Hell and Back Reliability" company. Nonsense. They can't make 2 guns in a row off an Exeter assembly line that work correctly. If all other manufacturers were to disappear tomorrow, and only one were allowed to remain, and the world was in chaos, with repair and spare parts impossible, let Glock be the one.

 

[Que]

I'll have to go with John C. Garand. The man built the first successful semi-automatic rifle, used by our military; it was a game-changer.

 

[Fordtough25]

I voted Browning, look at how many of his inventions are still used today. And how many of his ideas spawned other inventions. Lots of smart people on that list though, Colt, Garand, etc...

 

[the1kidd03]

I'll have to go with John C. Garand. The man built the first successful semi-automatic rifle, used by our military; it was a game-changer.

so was the machine gun (maxim), which is what drived the desire and design for semi-autos

 

[gvsugod]

None of the above. My vote goes for Henry.

 

[J_Wales]

I went with Browning.

I think much of John Browning's work, as evidenced by the fact that I have two of his designs belted on today!

 

[Lodogg2221]

Browning by a mile. So many different designs of his own, and modifications to some others. No one else on the list has done as much with firearms as Browning did.
Many people think of the 1911 and leave it at that, which would probably be good enough given the others on the list, but dont forget about the Ma Deuce, 1894 Winchester, Browning Auto-5 shotgun, and the Hi-Power. He designed several cartridges too that are still in use today.
Designed guns for Winchester, Browning, Colt, Remington, FN and a few others.
Who else on the list did all that?
Nobody.
Like I said, not even close...

 

[Gunaria]

I like this gun designer, Dieudonne Saive. Who do you think that helped out Mr. Browning?