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

[Indy_Guy_77]

"Between 1883 and 1885 Maxim patented gas, recoil and blow-back methods of operation." Hiram Stevens Maxim - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Based on the wording of the poll, I would say that Maxim's contribution of automatic loading was the greatest to the firearms world.

Agreed. If not for Maxim's work...there wouldn't have been much in the way of inspiration for Browning to leap-frog off of.

-J-

 

[Mad Anthony Wayne]

John Browning. 1911, Hi power, Ma Duece, BAR...that's just the start.

 

[redpitbull44]

In my mind it's:
Browning
Maxim
Kalashnikov
Stoner
In that order pretty much. I voted for JMB.

 

[hopcam]

Maxim doesn't get the credit he deserves...

Also, glad to see two different Hoosiers on the list. (one Native, one adopted)

-J-

Just through the process of googling other stuff I saw that the Gatling Gun Company was in Indianapolis. I never knew that. I also didn't know that Richard Gatling was buried in Crown Hill Cemetary. You learn something new every day.

 

[sloughfoot]

My vote is for Bill Ruger. I am always the odd man out.....

 

[U.S. Patriot]

Browning without a doubt. I do not think many companies would have/or do now exist without him.

 

[rlidgard]

browning no doubt

 

[gunrunner0]

J.M. Browning for sure, decades later many of his designs are are still relevent and highly sought after. Also I cant think of any firearms designer who came up with as many successful designs.

I think Glock deserves some credit due to the rising popularity of polymer framed and striker fired guns.

 

[greyhound47]

To me, Kalashnikov had a huge impact but it was just one gun, really. By comparison, JMBrowning had a much wider impact. The OP question was who was the greatest designer, right?

 

[Kirk Freeman]

No question to me, John Moses Browning.

If not for Maxim's work...there wouldn't have been much in the way of inspiration for Browning to leap-frog off of.

Ummm, are we sure of this? It was my understanding of history that when JMB cobbled together his first emma gee (from a lever action rifle) which lead to the Potato Digger, JMB had not seen a machine gun before.

Am I not correct in this?

 

[CarmelHP]

You have to ask?

 

[billybob44]

JMB All the way..

Man this is the easiest poll that I have ever checked..Bill..

 

[archy]

Neither Aimo Johannes Lahti nor General Kijirō Nambu are offered among the choices. Accordingly, I have declined to vote.

Aimo Lahti - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kijir

 

[Mark 1911]

I had to go with Browning due to my affection for the 1911. I considered Garand as well. Great rifle. But settled on Browning in the end because of how long the 1911 design has endured.

 

[churchmouse]

All on the list made considerable contributions in their own way.
I went with J.M.B. not just because of the 1911 but the 50 BMG and others as well.
Both are still in use around the world and have had a significant impact on weapons design for more years.
Garand was great as was Stoner, Kalashnicov, Colt, Glock (yuck) and all the others on the list. Gattlin and Maxim, they are worthy of mention.

 

[Dr.Midnight]

John Moses Browning and the 1911. Nuff said.

 

[Sgt7330]

I couldnt help it. Yes Browning and 1911, but " greatest battle implement ever devised" had to win my vote. M1 Garand

 

[Wysko]

Browning was a mechanical genius with many different designs & mechanisms still copied today. Still in use in the milatary and sporting fields around the world years after his passing.
Klasnikov & Glock are one basic design made in large numbers.

 

[downzero]

I don't see how anyone could vote for any of them besides browning. Browning didn't just make the 1911, he patented tons of stuff, including an entirely revolutionary shotgun, air cooled machine guns, the 1911 and similar autoloading pistols, etc. Nobody had the kind of breadth of firearms design that he had.

 

[richardraw316]

I don't see how anyone could vote for any of them besides browning. Browning didn't just make the 1911, he patented tons of stuff, including an entirely revolutionary shotgun, air cooled machine guns, the 1911 and similar autoloading pistols, etc. Nobody had the kind of breadth of firearms design that he had.

i would agree with most of what you said, but it was colts manufactuing facilities that produced the most weapons and designs. including designs from browning and stoner. plus the pistol that won the west.
i personally believed this should have been a closer contest.