g.willikers
New member
After watching a video on the disassembly and reassembly of a Beretta 92, it's easy to greater appreciate the genius of John Moses Browning.
I agree ... and I disagree. Certainly, the Ordnance Department reviewers added their thoughts and sent all the competing companies back to the drawing board but, aside from contributing a bit of "inside baseball" knowledge of how a handgun might be used in a military context, I don't think they added all that much or deserve any particular credit.James K said:While there is no doubt that Browning was a great designer, I think that people who admire the genius of the 1911 design fail to give enough credit to the Army officers of the several boards who reviewed the pistols JMB and Colt submitted. ... While JMB showed his genius in amalgamating all those requirements and "suggestions" into a smoothly working pistol, the Army guys deserve a lot of credit, too.
While there is no doubt that Browning was a great designer, I think that people who admire the genius of the 1911 design fail to give enough credit to the Army officers of the several boards who reviewed the pistols JMB and Colt submitted. They saw the defects and problems clearly and demanded the changes they felt were needed, often over the objections of Browning who, like most designers, though his latest creation was perfect. It is due to the Army folks that we have the single link rather than the double link (with a slide that could come off backward), the manual safety, the grip safety, the internal extractor, the better grip angle, the grip screw bushings, the removable mainspring housing and, of course, a pistol that can be easily disassembled for repair or parts replacement. While JMB showed his genius in amalgamating all those requirements and "suggestions" into a smoothly working pistol, the Army guys deserve a lot of credit, too.
Compare a Model 12 with an 870 sometimes. There can be easier ways to do things.
I'm sorry but what does the 92 Beretta have to do with John Browning's genius? Not trying to offend anyone, just curious.
Rather than etc.etc. I will offer as example the B.A.R. : 70 parts that can be disassembled and reassembled in less than a minute.JMB was a genius, but you have to admit sometimes his solutions took 7 parts , a 90 degree twist, several interrupted threads, a broach, link, left hand threads, etc etc et