I wonder if those with strong opinions who might argue that he is not the greatest gun designer in man's history have a group of viable candidates they might submit that would be placed ahead of John Browning?
It almost seems to me that it would be much closer race to see who would lay claim to the #2 spot. I cannot imagine a single man who's design and engineering career (life) would land somewhere ahead of John Browning.
Not that there is a mathematical or clear analytical method for deciding for certain who is "the greatest ever" but is there anyone active here on these forums who honestly and passionately believes there has existed any one man that has brought more to the world of small arms when it comes to the design and engineering of them?
IMO, whoever comes in second place is going to be like comparing second place the year that Babe Ruth hit homerun 714. That would be Lou Gehrig by the way, and his home run record was about half of what the Bambino hit at the time lol