None of the classic works on the 1911 have a list of patent claims that tie any specific individuals or groups to innovations that became the 1911 pistol.
We know the following: J. M. Browning patented the Colt 1905 double swing link lock, or parallelogram lock, pistol design. What we need is the patent number, so we can obtain a copy and list the claims made.
Then we need a listing of later novel improvements, for example the single swing link and bushing locking mechanism. Who patented it and what is the patent number? Who patented the rear grip safety and the patent number. Who patented the thumb safety and the patent number. Who patented the magazine catch and the patent number.
This information would go a long way in establishing how much Browning had to do with the 1911 and precisely who invented the modifications to the 1905 to make the 1911.
Rumor has it that Colt Engineers and U.S. Army Ordnance Engineers are responsible for most of the above improvements, while Browning made the prototype 1905, patented it and sold the patent outright to Colt. How much (if anything) he had to to with the modifications are the subject of this inquiry.
All rumors aside, this would fill the gap in knowledge and put the 1911 in perspective for all time. It makes one wonder why firearms historians, including Haven and Belden, failed to do this.
We DO know that Browning patented the cam lock ramped barrel used in the Hi Power in 1928, but no patent number is available for that, either.
Curiouser and curiouser.
I have the patent dates from the slide of a very early 1911 GM pistol:
Dec.19, 1905, Feb,14, 1911, Aug. 15, 1913.
Now if anybody out there can do a library search of these dates, we will have the name of the inventor(s) and claims relevent to the 1911.
If the researcher is also interested in the earlier .38 ACP models, these are the dates:
Apr.20, 1897 and Sept.9, 1902.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: John Lawson on 2001-07-20 12:19 ]</font>
We know the following: J. M. Browning patented the Colt 1905 double swing link lock, or parallelogram lock, pistol design. What we need is the patent number, so we can obtain a copy and list the claims made.
Then we need a listing of later novel improvements, for example the single swing link and bushing locking mechanism. Who patented it and what is the patent number? Who patented the rear grip safety and the patent number. Who patented the thumb safety and the patent number. Who patented the magazine catch and the patent number.
This information would go a long way in establishing how much Browning had to do with the 1911 and precisely who invented the modifications to the 1905 to make the 1911.
Rumor has it that Colt Engineers and U.S. Army Ordnance Engineers are responsible for most of the above improvements, while Browning made the prototype 1905, patented it and sold the patent outright to Colt. How much (if anything) he had to to with the modifications are the subject of this inquiry.
All rumors aside, this would fill the gap in knowledge and put the 1911 in perspective for all time. It makes one wonder why firearms historians, including Haven and Belden, failed to do this.
We DO know that Browning patented the cam lock ramped barrel used in the Hi Power in 1928, but no patent number is available for that, either.
Curiouser and curiouser.
I have the patent dates from the slide of a very early 1911 GM pistol:
Dec.19, 1905, Feb,14, 1911, Aug. 15, 1913.
Now if anybody out there can do a library search of these dates, we will have the name of the inventor(s) and claims relevent to the 1911.
If the researcher is also interested in the earlier .38 ACP models, these are the dates:
Apr.20, 1897 and Sept.9, 1902.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: John Lawson on 2001-07-20 12:19 ]</font>
