I had an incredible lunch hour today, I was doing deliveries in Ogden Ut today and decided to visit the Browning museum for a while. Suffice to say an hour just wasnt enough.

They had everything from several functional minature replicas to 50 cal machine guns and overgrown demo machine guns for training purposes.

It is difficult for me to put into words what the feeling was like to be there looking at the first prototypes and the original guns that John himself took to FN to sell his patents and his first single shots. The ones that started it all. It was kind of like turning back the hands of time for an up close and personal look at history.

There were four or five original BAR's there, some water cooled and air cooled machine guns. Lots of lever guns too. One of which looked extremly strong but never saw production, I believe that it was also one of his first lever designs.

This is a museum that was donated to the community by the Browning family, one area depicts a shop and contains the equipment that was originally used by John M and his father. The little lathe was his fathers and brought out west across the plains, it was first powered by a foot pedal like an old sewing machine and eventually a motor was added. Its amazing to me that a man could acomplish so much with so little.

The museum is in Union Station in Ogden. Tickets are $5.00 and that also includes addmision to the antique car and train museums. (which I didnt have time for, but hope to soon.)

For any of you coming through the area, or already here, I would highly reccomend paying it a visit. Ive lived in the Salt Lake area all my life and didnt even know it existed until recently, the public should be made aware of such a treasure.

The tour guide I had was an ex engineer for Browning with a great personality. I arrived mid afternoon on a weekday and had my own guide.
WELL WORTH THE CHIPS

The little lady there today didnt know jack! She thought the rifling machine was a drill.

I saw a plaque on the wall of the former engineer, he is supposed to be there Saturday mornings. He designed the A-bolt.

I had a "one on one" guide too! The place is really worth going to see! Highly recommend it to all. Just increditable the stuff that is there

The Browning Museum in Ogden is indeed fabulous, and the cars are really worth seeing also.

If your ever near Rock Island Arsenal in Illinois, go to the John Browning Museum there also. Fabulous collection of guns and militaria, with some really neat artillery on the grounds.

Another nice gun museum is in Elko Nevada; not real large, but well worth a visit. I think it's called the County Western Museum or something like that.

Safe Shooting Friends !- "gunsmither"