Val A. Browning
Encyclopedia
Val Allen Browning was a noted Utah
industrialist, philanthropist, and third generation gun innovator. His grandfather, Jonathan Browning
, opened a gun shop in Ogden, Utah
in 1852 and his father, John Browning, is considered by many to be the most important gun inventor in history.
on 20 August 1895, Val Browning graduated from Ogden High School in 1913 and later studied law and engineering at Cornell University
.
In 1918, Val Browning was commissioned as a second lieutenant with the United States Army
, and served with the 79th Infantry Division at Verdun
. In 1920, he became the manager of the manufacturing of John Browning guns in Liege, Belgium
, and served as his father's personal representative to the Fabrique Nationale de Herstal
company. Upon his father's death in 1926, Val had the responsibility of completing the projects that were not finished by his father, including the Browning Superposed
shotgun and the Browning Hi-Power pistol (GP-35)
.
In 1924, he married Ann Chaffin (1901–1975) of Farmington, Utah
and they had four children. They lived in Belgium
until 1935 when Val returned to Utah
as President of Browning Arms Company
.
Val received 48 gun patents during his career, compared to his father John Browning's 128 American gun patents. In 1955, Val Browning was awarded Knighthood in the Order of Léopold
by King Baudouin of Belgium
for an "outstanding contribution to the Gun Making Art;" an honor that had been bestowed upon his father in 1914.
Mr. Browning spent his career representing business interests in the United States and Europe. In addition to chairing Browning Arms, he served as director of the First Security Corporation, Utah International
, Amalgamated Sugar Company
, and the Mountain Fuel Supply Company. Through the 1940s purchase of some of the shares of W. L. Wattis of his founding shares in Utah Construction Company
, Val Browning shared in the substantial gains in the sale of Utah International
. Val Browning was a benefactor of the Dixie State College of Utah
and Weber State University
and his donation of his substantial collection of European fine art formed the basis of the Utah Museum of Fine Arts
masterwork paintings.
Browning died in 1994 in Ogden, Utah
. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
industrialist, philanthropist, and third generation gun innovator. His grandfather, Jonathan Browning
Jonathan Browning
Jonathan Browning was an American inventor and gunmaker. Born in Sumner County, Tennessee, he started earning a living as a blacksmith and later switched to become a lock and gunsmith. He invented a 'sliding breech' repeating rifle also called a Harmonica gun between 1834 and 1842 while living...
, opened a gun shop in Ogden, Utah
Ogden, Utah
Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. Ogden serves as the county seat of Weber County. The population was 82,825 according to the 2010 Census. The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history, and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a...
in 1852 and his father, John Browning, is considered by many to be the most important gun inventor in history.
Life
Born in Ogden, UtahOgden, Utah
Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. Ogden serves as the county seat of Weber County. The population was 82,825 according to the 2010 Census. The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history, and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a...
on 20 August 1895, Val Browning graduated from Ogden High School in 1913 and later studied law and engineering at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
.
In 1918, Val Browning was commissioned as a second lieutenant with the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, and served with the 79th Infantry Division at Verdun
Verdun
Verdun is a city in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Verdun is the biggest city in Meuse, although the capital of the department is the slightly smaller city of Bar-le-Duc.- History :...
. In 1920, he became the manager of the manufacturing of John Browning guns in Liege, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, and served as his father's personal representative to the Fabrique Nationale de Herstal
Fabrique Nationale de Herstal
Fabrique Nationale d'Herstal — self identified as FN Herstal and often referred to as Fabrique Nationale or simply FN — is a firearms manufacturer located in Herstal, Belgium....
company. Upon his father's death in 1926, Val had the responsibility of completing the projects that were not finished by his father, including the Browning Superposed
Browning Superposed
The Browning Superposed was one of the first over-under shotgun designs to be produced, and the last, possibly the most elegant, firearm to be designed by John Browning...
shotgun and the Browning Hi-Power pistol (GP-35)
Browning Hi-Power
The Browning Hi-Power is a single-action, 9 mm semi-automatic handgun. It is based on a design by American firearms inventor John Browning, and completed by Dieudonné Saive at Fabrique Nationale of Herstal, Belgium. Browning died in 1926, several years before the design was finalized...
.
In 1924, he married Ann Chaffin (1901–1975) of Farmington, Utah
Farmington, Utah
Farmington is a city in Davis County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Ogden–Clearfield, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 18,255 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Davis County...
and they had four children. They lived in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
until 1935 when Val returned to Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
as President of Browning Arms Company
Browning Arms Company
Browning Arms Company is a maker of firearms, bows and fishing gear. Founded in Utah in 1927, it offers a wide variety of firearms, including shotguns, rifles, pistols, and rimfire firearms and sport bows, as well as fishing rods and reels....
.
Val received 48 gun patents during his career, compared to his father John Browning's 128 American gun patents. In 1955, Val Browning was awarded Knighthood in the Order of Léopold
Order of Léopold
The Order of Leopold is one of the three Belgian national honorary orders of knighthood. It is the highest order of Belgium and is named in honour of King Leopold I. It consists of a military, a maritime and a civilian division...
by King Baudouin of Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
for an "outstanding contribution to the Gun Making Art;" an honor that had been bestowed upon his father in 1914.
Mr. Browning spent his career representing business interests in the United States and Europe. In addition to chairing Browning Arms, he served as director of the First Security Corporation, Utah International
Utah Construction Company
The Utah Construction Company was a construction company founded by Edmund Orson Wattis, Jr, Warren L. Wattis and William. H. Wattis in 1900.-History:...
, Amalgamated Sugar Company
Amalgamated Sugar Company
The Amalgamated Sugar Company is a sugar beet refining company run on a cooperative basis. It was founded in 1897 in Logan, Utah, and is now located in Nampa, Idaho, United States. The company markets its sugar under the White Satin brand.-Founding:...
, and the Mountain Fuel Supply Company. Through the 1940s purchase of some of the shares of W. L. Wattis of his founding shares in Utah Construction Company
Utah Construction Company
The Utah Construction Company was a construction company founded by Edmund Orson Wattis, Jr, Warren L. Wattis and William. H. Wattis in 1900.-History:...
, Val Browning shared in the substantial gains in the sale of Utah International
Utah Construction Company
The Utah Construction Company was a construction company founded by Edmund Orson Wattis, Jr, Warren L. Wattis and William. H. Wattis in 1900.-History:...
. Val Browning was a benefactor of the Dixie State College of Utah
Dixie State College of Utah
Dixie State College of Utah is a college located in St. George, Utah, United States.-History:...
and Weber State University
Weber State University
Weber State University is a public university located in the city of Ogden in Weber County, Utah, USA. It was founded in 1889 and is a coeducational, publicly supported university offering professional, liberal arts and technical certificates, as well as associate, bachelor's and master's degrees...
and his donation of his substantial collection of European fine art formed the basis of the Utah Museum of Fine Arts
Utah Museum of Fine Arts
The Utah Museum of Fine Arts is Utah's primary resource for culture and visual arts. It is located in Salt Lake City, Utah on the University of Utah campus near Rice–Eccles Stadium. Works of art are displayed on a rotating basis. It is a university and state art museum...
masterwork paintings.
Browning died in 1994 in Ogden, Utah
Ogden, Utah
Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. Ogden serves as the county seat of Weber County. The population was 82,825 according to the 2010 Census. The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history, and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a...
. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
External links
- Val A. Browning Center
- Utah Museum of Fine Arts
- Obituary of son, John Val Browning - Deseret News