" It is interesting to note that the Field's action was patented in 1877, a full year before John Browning designed his Single Shot Hi-Wall action. I wonder if John Browning may have been influenced by the Field's action and only modified that design, rather than inventing his own action."
Actually John M. Browning was issued U.S. Patent No.220,271 for "An Improvement in Breech-Loading Fire-Arms" on October 7, 1879. The accompanying drawing clearly shows that the firearm in question was what would become the Winchester High Wall.
Browning manufactured his rifles himself and sold them in his shop in Ogden, Utah, where they were discovered by a Winchester representative. In 1883 Winchester bought the patent from Browning and manufactured the rifle, beginning in 1885. Browning had manufactured and sold almost 600 of the rifles before selling the patent.
This was the first of many patents obtained by John M. Browning and sold to Winchester. The original patent models are on display in the Browning Museum in Ogden.
