John Moses Browning held 128 firearms patents during his lifetime, many of which were for guns that are still being made and used today. However, even the greatest minds have to start somewhere, and for Browning, that was with the Model 1878 rifle. The Browning B-78 rifle being offered in the January Collection pays tribute to Browning’s pioneering design.
Browning’s first patent, issued in 1879, was for a single-shot, falling block rifle. Designed a year before, it was fittingly named the Model 1878. Approximately 600 of these rifles were made by Browning and his brothers and were sold out of their shop in Utah. Today, no more than 100 of these rare guns survive.
The design went on to become the Winchester Model 1885; you can still buy new ones to this day. The modern Browning company reintroduced the model in 1973 and called it the B-78. The company made 24,000 of them until production ceased in 1984.
Traveling back in time a bit to 1976, the Browning Arms Company decided to honor both America’s bicentennial and John Moses Browning’s beginnings by creating a limited edition rifle and knife set.
Bicentennial Browning B-78
Just 1,000 of these cased sets were produced, each bearing a unique serial number with a special “1776” prefix. The gun in the January Collector’s Elite Auctions carries a low number: 1776-0159, making it the 159th gun in the limited run.
The gun itself, chambered in .45-70 Government, has a 24-inch blued octagon barrel and a nickel-finished receiver. It features highly detailed animal scenes including an American bison on the right in a plains scene and an American bald eagle standing on a branch on the left. Both scenes feature circular punch borders and are surrounded by floral scrolls. The lever and barrel are similarly engraved. The right scene is signed “F. Marechal” for Francois Marechal, the Master Engraver for Browning Arms Company.
As if the metal on this gun wasn’t beautiful enough on its own, the fancy, high-grade honey burl wooden stock and forearm really brings the whole thing together. The figure in the wood and the checkering on both parts are gorgeous and expertly executed.
The hunting knife that comes in the set is also engraved with the same bison and eagle motifs and bears a matching serial number to the gun.
A special medallion, acknowledging the set as part of the Browning Bicentennial celebration also contains a matching serial number.
The rifle, knife and medallion are all presented in a custom French-fitted wooden case lined with red velvet.
Offered here in absolute mint, brand new condition, this B-78 set even comes with the original cardboard shipping box that contained everything back in 1976. This set is as perfect as the day it was made some 49 years ago.
Don’t miss your chance to own an exceptionally stunning set that pays homage not only to America but to one of her greatest gun designers. You’ll only find it at Collector’s Elite Auctions.
