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FWIW, the first three patent dates on the Model 1899 are the Louis Diss patents for the box magazine, the first magazine (at least in the U.S.) to retain the cartridges when the magazine is not inserted in the rifle, allowing loaded magazines to be kept for reloading. The Diss patents were still in effect when one John Browning used the idea in a brand new gadget called an automatic pistol and, until the patents expired, Colt marked pistol magazines with the Diss patent dates.
Jim
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