Reborn in America, I am a legendary short seller on Wall Street.

Chapter 288 A Dream of the American Revolutionary War (Written while working overtime, thank you for your understanding)

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, they quickly got down to business.

John Browning smiled when he heard that the Belgians had come because they wanted his M1892 Pioneer bolt-action rifle.

"Leaving business aside, Mr. Berg, what do you think is so good about this gun? What features impressed you?" John Browning asked with great interest.

“Very reliable, very solid! Mr. Browning, if I may be so bold, this is a typical American gun. No fancy embellishments, no superfluous design, but it is very reassuring... I fell in love with it at first sight.” Hart Berg answered seriously and earnestly, without the slightest affectation.

John Browning was very pleased, feeling that reliability was the highest praise for his firearms.

However, he turned around, patted Larry on the shoulder, and said to Berg with a smile, "This isn't my original design; it was my brother's insistence. Not to be modest, but before designing this rifle according to Larry Livingston's ideas, I never imagined a rifle could be like this..."

Berg turned to Larry, his face filled with astonishment. "...Mr. Livingston, you had this trick up your sleeve?"

Larry laughed and said, "Mr. Browning is joking. I don't know anything about guns, I just know how to sell them, like to you..."

All four of them laughed.

“Let’s eat first, Mr. Berg hasn’t had dinner yet!” Matthew suggested.

However, Berg himself rejected this suggestion, saying, "If it's not too much trouble, I'd like to see a prototype, because before I only looked at the blueprints, which wasn't enough for me to have a more concrete understanding of the gun."

John Browning was not surprised at all. He walked a few steps to the tin gun cabinet by the wall, opened the cabinet door, took out a long gun wrapped in velvet, and said to Larry and the Belgians, "Come on! I'll take you to the shooting range in the back to try it out."

"Test the gun now?" Larry raised an eyebrow in surprise. "But it's already 7 p.m.."

"Try it now!" John Browning's face lit up with eagerness, like a child eager to show off a toy to his classmates.

The technicians who had come to watch the spectacle, upon hearing that the boss was going to the shooting range to test the gun that night, all took out their kerosene lamps and followed the four men to the shooting range.

Upon arriving at the firing range, John Browning handed the rifle to the Belgian and then began arranging the nighttime test firing of the rifle.

The Belgian held the M1892 Vanguard rifle as if embracing a beloved woman at a party. His fingers kept stroking the smooth barrel, his face filled with rapture.

“My God, this is simply a work of art. I felt its charm the moment I saw the gun's blueprints, but only when I actually held it did I realize how captivating and lovely it is!” Mr. Berg touched the rifle with obvious affection.

At this point, everything was arranged, and John Browning turned to the Belgian and said, "You can try out this rifle!"

"Now? Me?" Billy asked, a look of surprise on his face.

“Of course,” John Browning said with a hint of pride, “and I must also tell you that this is my third improved version. I’ve made some minor improvements and weight balancing, and now it feels very comfortable to hold. If you hold it with both hands, the center of gravity is right between your hands. This is very beneficial for pointing the gun and firing it smoothly.”

“Very well! It’s my pleasure. I’ll give it a try myself then.” Mr. Berg slowly walked to the gun-testing area.

The late spring breeze, carrying the scent of pine needles from the Corconcord Forest, swept across the testing range in the backyard of the Browning Arms Factory.

Four kerosene lamps hung on a wooden pole, casting a shimmering halo in the darkness that illuminated the target placed in the distance.

“Please wait a moment.” John Brownie picked up a velvet cloth and wiped the prototype gun, which was about to determine its fate, one last time. His movements were gentle and focused, as if he were handling a work of art.

Larry stood to the side and could clearly feel the Belgian next to him holding his breath.

His eyes were fixed on the rifle, a look of rapture on his face.

The American plenipotentiary representative of the European arms company, who had traveled a long way, stared intently at the firearm in Browning's hand, his eyes a mixture of a businessman's prudence and a fellow firearms designer's amazement.

Matthew leaned casually against a pile of wooden crates, looking relaxed. He had 200% confidence in the rifle his brother had designed.

By this time, Browning had finished inspecting the gun and had taken a ten-round stripper clip, loading all the bullets into the rifle.

“Let’s begin!” John Browning’s voice was deep and firm as he pushed the M1892 Vanguard bolt-action rifle into Mr. Berg’s arms and showed him how to pull the bolt.

The Belgians used it according to the conventions of Mauser rifles, pulling the bolt very smoothly, as crisp and natural as breathing.

“Aim!” John Browning stepped back and pointed to the wooden target 30 meters away.

boom!!
The crisp sound of the gunshot tore through the silence of the night. The flames spewing from the muzzle, propelled by smokeless powder, shot out in a stream of fire. Compared to the old-fashioned black powder, this gunshot was brief and bright, like an orange flower that bloomed and withered in an instant.

Before Browning could give any instructions, Berg had already pulled the bolt again. The spent cartridge case ejected automatically as the bolt was pulled, and a new bullet was immediately chambered.

The bolt closes and the chamber locks; the entire action is fluid and seamless.

Just as Berg had anticipated, the gun's mechanical structure was remarkably smooth and reliable, with no obstruction whatsoever when the bolt was pulled.

boom!
Gunfire erupted again. This time, the Belgians were focused on the actual feeling of firing the gun.

The recoil is less than expected. Also, as John Browning described, the gun's center of gravity is just right when firing, making it very comfortable to hold.

Pull the bolt again, eject the spent cartridge again, chamber another round, and prepare to fire again...

"Excellent. This is the best-feeling rifle I've found among bolt-action rifles. Even British rifles aren't as smooth as this one..."

As Berg tested it, he couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

Larry smiled to himself, thinking that if the Belgian company FN wanted to buy guns from the United States, they couldn't ask for help from a technical expert who was also a gun designer.

They will genuinely praise the other party's good products, but this is not conducive to lowering prices later.

The silence of the night was repeatedly broken by the sharp sound of gunfire. After firing five rounds, the Belgian even took out his pocket watch and, by the light of the lamp, jotted down some of his feelings.

After all ten bullets had been fired, when Mr. Berg looked at the Vanguard rifle again, the caution in his eyes had been replaced by a burning sense of need.

"What do you think?" Larry took a half step forward at the opportune moment and asked with a smile.

Mr. Berg clicked his tongue, hesitated for a moment, but finally told the truth, “Mr. Browning, this is truly a masterpiece… Well, I must admit this gun is even better than I imagined!”

John Browning's face was full of smiles and satisfaction. He thought for a moment, as if organizing his thoughts, but his final conclusion was, "Try a few more shots!"

Matthew pulled a ten-round magazine from the nearby table and tossed it to his brother. John Browning was about to load it when Mr. Berg quickly waved his hand and said...
“This time I’m going to…”

John Browning handed him the magazine, and the Belgian, just as Browning had done, loaded all ten bullets into the magazine and then chambered another round.

But after only two tests, an uninvited guest suddenly appeared at the test site.

A withered old man with a wrinkled face stormed in angrily, carrying a thick piece of firewood.

"You damned bastards, can't a person get any sleep or rest? You keep firing bullets and making noise during the day, and now you're doing it all at night... I'm going to report you to the mayor!"

Larry turned his gaze to the old man, whose face was full of anger, suggesting he was a resident of the neighborhood.

John Browning frowned and looked at him. "Let's just test a few shots..."

"Not a single shot! I need to rest, and I'm going to file a complaint against you with the mayor." The old man was very agitated.

The Belgian quickly stepped in to smooth things over, saying, "Mr. Browning, I think we should stop here for today. This gun is excellent, and if possible, we can test it again tomorrow morning."

Matthew also went up to comfort the old man. After a long time of persuasion, the old man finally left with his firewood, still angry.

"Who is he? Is he our neighbor?" Larry asked.

Browning rubbed his temples and exclaimed, "He's the real monster of Concord! They say this old man is over 100 years old, and he even witnessed the American Revolutionary War, the great battle that took place in Concord..." "How is that possible?!" Matthew interrupted his brother without hesitation. "The Revolutionary War was at least 110 years ago. If he witnessed it, even if he was only ten years old then, is he 120 years old now?"

Berg stroked his chin, pondered for a moment, and said, "Perhaps there really are people who live to such an advanced age..."

Larry laughed, thinking to himself, "I don't know if anyone witnessed the American Revolutionary War now! But over 100 years later, when a new president comes to power, Magistrate Ma has found a group of people older than the United States itself..."

After the test, the four returned to the small office in the workshop that smelled of engine oil and walnuts.

Mr. Borg placed the M1892 prototype gun in the center of the table, as if he were the guest of honor at the negotiating table.

After the four men were seated, Mr. Berg spoke first, “Mr. Browning, this is a masterpiece. FN Company wishes to obtain the license to manufacture and sell this rifle in Europe. Our factory has state-of-the-art equipment, which can guarantee its quality.”

John Browning did not answer; like his brother Matthew, he focused his gaze on Larry.

Mr. Berg was a little surprised; he hadn't expected Browning to not discuss any terms at all, but instead wait for Larry to speak. So, Berg also looked at Larry.

Larry glanced around at the group, a smile spreading across his face. He then turned to Berg and said, “Every part of Mr. Browning’s design has its purpose, and I don’t want to see any corners cut during production in Europe to save a few coins.”

“You can rest assured about that,” Berg assured him. “FN’s reputation is built on quality, and we can produce exactly according to your drawings and specifications.”

Larry nodded and continued, “Mr. Berg, are you proposing an exclusive license or a general license? Is your sales territory limited to the European continent, or does it include its overseas colonies? The value of these rights is quite different.”

These are all things Larry crammed on with patent lawyers before leaving New York.

In Europe and the United States at that time, the so-called exclusive license meant that the licensee had exclusive rights to use the product within the agreed scope, and Browning Brothers Firearms Company, as the licensor, could not exceed this right.

For example, if FN is granted an exclusive license for the European continent, then even if Browning produces a different version of the M1892 rifle, it cannot be sold in Europe.

In contrast, a standard license grants the licensee the right to use the product, but the licensor retains the right to manufacture, sell, and license it to any third party.

The biggest difference between these two types of licenses is the licensing fee.

Using an exclusive license is equivalent to a commercial monopoly contract, and of course, the licensing fee for each gun produced will be higher.

The downside is that if FN fails to promote it effectively, the technology may be shelved.

Historically, Browning granted Colt the exclusive North American patent for his automatic pistol, but Colt withheld the patent to avoid impacting its revolver sales.

It was not until the early 20th century that it was improved, resulting in the famous M1911 semi-automatic pistol.

Larry's negotiation skills were very professional, which made Hart Berg's face turn serious. He thought for a moment, then looked up at Larry and said, "How about a one-time buyout of the patent? We can pay a considerable fee, and FN will bear the risks of the production and sales of this firearm afterwards."

Larry immediately shook his head. “Mr. Berg, you were there when we signed the contract with Mr. Smith… Besides, we believe in the potential of the M1892 rifle and would prefer to share the long-term benefits of its market growth with FN through patent fees. This would also ensure that our interests are aligned and that we are jointly committed to enhancing the reputation and sales of this rifle.”

The Belgian hesitated for a few seconds, then reiterated the most important point.
"I think you need to understand one fact: selling rifles is completely different from selling pistols! Their major customers are limited to the military, and the armies of various European countries also have their own arms factories. They have no reason to choose rifles from other countries, so exclusive licensing and charging patent fees for each rifle is a very risky business. It's even possible that the rifle might not sell in Europe for several years..."

The Browning brothers nodded in agreement, finding the Belgian's words quite reasonable, and then turned to look at Larry again.

Larry's smile was relaxed; he tapped his fingers on the table.
“You’re absolutely right, but that’s the irony! Now that we have Mr. Shimotsu’s rifle order, we’re not in a rush to recoup our costs in the initial production phase. We can gradually expand the production line and continue production slowly, which will allow us to recoup our costs steadily…”

Berg was speechless.

Subsequently, the two engaged in continuous negotiations regarding details such as the specific amount of patent fees, payment cycles, and minimum production guarantees.

During the negotiations, Larry proposed a key safeguard clause: "In order to ensure that Mr. Browning's design concept is not diluted, the key components of the first 5000 rifles produced by Fn must be supplied or certified by Browning Brothers Firearms Company. At the same time, Mr. John Browning has the right to visit the Fn factory regularly for quality supervision."

Matthew was puzzled. His gun company was not capable of mass-producing key components. He looked at Larry but remained silent.

Larry's request surprised the Belgian. After thinking for a few seconds, he nodded in agreement. "Mr. Livingston, Mr. Browning, I have no problem with that, but I need to send a telegram to the head office tomorrow to verify all the specific contracts we just discussed before I can give you any further commitments."

“Okay!” Larry nodded solemnly.

Mr. Berg also made a corresponding request: "If an exclusive licensing agreement is signed, we would like to obtain priority production rights for all future improvements and designs based on the m1892 platform."

"What exactly do you mean by improvements based on the M1892 model? This scope needs to be clarified. How can we differentiate the improved rifles we produce from the ones you're talking about?" Larry was also very serious.

Berg thought for a few seconds, then smiled and said, "Then why don't you also license that 'superior rifle' you mentioned to us..."

The four of them looked at each other and smiled again.

The subsequent negotiations were very specific and detailed. Matthew took a stack of papers and kept recording the consensus reached by both sides.

The negotiations lasted for a full two hours.

Finally, a draft agreement covering the scope of patent licensing, fee structure, quality control, and future cooperation framework was finalized.

The core terms include: Fn Company obtains exclusive rights to produce and sell the m1892 in Europe, using a per-unit patent fee payment model; Fn Company's sales of rifles are limited to European countries, excluding colonies. However, users are not restricted by this contract if they use the firearms in other parts of the world.
The licensing agreement was for a total of 20 years. The patent fee per rifle was initially $4, then $3 after more than 20,000 rifles were sold, and $2.50 per rifle after more than 80,000 rifles were sold, and it did not decrease.

The gun is expected to have a factory price of about $20 and a retail price of about $35 to $40 per gun.

This gun is certainly not as expensive as the one sold to the Boers, but the Boers needed to produce those themselves, while the current rifles are just licensed, and they get the money for free.

Furthermore, FN Company will have its own promotional plans.

The last batch of rifle orders came from the Boers, who were incredibly wealthy and didn't care about the cost, which is why they were able to sell them at such high prices.

Colts sell for high prices, $120 a revolver, because they have Commissioner Smith in Congress, which is something we can't compare to.

However, with this exclusive grant, the profits will likely be much lower.

Larry did the math in his head: even if he only charged $4 per gun, if he sold 10,000 guns a year in the initial phase, that would still be $40,000, which wasn't a small amount.

In addition, Browning Brothers Firearms Company provided key components for the initial phase and had the right to oversee quality, while FN had the priority right to cooperate on improvements.

After all four parties reviewed the contract terms, they indicated that they had no objections to them.

The four men stood up and clasped hands tightly. The kerosene lamps in the workshop were dimming, but new hope seemed to have entered the office.

The four smiled at each other again, and Larry exclaimed, "Can we eat now? My stomach is growling!"

·
Meanwhile, not far from the Brownie Brothers Firearms Company, an old man, who was said to have fought in the Battle of Concord—the first shot of the American Revolutionary War—lay down on a blanket, his face ashen.

As he muttered curses under his breath at Browning Firearms Company, he strangely thought of something from long ago.

117 years ago, on a night just like that, the sound of gunfire echoed in his memory. Then, a messenger arrived in Concord on horseback to deliver the news to the militia. Xinshi loudly told the militia...
"The British are here!"

The painful memories stirred a mix of excitement in the old man and emotions within you.

Just as he was falling into a deep sleep, wrapped in his blanket, suddenly, the crisp sound of horses' hooves came from the dirt road outside his house; two horses were galloping very quickly.

A short while later, two horses stopped in front of their own door, which was also the door of the Browning Firearms Company.

The old man sat up abruptly, his movements as light as a child's. He stared eagerly outside, hoping the other person would say, "The British are here!"

Then I'll be back to my childhood...

But the result ultimately disappointed him. The man shouted, "Take me to see Larry Livingston! His Chinese friend is going to be hanged!"

(End of this chapter)