I guess I was thinking along the lines of people from the 1800s, Rapaire ( in view of which I apologise for Colonal Lewis, although he must have been born around then )......so I wouldn't really have thought of Eugene Stoner, and John Browning was a bit late for the Wild West too, but yes, Sir Hiram Maxim (as he became) merits a place ; not sure about Oliver Winchester,though---I thought he was just a wealthy shirt-maker who put up the cash to buy Volcanic ,& hired BT Henry to do all the work ?? I happily stand to be corrected,of course !`