Changes

== History ==

== History ==

[[File:Combat Infantry Badge.svg|thumb|left|200px|{{Center|US Army [[Combat Infantryman Badge]] has the image of the Model 1795 musket}}]]

[[File:Combat Infantry Badge.svg|thumb|left|200px|{{Center|US Army [[Combat Infantryman Badge]] has the image of the Model 1795 musket}}]]

About the middle of the [[18th century]], French [[gunsmith]] [[Honoré Blanc]] developed the concept of [[interchangeable parts]] for muskets.<ref name=Mouradian83>George Mouradian, ''The Quality Revolution'' (Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 2002), p. 83</ref> Blanc tried to interest other [[Europe]]an gunsmiths, but they were not impressed by the idea. But he did interest the American [[Ambassador]] to [[France]], [[Thomas Jefferson]]. Jefferson quickly saw that [[mass production]] of weapons parts would free America from dependence on European sources for parts. He could not get Blanc to move to the United States but he did convince [[President of the United States|President]] [[George Washington]] it was a good idea. In 1798, [[Eli Whitney]] got the first [[contract]] for 10,000 muskets to be delivered within two years.<ref name=EWMW>{{cite web |url=https://www.eliwhitney.org/7/museum/about-eli-whitney/factory |title=The Factory |publisher=Eli Whitney Museum and Workshop |access-date=4 August 2016}}</ref> Whitney used a large force of unskilled workers and machinery to produce standardized identical parts at a low cost.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://robohub.org/the-evolution-of-assembly-lines-a-brief-history/ |title=The evolution of assembly lines: A brief history |publisher=Robohub Digest |access-date=31 July 2016}}</ref> [[United States Congress|Congress]] had already decided to pattern the new musket after the 1763 French Charleville model.<ref name=EWMW/> Whitney, like other [[contract]]ors, had been given 2 or 3 to work with.<ref name=EWMW/>

About the middle of the [[18th century]], French [[gunsmith]] [[Honoré Blanc]] developed the concept of [[interchangeable parts]] for muskets.<ref name=Mouradian83>George Mouradian, ''The Quality Revolution'' (Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 2002), p. 83</ref> Blanc tried to interest other [[Europe]]an gunsmiths, but they were not impressed by the idea. But he did interest the American [[Ambassador]] to [[France]], [[Thomas Jefferson]]. Jefferson quickly saw that [[mass production]] of weapons parts would free America from dependence on European sources for parts. He could not get Blanc to move to the United States but he did convince [[President of the United States|President]] [[George Washington]] it was a good idea. In 1798, [[Eli Whitney]] got the first [[contract]] for 10,000 muskets to be delivered within two years.<ref name=EWMW>{{cite web |url=https://www.eliwhitney.org/7/museum/about-eli-whitney/factory |title=The Factory |publisher=Eli Whitney Museum and Workshop |access-date=4 August 2016 |archive-date=24 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624091737/http://www.eliwhitney.org/7/museum/about-eli-whitney/factory |url-status=dead }}</ref> Whitney used a large force of unskilled workers and machinery to produce standardized identical parts at a low cost.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://robohub.org/the-evolution-of-assembly-lines-a-brief-history/ |title=The evolution of assembly lines: A brief history |publisher=Robohub Digest |access-date=31 July 2016}}</ref> [[United States Congress|Congress]] had already decided to pattern the new musket after the 1763 French Charleville model.<ref name=EWMW/> Whitney, like other [[contract]]ors, had been given 2 or 3 to work with.<ref name=EWMW/>

The Model 1795 muskets were the first muskets produced at the [[Springfield Armory]] and also the [[Harpers Ferry Armory]].<ref name=NRAmus/> The Harpers Ferry Armory did not begin producing the muskets until 1798 at the earliest and more probably started around 1800.<ref name=Moore250>Robert John Moore; Michael Haynes, ''Lewis & Clark, Tailor Made, Trail Worn: Army Life, Clothing & Weapons of the Corps of Discovery'' (Helena, MT: Farcountry Press, 2003), p. 250</ref> There were some distinct differences in the muskets produced at the two armories. The models from the Springfield Armory have dates of manufacture on the lockplate and have an eagle stamp with the word "Springfield".<ref name=NRAmus/> Between 1795 and 1816, the Springfield Armory produced about 85,000 muskets.<ref name=NRAmus/> Between the two armories, some 700,000 muskets were produced between 1795 and 1844. This makes it the longest production run in [[American history]].<ref name=NRAmus/> The Springfield musket was used in the [[War of 1812]], the [[Mexican-American War]], and even the [[American Civil War]].<ref name=milfact/> They were also carried on the [[Lewis and Clark Expedition]].<ref name=Moore250/>

The Model 1795 muskets were the first muskets produced at the [[Springfield Armory]] and also the [[Harpers Ferry Armory]].<ref name=NRAmus/> The Harpers Ferry Armory did not begin producing the muskets until 1798 at the earliest and more probably started around 1800.<ref name=Moore250>Robert John Moore; Michael Haynes, ''Lewis & Clark, Tailor Made, Trail Worn: Army Life, Clothing & Weapons of the Corps of Discovery'' (Helena, MT: Farcountry Press, 2003), p. 250</ref> There were some distinct differences in the muskets produced at the two armories. The models from the Springfield Armory have dates of manufacture on the lockplate and have an eagle stamp with the word "Springfield".<ref name=NRAmus/> Between 1795 and 1816, the Springfield Armory produced about 85,000 muskets.<ref name=NRAmus/> Between the two armories, some 700,000 muskets were produced between 1795 and 1844. This makes it the longest production run in [[American history]].<ref name=NRAmus/> The Springfield musket was used in the [[War of 1812]], the [[Mexican-American War]], and even the [[American Civil War]].<ref name=milfact/> They were also carried on the [[Lewis and Clark Expedition]].<ref name=Moore250/>

== The Springfield Armory ==

== The Springfield Armory ==

Created in 1777, during the American Revolution the arsenal stored muskets, [[cannon]], and other [[weapon]]s. When France entered the war on the side of the United States, the large stores of arms and [[ammunition]] were sent to Springfield for storage and to be sent to the troops.<ref name=MacKenzie7>Alex MacKenzie, ''Springfield Armory'' (Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2015), pp. 7–8</ref> After the war there were large supplies of Charleville muskets stored at Springfield. When the US decided to manufacture its own muskets, Springfield had a daunting task ahead of it. The [[Government of the United States|government]] had to start up arms factories with no past experience in doing so.<ref name=MacKenzie7/> When Whitney was awarded the contract (for five years) he was paid most of the money up front. The contract paid Whitney $13.40 per musket when it was determined the Springfield armory could make them for $10 each. The reason they did this was to learn from Whitney and other contractors how the weapon was produced and assembled efficiently.<ref name=MacKenzie7/> When government [[inspector|inspector]]s saw talented workers at various contractor's [[Factory|factories]], they would often persuade them to come work at Springfield.<ref name=MacKenzie7/> By the 1840s the government no longer saw the need to pay contractors the higher prices and would award contracts based on the best [[bid|bid]].<ref name=MacKenzie7/>

Created in 1777, during the American Revolution the arsenal stored muskets, [[cannon]], and other [[weapon]]s. When France entered the war on the side of the United States, the large stores of arms and [[ammunition]] were sent to Springfield for storage and to be sent to the troops.<ref name=MacKenzie7>Alex MacKenzie, ''Springfield Armory'' (Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2015), pp. 7–8</ref> After the war there were large supplies of Charleville muskets stored at Springfield. When the US decided to manufacture its own muskets, Springfield had a daunting task ahead of it. The [[Government of the United States|government]] had to start up arms factories with no past experience in doing so.<ref name=MacKenzie7/> When Whitney was awarded the contract (for five years) he was paid most of the money up front. The contract paid Whitney $13.40 per musket when it was determined the Springfield armory could make them for $10 each. The reason they did this was to learn from Whitney and other contractors how the weapon was produced and assembled efficiently.<ref name=MacKenzie7/> When government [[inspector|inspector]]s saw talented workers at various contractor's [[Factory|factories]], they would often persuade them to come work at Springfield.<ref name=MacKenzie7/> By the 1840s the government no longer saw the need to pay contractors the higher prices and would award contracts based on the best [[bid|bid]].<ref name=MacKenzie7/>

== Related pages ==

== Related pages ==

* [[musket]]

* [[musket]]