Interchangeable parts

[Gene L]

At what time in history did the US start using interchangeable parts in their military guns? I learned as a kid that Eli Whitney came up with the idea, but don't remember when it became standardized. I suppose it was a trickle-down process, so I'm not looking for the first interchangeable gun was invented, just when it became commonplace.

 

[Artificer]

Hi Gene,

Under the criteria you mentioned, it was the Model 1841 Percussion "Common Rifle" that we know commonly today as the "Mississippi Rifle," due to its use in the Mexican War by Jefferson Davis and his Mississippi Regiment, the 1st Mississippi Rifles.

They were working on interchangeable parts at the same time for the M 1840 Flintlock Musket, but did not achieve true interchangeability until after the Model 1841 Rifle was in production. The Model 1842 Percussion Musket was the first U.S. (Smooth bore) Musket made entirely on the Interchangeable Parts System from the very beginning of manufacture.

Gus