Odd thing I found out

[5MadFarmers]

On Enfield, James Burton went over to England in the 1850s from Harpers Ferry to set up their Armory on the US system of interchangeable parts. Before that, English arms were made by a bunch of contractors. Some would make barrels, others locks, others stocks and so on. They would send their parts in to the government for inspection. Those accepted would be reissued to fitting up shops for assembly, which always required a lot of hand work since the parts were not gauged to be interchangeable. Enfield armory changed that. Afterward, the contractors did mostly export and colonial trade work, while Enfield supplied part interchangeable arms to the crown. There is an interesting article from just before the Civil War on Burton's work in England. It's in Harpers Magazine, or Frank Leslies. After the war, Burton went over to Russia and did the same thing.

I was aware of his enfield connection. Circa 1875 there is on article on him introducing new barrel making machines to the US. It's in some iron monger magazine.

I'd be interested in that magazine article you mentioned if you come across it.

It's not the Minie ball, it's the Burton ball...

[Jim K]

AFAIK, the French call it "le Big Mac", just using the English words, as do the Germans. But in German, a quarter pounder with cheese is "ein Viertel Pfunder mit Kase."

Jim

[shjoe]

correct, 5Mad: a "royale with cheese". now, if i can only get that catchy tune from reservoir dogs out of my head....