Originally Posted By: canvasback
Originally Posted By: treblig1958
I think the French and the Germans, especially the French, had far more input into the development of firearms than the English.

Performance, and their remarkable record of performance, that is the key to the English predominance.


Their preeminent position is due to marketing.


I disagree, performance under the harshest conditions brought them to predominance and long before the breechloader showed up.