1847 - The telegraph is invented. 1850 - True shotguns in common use. In the second half of the 18th century, musket design branched out. This period produced a number of single-purpose firearms.

Unlike nearly all standard longarms of the age, typified by the Model 1816 Springfield that was then the issue martial musket of the U.S. military, Hall’s design was a breechloading rifle.