On this episode of Our American Stories, before interchangeable parts became standard in factories, they were an idea in need of proof. And Eli Whitney saw opportunity in that idea.

Seeking federal backing, he promoted the concept that muskets could be assembled from uniform, standardized pieces. That claim pointed toward the future of American manufacturing. Here to tell the story is Ashley Hlebinsky. Ashley is the former co-host of Discovery Channel’s Master of Arms, the former curator in charge of the Cody Firearms Museum, and president of The Gun Code, LLC.

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