The display of American weapons at the Great Exhibition of 1851 showed that American methods of manufacture might be superior to those used in Britain, especially for producing small, accurate parts in large numbers.

American armouries had pursued the ideal of 'interchangeability', where the corresponding parts were strictly alike so that they could be exchanged between guns, simplifying the work of final assembly and of repair in the field. For this the American toolmakers had developed methods using gauges, jigs and specialised manufacturing machines. Interchangeability could not be achieved using the craft-based practices that were still usual in Britain.

The upshot of a government inquiry was that in 1856 over 150 new American machines were bought to re-equip the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield and American personnel were employed in some managerial posts. This machine is from that installation and formed part of a suite of tools for making the wooden stocks, previously made entirely by hand.

This lock-recessing machine cut the recess in the wooden stock into which the mechanical parts of the gun mechanism (the 'lock') fitted.

Inv. 1957-1