I suppose:

(1) Wingshooting: 17th Century, Charles II when in exile in France picked it up and brought it back to England.

(2) The break/breech loading action (Pauly in 1811, though he was Swiss he was in Napoleon's army

, then Lefaucheux, 1828-35)

(3) The central percussion cartridge (1829, Roux, Picheron, Robert, Pottet)

(4) The rimfire cartridge (1845, Flobert)

(5) the Minie bullet (Claude Minie, 1847), and many others don't count...

Good thing no one copied the French and we still run arround with muzzle loading caplocks

Actually I'd take my Chapuis (or a Demas) over a Searcy any day. Though 400 is right, I'd love it better if they got rid of that damn beavertail...

No worries Peter all in good fun.