Very interesting Mark. Winchester has a similar experience trying to sell their repeating rifles to the army in the late 1850's, just prior to the civil war. They were rejected for three reasons. 1. to complicated to operate. 2. Fear that because of it's high rate of fire. soldiers would use too much ammunition. 3.... and most important of all....the overall length of the rifle was too short for soldiers to be able to execute a proper rifle salute!
