Development of military small arms in Burgundie

While Burgundie has long had an on-again-off-again relationship with the concept of a professional and or standing army, the origin of weapons, currently classified as, serving a purpose that is currently attributed to modern militaries goes back beyond the horizon in the long moral arc of human history. That history, like the last sentence, is unending and brutal. While the first standing armies were not present in the principalities that make up modern Burgundie until 1461 when the Bishop of Bonavix passed a decree restricted military recruitment and training to himself. There was a new tax to be raised known as the taille that was to provide funding for a new provincial army. The taille started a tradition of centralized provisioning and logistical standardization that took many centuries to perfect. It also was the first time that an army within the bounds of modern Burgundie spent money to buy side arms and conduct common training in their use.

Because of its access to Audonia and Alshar through its vast trade and colonial empire early modern Burgundie was replete with horses and gunpowder. However, this did not correlate to its innovation in the space of firearms. In fact, Burgundie lagged behind in firearms development until the outbreak of the Great War.

Rocks on sticks
Of the variaties sharp and blunt

19th Century
The various coastal principalities of the Kingdom of Dericania entered the 19th-century with flintlock muskets and pistols as well as halberds and swords like the legends of pike and shot they assumed themselves to be. As the First Fratricide expanded many of the Dericanian states sought to increase their advantage over the other. In 1858 Burgundie adopted the with both percussion caps and  which was standard issue until 1875 when the. While other more advanced firearms platforms were available it the plodding pace of development was determined to be prudent as the General of the Infantry determined "...the work required is good for the morale and moral fiber of the soldier." The Naval Board of Procurement and Munitions found in 1869 that "The wasteful expenditure of ammunition from fast-loading rifles not only creates a burden to the State but a sloth of the spiritual-warrior of every Bergendii fighting man."

Contemporary
Following the disasterous Overland Campaign during the Red Interregnum in 1899, a Board of Inquiry was formed to determine if, despite the lose of moral superiority over the foe, Burgundie would need to adopt a bolt action rifle with a copper-jacketed bullet. This caused a panic in the middle class who had the time to read the papers and the compunction to take issue with the Board of Inquiries investigation. The Great Bolt Action Panic of 1903 resulted when the Board of Inquiry published its findings and recommend that the Army and Navy of Burgundie adopt a modern bolt action rifle with a copper-jacketed bullet. Articles decrying the bolt action, that it would "spur the worst, lustful spirits within the hearts of men" and that their action "resembles in the most obvious way...fornication" were common in the tabloid press. They were labeled "Weapons Without Good Moral Fiber" and l'armetouspecats (Eng: gun of all [the seven capital] sins). There was even an arson event known as the "Corset Riot" in which society mothers stormed and burned down a weapons factory thought to be making bolt action rifles to save their sons the "indignity" of having to use them in military drill. The factory was in fact one of the only manufactories of the on the Isle of Burgundie and its destruction was mentioned by reformers as another reason to adopt the new style rifle. A further Board of Inquiry determined that much of this panic was fomented by a bevy of itinerant preachers who sought donations to "pray the rifle away".