pˈaʊdɚɹˈæktʃuːˌeɪɾᵻd tˈuːlz wɜːɹ ɪnvˈɛstᵻɡˌeɪɾᵻd ænd jˈuːzd pɹˈaɪɚ tə ðɪs dɪvˈɛləpmənt; ðeɪ wɜː jˈuːzd ɪn ˈæntaɪsˈʌbmɚɹˌiːn wˈɔːɹfɛɹ dˈʊɹɹɪŋ ðə fˈɜːst wˈɜːld wˈɔːɹ ænd wɜː ðə sˈʌbdʒɛkt əvə nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd twˈɛnti wˈʌn juːnˈaɪɾᵻd stˈeɪts pˈæʔn̩t jˌuːˈɛs pˈæʔn̩t nˈoʊ. wˈʌn mˈɪliən θɹˈiːhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti fˈaɪv θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti nˈaɪn.
Powder-actuated tools were investigated and used prior to this development; they were used in anti-submarine warfare during the First World War and were the subject of a 1921 United States patent (US Patent No. 1365869).