For us crafty types or just in general, to what degree is it possible to scootch tech development along with the aid of either Rifters or Rift Items?

Say, for no particular reason, the 300 or so year early development of switchblades! (I'm pretty sure the coiled spring already exists, so it's really just the concept of construction)

Or, in the larger sense, things like the technological know-how to reproduce simple firearms even if we can't actually make them usable due to the lack-of-black-powder part.

Should any given possible advance be asked about?