<mrpicky>Adams was never Master Armorer</mrpicky>

As lore has it, after Porter died an anonymous letter was sent to Mordecai accusing him of working Porter to death.  Mordecai never replaced Porter in the Master Armorer position - he simply let it lapse.  It was resurrected later, one more time, but not by Mordecai.

Adams was an Assistant Foreman.  Not even the most senior.  Not a dig at Adams - just a note that Porter was the last of the line regards cartouches; after that they were simply done by one of the hired help.