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Contents. Matchlock. A matchlock or firelock[ 1 ] is a historical type of firearm wherein the gunpowder is ignited by a burning piece of flammable cord or twine that is in contact with the gunpowder through a mechanism that the musketeer activates by pulling a lever or trigger with their finger. This firing mechanism was an improvement over the ...
Antique Japanese matchlock ( tanegashima ), showing the firing mechanism. Note the V-shaped mainspring. The snap matchlock is a type of matchlock mechanism used to ignite early firearms. It was used in Europe from about 1475 to 1640, and in Japan from 1543 until about 1880, and was also largely used by Korea (Joseon) during the Imjin war to the ...
A firelock is a firearm in which the priming is ignited by sparks. [3][4][5] More specifically, it refers to the mechanism or lock of such firearms. It may also refer to a gun's lock which uses slow match to ignite the powder charge. [6][7] The matchlock was a lever mechanism that simplified the ergonomics of firing.
Wheellock. A wheellock pistol or puffer, Augsburg, c. 1580. A wheellock, wheel-lock, or wheel lock is a friction-wheel mechanism which creates a spark that causes a firearm to fire. It was the next major development in firearms technology after the matchlock and the first self-igniting firearm. Its name is from its rotating steel wheel to ...
Flintlock mechanism. The flintlock mechanism is a type of lock used on muskets, rifles, and pistols from the early 17th to the mid-19th century. It is commonly referred to as a " flintlock " (without the word mechanism). The term is also used for the weapons themselves as a whole, and not just the lock mechanism.
Snaphance. A snaphance or snaphaunce is a type of firearm lock in which a flint struck against a striker plate above a steel pan ignites the priming powder which fires the gun. [1] It is the mechanical progression of the wheellock firing mechanism, and along with the miquelet lock and doglock are predecessors of the flintlock mechanism.
The matchlock incorporated a "lock" (so-called because of its resemblance to door locks of the day) that was actuated by a trigger, originally called a "tricker." The lock was a simple lever which pivoted when pulled and lowered the match down to the touchhole.
In Europe, a shoulder stock, probably inspired by the crossbow stock, [4] was added to the arquebus around 1470 and the appearance of the matchlock mechanism is dated to a little before 1475. The matchlock arquebus was the first firearm equipped with a trigger mechanism. [34] [39] It is also considered to be the first portable shoulder-arms ...