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Flintlock is the general term for any firearm based on the flintlock mechanism. Introduced about 1630, the flintlock rapidly replaced earlier firearm-ignition technologies (such as the matchlock and wheellock). It continued to be in common use for over two centuries, replaced by percussion cap and, later, cartridge-based systems in the early-to-mid 19th century. The Model 1840 U.S. musket was the last flintlock firearm produced for the U.S. military although there is some evidence that obsolete flintlocks were still seeing action in the earliest days of the American Civil War. While technologically obsolete, flintlock firearms have enjoyed a renaissance among black powder shooting enthusiasts and many fine flintlock rifles and pistols are still being made today.
The flintlock mechanism produces sparks when a piece of flint, held in the jaws of a spring-loaded hammer or "cock" (left in photo) strikes the hardened steel face of the "frizzen," (right in photo) knocking the frizzen forward to uncover a small pan of gunpowder beneath the frizzen. The resulting spark ignites the powder in the pan and this flame is transferred through a small hole to ignite the main powder charge inside the barrel. Under damp or rainy conditions, the gunpowder in the pan could get wet and the gun would be unable to fire.
Subtypes
Flintlocks may be any type of small arm: long gun or pistol, smoothbore or rifle, muzzleloader or breechloader. Because of the time needed to reload (the fastest experts could reload a smooth-bore muzzle-loading musket in about fifteen seconds), these weapons were sometimes produced with two, three or more barrels; however, multiple-barreled weapons were never very popular. The designs tended to be expensive to make and failure-prone. It was frequently cost-effective to simply carry multiple weapons instead.
Flintlock muskets were the mainstay of European armies between 1660 and 1840. A musket is a muzzle-loading smoothbore long gun that is loaded with a round lead ball, but it can also be loaded with shot for hunting. For military purposes, the weapon was loaded with ball, or a mixture of ball with several large shot and had an effective range between 40 and 100 yards. Smoothbore weapons that were designed for hunting birds are called "fowlers". They tend to be of large caliber. They usually have no choke, so can also be used to fire a ball.
Some flintlock hunting arms had rifled barrels. Rifling is the process of cutting spiral grooves into the inside of the barrel. A tight-fitting projectile will tend to spin, which stabilizes its flight by the gyroscopic principle. Rifles are more accurate and have longer effective ranges than muskets but they take more time to load than a smooth-bore musket. The first rifled arms were introduced about 1500. Versions made in Germany for hunting large game such as boar had barrels about 20-30 inches long. When German immigrants settled in America, particularly in Pennsylvania, they adapted their technology to the type of game available and the demands of the Indian trade, and built the long rifle, an improvement on the small game rifles used in Europe. This weapon has a barrel 36 to 45 inches long, and carefully loaded and shot, will be accurate up to 300 yards.
Flintlock pistols were used as self-defense weapons and for duelling. Their effective range was very short, and they were frequently used as an adjunct to the sword or cutlass. Pistols were usually smoothbore although rifled pistols were produced.
Various breech-loading flintlocks were developed starting around 1650. The most popular action has a barrel which was unscrewed from the rest of the gun. Obviously this is more practical on pistols because of the shorter barrel length. This type is often mistakenly called a Queen Anne pistol, but in reality they were introduced in the reign of King Charles I. Another type has a removeable screw plug set into the side or top or bottom of the barrel. A large number of sporting rifles were made with this system, as it allowed easier loading compared with muzzle loading with a tight fitting bullet and patch. One of the more successful was the system built by Issac de la Chaumette starting in 1704. The plug passed completely through the barrel and could be opened by 3 revolutions of the triggerguard, to which it was attached. The plug stayed attached to the barrel and the ball and powder were loaded from the top. This system was improved in the 1770's by Colonel Patrick Ferguson and 100 experimental rifles used in the American Revolution. The only two flintlock breechloaders to be produced in quantity were the Hall and the Crespi. The first was invented by John Hall for the US Army in 1810. The Hall rifles and carbines were loaded using a combustible paper cartridge inserted into the upward tilting breechblock. Hall rifles leaked gas from the often poorly fitted action. The same problem affected the muskets produced by Giuseppe Crespi and adopted by the Austrian Army in 1771. Nonetheless, the Crespi System was experimented with by the British during the Napoleonic Wars, and percussion Halls guns saw service in the American Civil War.
Method of operation
- The operator loads the gun, usually from the muzzle end, with black powder followed by shot or a round lead ball, usually wrapped in a paper or cloth patch, all rammed down with a special rod, usually located on the underside of the barrel;
- A cock or striker tightly holding a shaped bit of flint is rotated to half-cock;
- The flash pan is primed with a small amount of very finely ground powder, and the flashpan lid or "frizzen" is closed;
The gun is now in "primed and ready" state, and this is how it would be carried hunting or going into battle. A safety notch at half-cock prevents the hammer from falling by pulling the trigger. To fire:
- The cock or striker is moved from half-cock to full-cock;
- The gun is aimed and the trigger pulled, releasing the cock or striker holding the flint;
- The flint strikes the frizzen, a piece of steel on the priming pan lid, opening it and exposing the priming powder;
- The contact between flint and frizzen produces a spark that is directed into the flashpan;
- The powder ignites, and the flame passes through a small hole in the barrel (called a vent, or touchhole) that leads to the combustion chamber, igniting the main powder charge there; and
- The gun discharges.
The British army used paper cartridges to load their weapons. The powder charge and ball were instantly available to the soldier inside this small paper envelope. When commanded, he:
- Moved the cock to the half-cock position;
- Tore the cartridge open with his teeth;
- Poured a small amount of powder into the flashpan;
- Closed the frizzen to keep the priming charge in the pan;
- Poured the rest of the powder in the cartridge down the muzzle and stuffed the cartridge in after it;
- Took out his ramrod and rammed the ball (still in the cartridge) all the way to the breech;
- Returned his ramrod and shouldered his weapon. Now he is ready to place the weapon on full cock and fire when commanded.
Cultural impact
The flintlock was the standard weapon used by the military and civilians all over the world for over two centuries. As a result, it has left lasting marks on the language and on drill and parade. Terms such as: "lock, stock and barrel," "go off half-cocked" and "flash in the pan" remain current in the English language. In addition, the weapon positions and drill commands that were originally devised to standardize carrying, loading and firing a flintlock weapon remain the standard for drill and display. (see Manual of arms).
See also
External links
"Flintlock"