firelock
A catchall tag for weapons depicting guns with firing mechanisms that predate the use of self-contained cartridges and relied on an external mechanism to ignite the powder in the gun.
The firing mechanisms this tag includes are, from oldest to newest:
- Matchlock: A mechanism where a small lever, called a serpentine, holds a piece of slow burning match cord and lowers it into a pan of powder. The powder ignites and flame travel through a small hole in the pan into the barrel igniting the powder in the barrel.
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- Wheellock: A mechanism where a small arm, called a "dog", holds a piece of pyrite that strikes down against a spinning wheel of steel. This produces sparks that ignite a pan of powder that sends flame through a hole in the barrel and ignites the powder in the barrel.
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- Flintlock: A mechanism where a hammer holding flint strikes a piece of steel and produces sparks. The sparks fall into a pan of gunpowder and ignites the powder. A small hole from the pan to the barrel allows flame to travel and ignite the powder in the barrel. Replaced the matchlock and wheellock, replaced in turn by caplock.
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- Caplock: A mechanism where a hammer strikes a percussion cap of shock-sensitive explosive that ignites and sends flame into the barrel igniting the gunpowder in the gun barrel. Replaced the flintlock, replaced in turn by cartridge guns.
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If the weapon's firing mechanism is easily identifiable, use one of the more specific tags under this tag. If the weapon's firing mechanism is not easily identifiable, but is recognizable as a pre-cartridge firing mechanism, then just use this tag only and do not guess at one of the more specific types.
See also
External links
Aliases: none