Wheellock
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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 provide ignition. Developed in Europe around 1500, it was used alongside the matchlock, the snaplock, the snaphance, and the flintlock.
A wheellock pistol or puffer, Augsburg, c. 1580
Disassembled wheellock pistol of the 16th century
Detail of the mechanism, with the wheel visible under the dog
The exterior of a wheellock mechanism from a "puffer" or pistol made in Augsburg in about 1580. The photo has been reversed in order to facilitate comparison with the interior view below.
Firearm
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A firearm is any type of gun that uses an explosive charge and is designed to be readily carried and used by an individual. The term is legally defined further in different countries.
The Colt Single Action Army, a revolver chambered in .45 Colt
The Glock 19, a pistol chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum
The Mosin–Nagant, a rifle chambered in 7.62×54mmR
The M4 carbine, a carbine derivative of the M16 rifle, chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO