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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,
A wheellock pistol or puffer, Augsburg, c. 1580
A wheellock pistol or puffer, Augsburg, c. 1580
Disassembled wheellock pistol of the 16th century
Disassembled wheellock pistol of the 16th century
Detail of the mechanism, with the wheel visible under the dog
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 com
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.
Flintlock
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Flintlock is a general term for any firearm that uses a flint-striking ignition mechanism, the first of which appeared in France by Marin le Bourgeoys between 1610 and 1615. The term may also apply to
Wheellock
…ignition. Developed in Europe around 1500, it was used alongside the matchlock (c. 1410s), the snaplock (c. 1540s), the snaphance (c. 1560s), and the flintlock (c. 1610s). The wheellock works by spinning a spring-loaded steel wheel against a piece of pyrite to generate intense sparks, which ignite gunpowder…
Flintlock of an 18th-century hunting rifle, with flint missing.
Flintlock of an 18th-century hunting rifle, with flint missing.
An English gentleman c. 1750 with his flintlock muzzle-loading sporting rifle, in a painting by Thomas Gainsborough.
An English gentleman c. 1750 with his flintlock muzzle-loading sporting rifle, in a painting by Thomas Gainsborough.
A heavily decorated 18th-century Bondikula flintlock musket from the Kingdom of Kandy is an example of flintlock usage in Asia
A heavily decorated 18th-century Bondikula flintlock musket from the Kingdom of Kandy is an example of flintlock usage in Asia
Flintlock pistol in "Queen Anne" layout, made in Lausanne by Galliard, c. 1760. On display at Morges military museum.
Flintlock pistol in "Queen Anne" layout, made in Lausanne by Galliard, c. 1760. On display at Morges military museum.