Is the pan shaped to direct away the blast from the venthole?

[cal.45]

I’ve noticed that the pan (in flintlocks and other similar sidelocks) is shaped with a guard towards the rear, is that made on purpose to direct away the blast from the venthole?

 

[Phil Coffins]

It’s to divert the flash away from the shooter.

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

... purpose to direct away the blast from the venthole?

Yes ... away from the shooter! Looking at the history of arqeuebus muskets from the early 1500s, one can see an evolutionary improvement where they were added behind the pan so as to provide a means of protection to the user.

 

[necchi]

is that made on purpose to direct away the blast from the venthole?

No, it helps center the molten chard's of steel shaved from the frizzen too the primer and vent,, AND serves to direct the flash away from the shooter.
It's 2-fer one deal,

 

[longcruise]

It's why it's called a "fence".

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

No, it helps center the molten chard's of steel shaved from the frizzen too the primer and vent,, AND serves to direct the flash away from the shooter.
It's 2-fer one deal,

And that ... would be incorrect, whereas fences were devised in the early matchlock ignition days about 150-year earlier. Whilst it may help contain sparks from the frizzen, that is merely a cooincidence.