When (about) did it start and when was it replaced by various flint-fired guns? Generally, of course.
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Matchlock age
- Thread starter Gene L
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I mean shoulder fired guns, not handgonnes. Thanks.
Including "handgonnes", one of my books shows these as approximant dates for ignition systems on hand held or shoulder fired guns:
1350-1400. Hand Cannon using hand held source of fire or embers
1400-1450, Matchlock
1500-1550, Wheellock
1560-1580. Snaphaunce
1610 -, Doglock, Flintlock
1350-1400. Hand Cannon using hand held source of fire or embers
1400-1450, Matchlock
1500-1550, Wheellock
1560-1580. Snaphaunce
1610 -, Doglock, Flintlock
Thanks. I don't think the wheel lock use was very widespread; it was too expensive. Although I guess it figures into the overall picture. I assume during the short wheel-lock age, the predominate ignition means was the match. Maybe into early abbreviated snaphaunce/dog lock era, also?
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Hi,
Zonie's list omits another inmportant lock, the Spanish or Mediterranean lock, which was the first to combine the pan cover with steel creating the "frizzen". It dates from 1580's or so until the early 19th century. The French army began wholesale replacing of their matchlock muskets to the true "French" flintlock about 1680 and completed the transition by the early 1700s. Britain followed suit but about 20 years later. In the American colonies, matchlocks were loathed because they did not suit the conditions or forest warfare. Moreover, the Indians were often better armed demanding flint guns from Dutch, French, and English traders almost as soon as they became aware of their existence. Consequently, colonists demanded snaphaunces, early English type locks, and flintlocks during the mid-17th century such that by King Phillip' war in 1675, most colonists were armed with guns using some sort of flint ignition. Wheelocks were also used by colonists but were uncommon. Wheelocks were likely invented by Italians, possibly Da Vinci himself, but Germans really latched on to the idea and produced the most wheelocks. They were popular particularly for rifles from the 1540s until well into the 18th century. Some special military units like guards and riflemen were armed with wheelocks. For example the Hapsburgs created wheelock rifle units in the late 16th and throughout the 17th century to help guard fortifications bordering their Ottoman enemy.
dave
Zonie's list omits another inmportant lock, the Spanish or Mediterranean lock, which was the first to combine the pan cover with steel creating the "frizzen". It dates from 1580's or so until the early 19th century. The French army began wholesale replacing of their matchlock muskets to the true "French" flintlock about 1680 and completed the transition by the early 1700s. Britain followed suit but about 20 years later. In the American colonies, matchlocks were loathed because they did not suit the conditions or forest warfare. Moreover, the Indians were often better armed demanding flint guns from Dutch, French, and English traders almost as soon as they became aware of their existence. Consequently, colonists demanded snaphaunces, early English type locks, and flintlocks during the mid-17th century such that by King Phillip' war in 1675, most colonists were armed with guns using some sort of flint ignition. Wheelocks were also used by colonists but were uncommon. Wheelocks were likely invented by Italians, possibly Da Vinci himself, but Germans really latched on to the idea and produced the most wheelocks. They were popular particularly for rifles from the 1540s until well into the 18th century. Some special military units like guards and riflemen were armed with wheelocks. For example the Hapsburgs created wheelock rifle units in the late 16th and throughout the 17th century to help guard fortifications bordering their Ottoman enemy.
dave
Right on, Dave.
I believe Britain had stores of matchlocks into the 1720's, but cannot remember my source.
As you made clear, when a new ignition system was invented, it did not mean the passing of the older systems, which usually continued in use, giving the matchlock in various forms a life-span of over 300 years (In Europe and GB)
I believe Britain had stores of matchlocks into the 1720's, but cannot remember my source.
As you made clear, when a new ignition system was invented, it did not mean the passing of the older systems, which usually continued in use, giving the matchlock in various forms a life-span of over 300 years (In Europe and GB)
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Hello All
An interesting subject to many of us. It seems after the developement of the wheellock it spurred the experimentation of different lock forms. Especially in the second and third quarters of the 17th Century, which included the English Civil Wars period where it seems that matchlocks, wheellocks, snaphaunce, doglock, etc. in various forms appeared and were used collectively.
As Dave mentions, the Spanish developed the Mediterranean lock much earlier than most would imagine. And would be considered quite a developement in it's early days. And was utilized in later forms for a long period.
As Richard mentions, the Matchlock continued to be in use much longer than imagined. They were still being used in Japan and the Indian Continent all the way up till the mid-19th Century.
Again, an interesting subject.
Rick
An interesting subject to many of us. It seems after the developement of the wheellock it spurred the experimentation of different lock forms. Especially in the second and third quarters of the 17th Century, which included the English Civil Wars period where it seems that matchlocks, wheellocks, snaphaunce, doglock, etc. in various forms appeared and were used collectively.
As Dave mentions, the Spanish developed the Mediterranean lock much earlier than most would imagine. And would be considered quite a developement in it's early days. And was utilized in later forms for a long period.
As Richard mentions, the Matchlock continued to be in use much longer than imagined. They were still being used in Japan and the Indian Continent all the way up till the mid-19th Century.
Again, an interesting subject.
Rick
Teleoceras
45 Cal.
Gene:
Matchlocks lasted in military use in Europe from the early-mid 1400's until just after 1700's once the Flintlocks became more reliable. In America, they were being phased out earlier due to the nature of warfare in the 1600's.
Many earlier flint ignition types (Snaphaunce, Baltic Snaplock, Miquelet Lock, etc.) were around before what we know as the Flintlock was in invented in France in the 1620's. The Wheellock which used pyrites was hideously expensive to make and maintain. They were primarily used by cavalry.
The reason it persisted in Europe was because if was very simple and easy to repair. It was during the War Of Spanish Succession when Flintlock armed troops overwhelmed Matchlock armed troops with their faster rate of fire that finally signaled the death knell of the Matchlock's military use in Europe.
Slowmatch Forever!
Teleoceras
Matchlocks lasted in military use in Europe from the early-mid 1400's until just after 1700's once the Flintlocks became more reliable. In America, they were being phased out earlier due to the nature of warfare in the 1600's.
Many earlier flint ignition types (Snaphaunce, Baltic Snaplock, Miquelet Lock, etc.) were around before what we know as the Flintlock was in invented in France in the 1620's. The Wheellock which used pyrites was hideously expensive to make and maintain. They were primarily used by cavalry.
The reason it persisted in Europe was because if was very simple and easy to repair. It was during the War Of Spanish Succession when Flintlock armed troops overwhelmed Matchlock armed troops with their faster rate of fire that finally signaled the death knell of the Matchlock's military use in Europe.
Slowmatch Forever!
Teleoceras
curator
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Time lines for the development of various ignition systems are made more difficult due to the "fake news' of the times. Much of what the English wrote about Spain was propaganda, and vice-versa. According to an "El Dracco" biographer, Sir Francis Drake captured a Spanish miquelet among the plunder from his efforts as a privateer about 1560 and brought it to the Elizabethan Court. It was quickly copied in modified form as the Jacobian lock. That would make the Spanish miquelet the first successful 'true" flintlock as it had to have been developed prior to being captured. Miquelets served from the mid-1550s until the percussion period and beyond.
Let us not forget that Massachusetts Colony banned the military use of matchlocks in 1677, based on lessons learned in King Phillip's War, and that Governor Bradford was pleased to note that in a call to arms about 1645, the 40 men sent by Plymouth were armed to the man with snaphaunces --this from "The Skulking Way of War," by Patrick Malone.
Such statements make me wonder though. The snanphauce, snapping johns was named for the movement of the ****. I don’t know that a snaphauce as so named would be what we might call it today. About 1730 a snaphaunce rifle was offered as a prize at a shoot in Pennsylvania. Just thinking here offering no proof ether way.
There is a drawing thought to be done by Da Vinci, of what is discribed as a snaphaunce. Arabs were making snaphaunce arms well into the nineteenth century,
There is a drawing thought to be done by Da Vinci, of what is discribed as a snaphaunce. Arabs were making snaphaunce arms well into the nineteenth century,
"Snapping ****"...lending its name to what we refer to today.
RAEDWALD
40 Cal.
Snapping hen in Dutch/Flemish to be pedantic, which became **** in English.
FWIW it hit the 'steel' with the flint. As in flint and steel. Much later came 'frizzen' from that which makes the pan 'frizzle'. 'Frizzle' later became 'fizzle' but the steel alternative name stayed as 'frizzen'.
FWIW it hit the 'steel' with the flint. As in flint and steel. Much later came 'frizzen' from that which makes the pan 'frizzle'. 'Frizzle' later became 'fizzle' but the steel alternative name stayed as 'frizzen'.
It's as you say, Raedwald, Hahn (hen) originally.
I tend to use "frizzen" but don't like it, as "steel" or "hammer" (partcularly the latter) can be confusing these days.
I tend to use "frizzen" but don't like it, as "steel" or "hammer" (partcularly the latter) can be confusing these days.
robinghewitt
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RJDH said:
Probably Howard Blackmore. My memory is fuzzy but IIRC someone somewhere foreign asked the Royal Armouries for guns and was horrified when they received the remaining Matchlocks.
Makes me drool just thiking of it.
Robin
Canute Rex
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There is a museum in Canada that has a matchlock that was issued to a French garrison regiment in 1662. I guess the thought was that the artillery would do the actual work and it gave them something to carry around on guard duty. Or maybe it was just that they were on the tail end of the priority list.
The Germans retained the matchlock for target rifles into the early 18th century. Zero lock time meant better accuracy. I found some photos of one from around 1715 with a shaded peep sight. It had a curved buttstock reminiscent of a French fusil. A friend of mine took the photos and made a copy that shoots like a laser beam.
The Germans retained the matchlock for target rifles into the early 18th century. Zero lock time meant better accuracy. I found some photos of one from around 1715 with a shaded peep sight. It had a curved buttstock reminiscent of a French fusil. A friend of mine took the photos and made a copy that shoots like a laser beam.
The snapping Hans came from the old story that Dutch chicken thieves developed the lock so they didn’t have to give away their position in the night with lit matches. So ”˜snapping John’ is at least a bit of a story. Like most of our stories gun development it should be placed right in the Black Bethold category.
However....
Who shot Liberty Valance is one of my favorite movies :rotf:
However....
Who shot Liberty Valance is one of my favorite movies :rotf:
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Hi Curator
I was generally under the impression that the developement of the miquelet lock began around the 1580's. But obviously there is evidence that it was a bit earlier. Interesting. Thanks.
Here are a couple pics of very early locks: The first is a miquelet lock from a Bresican gun. Note the lockplate and trigger guard are carry-overs from the wheellock period. The second pic is from an English musket that has the earliest doglock I've ever seen. Note the external hammer stop, a carry-over from the snaphaunce period.
I don't have a date for these locks, but it certainly appears pre-1650. Just thought you would like to view these. LOL
Rick
I was generally under the impression that the developement of the miquelet lock began around the 1580's. But obviously there is evidence that it was a bit earlier. Interesting. Thanks.
Here are a couple pics of very early locks: The first is a miquelet lock from a Bresican gun. Note the lockplate and trigger guard are carry-overs from the wheellock period. The second pic is from an English musket that has the earliest doglock I've ever seen. Note the external hammer stop, a carry-over from the snaphaunce period.
I don't have a date for these locks, but it certainly appears pre-1650. Just thought you would like to view these. LOL
Rick
RAEDWALD
40 Cal.
To add to the list there is 'battery' from the French 'Batterie' being that which is hit from the French 'Battre' to beat or hit and is the proper French term for the 'Frizzen'.
Personally I use 'Steel' in English.
Personally I use 'Steel' in English.
Raedwald,
Do I know you from another forum?
Pukka here....
Yes indeed, battery as well.
Do I know you from another forum?
Pukka here....
Yes indeed, battery as well.
