-
Friends, our 2nd Amendment rights are always under attack and the NRA has been a constant for decades in helping fight that fight.
We have partnered with the NRA to offer you a discount on membership and Muzzleloading Forum gets a small percentage too of each membership, so you are supporting both the NRA and us.
Use this link to sign up please; https://membership.nra.org/recruiters/join/XR045103
Snaplock eventually a wheellock
- Thread starter tom in nc
- Start date
Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:
Tom,
Some guns from India have a hole for extinguishing match as well. this can be a metal cone or a blind hole.
Here;s one on a sporting matchlock from Jaipur. (Rajasthan)
Some guns from India have a hole for extinguishing match as well. this can be a metal cone or a blind hole.
Here;s one on a sporting matchlock from Jaipur. (Rajasthan)
leadhoarder
45 Cal.
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2020
- Messages
- 993
- Reaction score
- 1,654
I am trying to understand what a snaplock is. Is it correct to say that it is a matchlock that the lock snaps into the firing position from a resting position instead of the gradual movement via a lever of a true matchlock?
Mr Lead H,
You are correct that with a snaplock, the serpent is pulled to the cocked position like a conventional gun, and it then fired by either a button or a trigger.
I must just say that it Is a true matchlock, being in use as long as the tiller operated type, and more common in the early 16th century,
Sapping or tinderlocks had very small locks usually, that could not hold the heavy matchcord which became common along with the musket.
Here is mine "Going off" before the barrel was quite finished.
You are correct that with a snaplock, the serpent is pulled to the cocked position like a conventional gun, and it then fired by either a button or a trigger.
I must just say that it Is a true matchlock, being in use as long as the tiller operated type, and more common in the early 16th century,
Sapping or tinderlocks had very small locks usually, that could not hold the heavy matchcord which became common along with the musket.
Here is mine "Going off" before the barrel was quite finished.
When I started this thread, that was what I had in mind. I had become fascinated with matchlocks and even more so, wheellocks. My mind was made up that I wanted a "snapping matchlock" but now that I've been studying pictures and watching videos, a matchlock without the "snap" would be fine too. If I own either a matchlock or a wheelock I'll have to build my own. I don't think I will ever be able to afford one otherwise.
Wheellocks, yes, matchlock there are some builder for between $1000-$1500
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2012
- Messages
- 2,263
- Reaction score
- 3,625
A snapping matchlock is not a snaplock. A snaplock is an early form of flintlock where the pan is manually opened but ignited by flint and steel.
True. I guess there isn’t a good shorthand for the snapping matchlock…
Please pardon my ignorance. When I started this thread I didn't know exactly how to specify " a snapping (spring loaded firing) matchlock". Like I stated above, at that point I was sure that was the style of Matchlock that I wanted. Now that I know a LITTLE more about them I'm not so set on a snapping style. I have flintlock and percussion guns and I figure that if I own what you describe as a true snaplock (and you are correct), I might as well just have another flintlock. My apologies again.
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2012
- Messages
- 2,263
- Reaction score
- 3,625
No offense taken, no need to apologize
We can get technical, but a snapping matchlock or tinderlock is often abbreviated into snaplock, to differentiate between it, and the sear or lever actuated version.
Best,
R.
Best,
R.
These snapping tinderlock guns certainly have a special appeal all their own, don't they?
And the whole aspect of finding and preparing the fungus adds to the mystique.
And the whole aspect of finding and preparing the fungus adds to the mystique.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2012
- Messages
- 2,263
- Reaction score
- 3,625
And a miquelet, snaphaunce, doglock, Jacobean, snaplock, ect is often referred to as a flintlock. It doesn't hurt to know the difference.
Indeed not Commodore.
I will not worry though in this forum if the term snaplock is used, as this is the pre- flint section, so sort of explains itself a bit.
Must also say I tend to be a bit pedantic about terms and words used, so know exactly where you are coming from!
All the best,
Richard.
Bill,
There is something liberating about going out into the woods for your source of ignition.
No shops required, no scalping or shortages, I suppose this does seem a bit mystical! Its very freeing really.
then get Bretts book on making good powder, and another great step forwards, (or backwards!)
Them make your own gun, barrel and all.......
Makes you feel quite independant really, but I have not seriously tried making powder since I was a lad.
I will not worry though in this forum if the term snaplock is used, as this is the pre- flint section, so sort of explains itself a bit.
Must also say I tend to be a bit pedantic about terms and words used, so know exactly where you are coming from!
All the best,
Richard.
Bill,
There is something liberating about going out into the woods for your source of ignition.
No shops required, no scalping or shortages, I suppose this does seem a bit mystical! Its very freeing really.
then get Bretts book on making good powder, and another great step forwards, (or backwards!)
Them make your own gun, barrel and all.......
Makes you feel quite independant really, but I have not seriously tried making powder since I was a lad.
Last edited:
Richard, "Like Fire and Powder" is on the way. Greatly appreciate your suggestion. I had been impressed by the Youtube series by Ben Hoffman.
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2012
- Messages
- 2,263
- Reaction score
- 3,625
When I was in Thailand the locals were hunting rats with homemade cap and ball guns employing those red paper caps. I brought a flintlock and showed them. They all wanted to go another step backward in time so they wouldn't need the caps!
Very interesting, re: Snaplocks ... as I ... I guess admittedly being either naive or ignorant 
... had never considered them a 'separate' class of fire locks. But maybe I was just preoccupied on my early non-flint fired 'tinder' and 'snap' locks, like my 1515 tinderlock, Portuguese Goa and Japanese Tanegashima ... all of which have a snapping serpentine to fire the arm.
From Gun Wiki, see the emphasis ... even they didn't know what to call it!!!!!!
"City regulations from Italian town Ferrara from 1522 and 1634 forbid the carrying of certain firearms which probably are snaplocks and in 1547 a corresponding law in Florence in describing the different locks speak of matchlock, wheellock and a lock with stone and steel. In this cases it is more or less inarguable that the weapons in question are snaplocks. Arsenal accounts from 1547 in Sweden also explicitly mention snaplocks, and continued to do so in 1548 and beyond. The earliest surviving example of a Swedish snaplock is currently held in the Royal Armoury of Stockholm, probably one of a series of snaplock guns made in 1556 from German barrels and Swedish locks."
... had never considered them a 'separate' class of fire locks. But maybe I was just preoccupied on my early non-flint fired 'tinder' and 'snap' locks, like my 1515 tinderlock, Portuguese Goa and Japanese Tanegashima ... all of which have a snapping serpentine to fire the arm.From Gun Wiki, see the emphasis ... even they didn't know what to call it!!!!!!
"City regulations from Italian town Ferrara from 1522 and 1634 forbid the carrying of certain firearms which probably are snaplocks and in 1547 a corresponding law in Florence in describing the different locks speak of matchlock, wheellock and a lock with stone and steel. In this cases it is more or less inarguable that the weapons in question are snaplocks. Arsenal accounts from 1547 in Sweden also explicitly mention snaplocks, and continued to do so in 1548 and beyond. The earliest surviving example of a Swedish snaplock is currently held in the Royal Armoury of Stockholm, probably one of a series of snaplock guns made in 1556 from German barrels and Swedish locks."
Dale, Matchlock (Michael T) used the term frequently.
I suppose in order of seniority, the original Snaplock has first claim to the name!
Plus as I said above, this being a pre- flintlock forum, I think the term should be fairly well understood.
Bill,
Its quite a labour intensive thing, making good powder, but if push comes to shove in the future, it would give a great sense of independence!
Best,
R.
I suppose in order of seniority, the original Snaplock has first claim to the name!
Plus as I said above, this being a pre- flintlock forum, I think the term should be fairly well understood.
Bill,
Its quite a labour intensive thing, making good powder, but if push comes to shove in the future, it would give a great sense of independence!
Best,
R.
Thanks for the specific references! Interesting they are so confident that 1522 is a snaplock. I’m away from home and can’t double check, but I am fairly certain the Gras wheellock book uses that same law as evidence for wheellocks.Very interesting, re: Snaplocks ... as I ... I guess admittedly being either naive or ignorant
From Gun Wiki, see the emphasis ... even they didn't know what to call it!!!!!!
"City regulations from Italian town Ferrara from 1522 and 1634 forbid the carrying of certain firearms which probably are snaplocks and in 1547 a corresponding law in Florence in describing the different locks speak of matchlock, wheellock and a lock with stone and steel. In this cases it is more or less inarguable that the weapons in question are snaplocks. Arsenal accounts from 1547 in Sweden also explicitly mention snaplocks, and continued to do so in 1548 and beyond. The earliest surviving example of a Swedish snaplock is currently held in the Royal Armoury of Stockholm, probably one of a series of snaplock guns made in 1556 from German barrels and Swedish locks."
- Joined
- May 24, 2005
- Messages
- 5,481
- Reaction score
- 5,285
Hello ALL. Getting here a bit late. What an interesting Thread. Like others here, I've always used the terms snapping matchlock and snaplock to refer to different locks. The former referring to a lock using a match cord or tinder, and the later referring to an early form of lock using a flint. Wheellocks of course having it's own category, and in general use along side matchlocks.
Many years ago I had always thought that experimentation with locks using flint type ignition began in the late 16th Century. But later on, after reading additional documentation, it appears this process started closer to the Mid-16th Century, if not a bit earlier as Flint points out above. Especially in Sweden, where they seemed to be ahead of the game.
Rick
Many years ago I had always thought that experimentation with locks using flint type ignition began in the late 16th Century. But later on, after reading additional documentation, it appears this process started closer to the Mid-16th Century, if not a bit earlier as Flint points out above. Especially in Sweden, where they seemed to be ahead of the game.
Rick
Similar threads
