flintlocks
Colonial-era firearms mechanism
Flintlocks are firearms that use a flint striking steel to create sparks that ignite gunpowder.
The mechanism dominated from the 17th through early 19th centuries before percussion caps replaced it.
A flintlock is also the firing mechanism itself.
The term evokes colonial America, pirates, and Revolutionary War muskets: The militia shouldered their flintlocks.
Device initiating weapon discharge
- cockMale chicken
- frizzenFlintlock's spark-producing steel
- flash panFirearm's ignition dish
- hammerTool for striking nails
steel · spark · trigger · mainspring · sear · tumbler · half-cock · touchhole
Early shoulder-fired guns
- pistolsSmall one-handed firearms
- riflesLong-barreled shoulder firearms
- firearmsWeapons using explosive propulsion
- muzzleloadersGuns loaded via barrel
matchlocks · carbines · blunderbuss · smoothbore · longarms · dueling pistols · Brown Bess · pocket pistols
Colonial uprising against Britain
- Napoleonic WarsBonaparte's military campaigns
- colonial eraAge of overseas dominion
- 18th centuryYears 1701-1800
- musketeersSoldiers armed with firearms
redcoats · Continental Army · militias · line infantry · volley fire · bayonets · powder horn · cartridge box
Valuable old items
- reproductionsCopies of originals
- replicasExact copies of originals
- restorationReturning something to condition
- gunsmithingFirearm repair craft
patina · provenance · auction · museum pieces · display · preservation · authentication · markings
firing mechanism
Device initiating weapon discharge
hammer · steel · spark · trigger · mainspring · sear · tumbler · half-cock · touchhole · battery
muskets
Early shoulder-fired guns
- pistolsSmall one-handed firearms
- riflesLong-barreled shoulder firearms
- firearmsWeapons using explosive propulsion
muzzleloaders · matchlocks · carbines · blunderbuss · smoothbore · longarms · dueling pistols · Brown Bess · pocket pistols
Revolutionary War
Colonial uprising against Britain
- Napoleonic WarsBonaparte's military campaigns
- colonial eraAge of overseas dominion
- 18th centuryYears 1701-1800
musketeers · redcoats · Continental Army · militias · line infantry · volley fire · bayonets · powder horn · cartridge box · ramrod
antiques
Valuable old items
- reproductionsCopies of originals
- replicasExact copies of originals
- restorationReturning something to condition
gunsmithing · patina · provenance · auction · museum pieces · display · preservation · authentication · markings · engraving
- arms and armorswords, shields, helmets, daggers, axes
- firearmsrifle, pistol, handgun, shotgun, revolver
- historical weaponsmusket, muskets, pistols, bayonet, bayonets
- antique firearmsmusket, muzzleloader, harquebus, Brown Bess, caplock
- Colonial Antiquespewter, spinning wheels, butter churns, candle molds, Windsor chairs
- AmericanaAmerican flag, Fourth of July, bald eagle, Thanksgiving, apple pie
flintlockspercussion caps
Impact-triggered firearm igniters
matchlocks · electronic ignition · breech-loaders · bolt-action rifles · breechloaders
flintlocksassault rifles
Selective-fire infantry firearms
smart guns · Glocks · railguns · automatic weapons · laser weapons
- flintlock pistolSpark-fired antique handgun
- flintlock rifleSpark-fired antique firearm