matchlock

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The matchlock is one of the oldest firearm trigger mechanisms . It was in use from the 15th to the 17th centuries.

Matchlocks were used on arquebuses and muskets .

Layout and function

Matchlock
Waffenmuseum Suhl
Matchlock from the 16th century.
Culture and Museum Center Schloss Glatt
Representation of the inside of a matchlock
Eight-shot matchlock revolver (Nuremberg around 1580)

The iron barrel of the matchlock rifle had an ignition hole on the side , which was connected to the chamber. On the outside of the ignition hole was a pan with fine powder . The pan often had a protective lid that had to be turned away to the side or flipped up before the shot.

In the first matchlock rifles, the fuse was clamped in the fuse holder ("cock") and could be pressed with the smoldering end onto the powder in the pan using a lever mechanism connected to the trigger . The burning powder in the pan ignited the propellant charge in the barrel through the ignition hole .

In 1475 the match snap lock was invented, in which the trigger triggered a cocked spring mechanism that led the fuse onto the pan. This meant that the trigger only had to be actuated over a short distance with less force.

The matchlock made it possible to aim while pulling the trigger, in contrast to the usual way of holding a match up to a fuse. The rifle could be operated by one person and gripped with both hands. The aiming accuracy could thus be improved.

Disadvantages are:

  • Need to bring a burning fuse
  • no immediate fire readiness on the march,
  • frequent corrections of the continuously burning fuse on the lock,
  • The wetness of the fuse and powder in the pan,
  • the powder in the pan could fall out or be blown away by the wind.
  • The fuse falls off after being shot

The matchlock was therefore first ousted by the wheel lock and later by the flintlock . Matchlock and wheel lock existed side by side for a long time, however, because the wheel lock was very expensive due to its comparatively complicated lock and was therefore primarily used by the cavalry in pistols and in private hunting weapons. The flintlock finally prevailed around 1700. The matchlock was only used in pistols in Japan and was retained in handguns and long guns well into the 19th century. This is u. a. The fact that the Japanese matchlock, which is based on a Portuguese matchlock of an unknown design, eliminated the problems with the outgoing fuses (no weather sensitivity), which the Portuguese themselves never succeeded (see also: Tanegashima rifle ).

See also

Web links