Post by Shangas on Jun 5, 2008 22:55:15 GMT 10
Kinds of firearms
Flintlock Firearms
The type of firearm that existed in the early 19th century was the flintlock. A piece of flint stone struck a steel plate, known as a 'frizzen', to create a shower of sparks, which, through a chain reaction, set off a charge of gunpowder, firing the weapon. All weapons of the flintlock period (roughly the 1600s-1860s) were single-shot, muzzleloading firearms. The main guns of this period were...
Pistol
Usually sold individually, wealthier gentlemen could afford to buy a pair of what were later known as dueling pistols, in a smart wooden box, together with powder-horn and ramrods. Each pistol fires one shot before needing to be reloaded.
Musketoon
This was the next weapon up in size, operated, loaded and fired in the same way as the pistol.
Musket
This was the most common weapon of the flintlock period. Used by armies and navies for fighting, and used by civilians for self-defence and for hunting. It is the predecessor of the modern rifle. Loaded and operated in the same way as the pistol and musketoon, it was used mainly for long and medium-range shooting.
Blunderbuss
A heavy and cumbersome weapon, the blunderbuss was the predecessor to the modern shotgun. Loaded with dozens of little metal balls, when it fired, the balls spread out, creating a flying wall of bullets. It's range was generally limited, but it had a wide scope and a high level of lethality. It was largely used by navies for boarding enemy ships, by hunters for firing at birds and by civilians for defending their homes.
Operation of flintlocks
Flintlock weapons are easy enough to operate and it doesn't take much to master the skills.
The first step was to open the frizzen (metal striking-plate), situated above the trigger. A small amount of powder was poured into the flash-pan. The frizzen was then closed and the weapon (say, a musket) was then pointed barrel skywards. More powder was poured down the barrel, followed by a ball of lead shot, and then a scrap of paper. The ramrod was used to pack all these things down firmly. It was then returned to it's loops under the barrel of the gun where it would stay until it was next needed.
The hammer was then cocked, the weapon aimed and fired. A trained British redcoat could manage perhaps three or four shots in a minute.
Flintlock firearms let out a LOT of smoke and noise when they go off. So don't expect to be able to kill someone without someone else hearing the report of the gun going off.
Caplock Firearms
Caplock firearms came into use in the 1850s and were rather common by the period of the American Civil War. The basics did not change much from the flintlock period, but there was one improvement.
Instead of filling a flashpan with gunpowder as was done with flintlock firearms, caplock firearms worked by fitting a precussion-cap (like those found in modern toy capguns) onto a nipple. The weapon (say, a musket) was then loaded and primed the same way as a flintlock weapon. The gun was then cocked and fired.
The firing-pin, upon release, would strike the top of the metal precussion-cap. The impact would set off a charge of explosive inside the cap. The sparks from this explosion would set off the main charge of powder inside the breech, causing the weapon to fire. Only slightly more effective than flintlock firearms.
Modern Firearms
The modern firearm, of the kind we know today, which fires ammunition comprised of a bullet, casing, powder and precussion-cap, came about in the late 19th century, shortly after the American Civil War.
Such firearms started out with breechloading shotguns and rifles, later followed by first single-action, and later, double-action revolvers. Reliable semi-automatic weapons would not appear until the turn of the 20th century.