I would qualify Paul's excellent explanation of match/firelocks in only one small respect: the "flash powder" he refers to is actually ordinary black powder, but in a finer grain than that used in the weapon itself. Just a matter of accuracy of details here.

Actually, the best depiction of matchlocks in movies is Akira Kurosawa's "The Seven Samurai," where the need to blow on the punk to keep it burning reveals why the change to flints for ignition was such a major improvement in firearm technology. As far as I know, no other movie shows matchlocks in so central and clear a way.

Bill Cross

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Paul Drake 
  To: [log in to unmask] 
  Sent: Sunday, August 22, 2004 12:19 PM
  Subject: Fw: Word Help


    I need some word help, Paul.    Can you tell me the meaning of a
  "fire lock
    fowling piece"?  One of my g'fathers who died in 1720, left to his
  son in
  his Will.  I presume that it to be a firearm of some type???   Debra

  ********

  Interesting question for all, Deb.

  Sure, before flintlocks, we had firelocks (aka matchlocks) which had a
  piece of punk inserted in a holder on the "hammer".  The punk was lit,
  and remained hot and glowing for a long while.  When
  the trigger was pulled, the piece of punk was lowered to the tiny
  "pan" that
  contained flash powder, and there was a hole from that pan into the
  chamber
  of the firearm, it also having powder in it.  The flame quickly ran
  down the hole and ignited the charge, thus propelling the projectile
  out of the muzzle.

  Interestingly, when a matchlock or flintlock ignited the powder in the
  pan,
  and yet the flame failed to run into the hole and to the chamber, the
  gun
  would not fire.  Thus came the now nearly forgotten expression for a
  person
  who was brilliant at first, yet came to nothing, "a flash in the pan".
  Similarly, "keep your powder dry" - meaning  "be prepared" - also
  arose from the fact that the weapon would not fire if the powder in
  the pan had become damp or wet from rain or otherwise.

  That original weapon from your ancestor would be worth MUCH today.

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