Class Book for the School of Musketry, Hythe / Prepared for the Use of Officers

by Ernest Christian Wilford

Match-locks and rest, James I.

In the time of James I., part of the infantry were armed with calivers or muskets and rests, both of which were fired with match-locks, the soldier carrying the match lighted at both ends.

Trickerlock, 1629.

“A match trickerlock compleat,” occurs in a schedule of 1629. This was the adoption of what is now called a hair trigger, which was added to the former one, and gives a more instantaneous discharge. A tricker wheel lock of Charles I., a tricker match-lock of Charles II., and a tricker fire-lock of James II., are preserved in Sir S. Meyrick’s collection.

Fowling pieces.

The Earl of Albermarle in 1646, says, “It is very fit likewise that you have in each company six good fowling pieces, of such a length that the soldier may well be able to take aim and shoot off at ease; being placed six on each flank of a division of foot to skirmish with an enemy. These soldiers ought to have command, when they come within distance, that they shoot at officers only.” We have here plainly the origin of riflemen.

Tin tube for match.

Each musketeer formerly carried a tin tube, pierced full of holes, to contain the match, and prevent his being discovered; in wet weather it was necessary to carry it in the crown of his cap, to prevent it from being extinguished. First fire-lock.One of the earliest attempts to overcome this difficulty is in the Arsenal, at Dresden, where there is an old buchse, with a piece of pyrites fixed opposite to the touch-hole, and which requires to be rubbed with a file, chained to it, until sparks are elicited sufficient to fire the powder.

Snaphaunce.

The next improvement upon the wheel-lock was the snaphaunce; a flat piece of steel, furrowed in imitation of the wheel, was placed on a steel post, which being screwed beyond the pan, was made moveable; the pan had a cover which required to be pushed off by the thumb, and the furrowed piece being then brought to stand over it, on pulling the trigger, the flint, which was substituted for pyrites, struck against it, and gave the spark.