Information About

Flintlock Mechanism




Unlike most weapons systems and configurations, which last a few decades, the flintlock mechanism was center stage for both military and civilian use for over 200 years. Not until the Reverend Alexander John Forsyth, a Scottish minister, invented the rudimentary percussion system in 1807 did the flintlock system begin to slide into oblivion. The slide was a slow one, even at that, since the percussion system was not widely used until around 1830 , and the flintlock continued in common use until the time of the American Civil War .


TERMINOLOGY


The following photographs show both sides of the flintlock mechanism, along with descriptions of the annotated parts.

Diagram 1:
  • ''A''- Lockplate

  • ''B''- Feather of frizzen spring

  • ''C''- Frizzen spring screw

  • ''D''- Mainspring retainer stud

  • ''E''- Frizzen spring

  • ''F''- Tail of frizzen

  • ''G''- Frizzen pivot screw

  • ''H''- Frizzen (hammer, steel)

  • ''I''- Face of frizzen

  • ''J''- Pan

  • ''K''- Flashguard

  • ''L''- Cock (hammer)

  • ''M''- Lower (fixed) vise jaw

  • ''N''- Upper (moveable) vise jaw

  • ''O''- Vise screw (cock screw)

  • ''P''- Sear spring screw tip

  • ''Q''- Tail of lockplate

  • ''R''- Sear pivot screw tip

  • ''S''- Tumbler screw





Diagram 2:
  • ''A''- Upper limb of mainspring

  • ''B''- Lower limb of mainspring

  • ''C''- Mainspring retainer hook

  • ''D''- Tumbler hook of mainspring

  • ''E''- Cup of tumbler

  • ''F''- Tail of frizzen

  • ''G''- Tumbler axle/pivot

  • ''H''- Frizzen (hammer, steel)

  • ''I''- Face of frizzen

  • ''J''- Pan

  • ''K''- Flashguard

  • ''L''- Cock (hammer)

  • ''M''- Lower (fixed) vise jaw

  • ''N''- Upper (moveable) vise jaw

  • ''O''- Vise screw (cock screw)

  • ''P''- Bridle

  • ''Q''- Sear pivot screw

  • ''R''- Body of the sear

  • ''S''- Arm of the sear

  • ''T''- Sear spring

  • ''U''- Sear spring screw

  • ''V''- Bridle screw

  • ''W''- Stop, upper vise jaw

  • ''X''- Cock spur (hammer spur)

  • ''Y''- Frizzen pivot screw

  • ''Z''- Bolster

  • ''AA''- Fly

  • ''BB''- Frizzen spring retainer stud






SEE ALSO