Snaplock eventually a wheellock

[tom in nc]

I want a wheelock gun, either a handgun or a long gun. One of each would be great. I have access to lathes and milling machines, and help operating them, so I'd love to build a couple.
However, I believe I should try something with fewer, less complicated parts first.

I'm thinking something like one of these snaplock guns.

 

[TobJohn]

I was considering making one, but switched to a caliver because the barrel was available. I have attached some plans I found online, to make the capnball gun.
Here are some surviving snapping matchlocks and mechanisms:

 

[Commodore Swab]

Matchlock very easy compared to a wheellock. A snaplock is different than a matchlock and one of the simpler firelocks using a flint.

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

Matchlock very easy compared to a wheellock. A snaplock is different than a matchlock and one of the simpler firelocks using a flint.

Snap or tinder locks existed before matchlocks lit by matchcord and definitely do not use flint.

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

interesting indeed!

 

[Pukka Bundook]

Good on yer Tom!
The one in the pictures you supply is built hellish heavy in the lock.
Look up the originals that Tob has posted pictures of. They are all in the European section of Vikingsword.
If you build off an original you will get it closer than going off a newer build containing mistakes.

All the best,
Rich.

Edited to a link to the original Styrian Tinderlock that TobJon posted above.
If you search Matchlock Tinderlock or Snaplock on this linked forum, you will be up to your ears in ideas!

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7854&highlight=Styrian+tinderlock

 

[TobJohn]

For more dimensions, here is the museum link to the one at the bottom of my post:
Arquebuse à mèche | Musées d'art et d'histoire de Genève
The dating on it is probably (at least) 50 years too early.

The german national museum has one too, but their collections database is currently under maintenance.

The capnball replica looks to have a symmetrical buttstock, but the survivors actually have an angled shape for the cheek on the left side.

 

[TobJohn]

Sorry for double posting, I get excited whenever someone is interested in these snapping matchlocks lol

Here is a fantastic modern replica built off of period art, combined with the gunsmiths knowledge of these guns

 

[tom in nc]

Tob, thanks. But I must ask, and show my ignorance I guess, on the reproduction you showed, is the button shown by my red arrow the "trigger"?
If no, where is the trigger? Thanks a bunch!

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

I’m not TobJohn and I didn’t sleep at a Holiday Inn last night, but yes that ‘button’ is the ‘trigger’. On my 1515 version the button is actually behind the Serpentine.

 

[TobJohn]

Tob, thanks. But I must ask, and show my ignorance I guess, on the reproduction you showed, is the button shown by my red arrow the "trigger"?
If no, where is the trigger? Thanks a bunch!

As Flint says, yeah it’s a trigger. This one is unusually small and far forward.

 

[tom in nc]

Hey I'm already thinking a carriage head bolt the appropriate size, with the square shank and threads turned off would make a "trigger". button.
The snapping matchlocks commonly used the button type triggers, while the lever actuated ones had a long curved lever for a trigger, correct?
Another "burning" question (pun intended), for you who know a lot more about matchlocks than I, after a shooting session what do you do with, or how to you put out the fire on the end(s) of your rope/match so it can be relit later?

 

[TobJohn]

Hey I'm already thinking a carriage head bolt the appropriate size, with the square shank and threads turned off would make a "trigger". button.
The snapping matchlocks commonly used the button type triggers, while the lever actuated ones had a long curved lever for a trigger, correct?
Another "burning" question (pun intended), for you who know a lot more about matchlocks than I, after a shooting session what do you do with, or how to you put out the fire on the end(s) of your rope/match so it can be relit later?

The button triggers were mostly just the first quarterish of the 16th century, but snapping matchlocks continued in common use past that. The button got replaced by modern looking triggers. Modern looking triggers were also used alongside the lever triggers on normal matchlocks, but it seems like levers were far more common in the 16th century and triggers more popular in the 17th

 

[tom in nc]

I need some 'smplainin here please. This beautiful gun is obviously a "snapping matchlock" and I understand what most of the parts are.
As I see it... The button trigger is the round part on the left, The serpentine is the uppermost part that pivots on a screw, the pan and it's cover are directly below the serpentine, and the longest narrow part(s) are the mainspring. Pressing down on the rear of the serpentine obviously cocks the gun, but what releases it to spring forward and down to fire the gun when the button is pushed? Does the mainspring move sideways, toward the stock? And what would the tab that looks like half of an oval be? Thanks.

 

[TobJohn]

I think that oval piece is just covering the sear. Usually, the button is attached to a flat spring with a tab (sear) on it, so when you push the button, it moves the sear out of the way of serpentine's tail.

Here is a complete lock, that shows the principle

It looks like the one you posted is this mechanism, but without the lock plate.

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

Another "burning" question (pun intended), for you who know a lot more about matchlocks than I, after a shooting session what do you do with, or how to you put out the fire on the end(s) of your rope/match so it can be relit later?

I step on it on dirt or concrete or asphault. But I then also store it in a used up/empty Sterno gel tin can, with airtight lid ... just because ..

 

[Pukka Bundook]

you can also just stub the match out like a cigarette....
Glad you added pics of that very plain simple lock, Tob!
I was thinking that one as I read down the page !

 

[TobJohn]

Here are some snapping matchlocks with modern looking triggers:

(Pukka made an insanely high quality repro of this one)

It was posted the other day, but my favorite set of matchlocks have a normal trigger for a snapping tinder serpentine and then a lever for the matchcord

And here is a pyrite lock petronel with the same system:

 

[tom in nc]

After I asked about what was done to extinguish the match/fuse until next use I found this pic posted by flint62smoothie, I think.
I have been on this site for a while (since August 2019) but just very recently looking, except an occasional passing glance, at the pre-flintlock forum. I am now very interested in earlier guns, especially matchlocks & wheellocks. I'm learning all I can, want to know it all!
Not be a know-it-all though.

 

[TobJohn]

View attachment 266977
After I asked about what was done to extinguish the match/fuse until next use I found this pic posted by flint62smoothie, I think.
I have been on this site for a while (since August 2019) but just very recently looking, except an occasional passing glance, at the pre-flintlock forum. I am now very interested in earlier guns, especially matchlocks & wheellocks. I'm learning all I can, want to know it all!
Not be a know-it-all though.

One of us! One of us!

Part of the fun of this period is that there is so much left to learn!