| Latest revision |
Your text |
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| − | [[File:Choshu tanegashima.JPG|thumb|Antique Japanese (samurai) Edo period ''tanegashima'', showing the firing mechanism.]]
| + | '''[[Snapping Matchlock]]''' is a type of [[matchlock]] mechanism used to ignite early [[firearms]]. It was used in Europe from about 1475 to 1640, and in Japan from 1543 till about 1880. |
| − | The '''[[Snap Matchlock]]''' is a type of [[matchlock]] mechanism used to ignite early [[firearms]]. It was used in Europe from about [[1475]] to [[1640]], and in Japan from [[1543]] till about [[1880]].<ref>Richard J. Garrett. [http://books.google.com/books?id=24Wxr5vL1YcC&pg=PA176&dq=snap+matchlock&hl=en&sa=X&ei=fSBdT6OmOYPWtgftkPztCw&ved=0CEUQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=snap%20matchlock&f=true "The defences of Macau: forts, ships and weapons over 450 years"], ''Hong Kong University Press'' 2010. ISBN 9888028499, P.176</ref>
| + | |
| | | | |
| − | The serpentine (a curved lever with a clamp on the end) was held in firing position by a weak spring<ref>Claude Blair, [http://books.google.com/books?id=NUnYAAAAMAAJ&q=snap+matchlock+weak+spring&dq=snap+matchlock+weak+spring&hl=en&sa=X&ei=twa_T5CEN476ggf_26SyCQ&ved=0CDYQ6AEwAA "European & American arms, c. 1100-1850"] ''B. T. Batsford'', 1962. Original from Pennsylvania State University, Digitized Jun 30, 2009. P.42</ref>, and released by pressing a button, pulling a trigger, or even pulling a short string passing into the [[lock|mechanism]]. The [[slow match]] held in the clamp swung into a [[flash pan]] containing priming powder. The flash from the flash pan travelled through the [[touch hole]] igniting the main propellant charge of the gun. As the match was often extinguished after its relatively violent collision with the flash pan, this means of ignition fell out of favour with soldiers, but was often used in fine target weapons. | + | The serpentine (a curved lever with a clamp on the end) was strongly spring-loaded, and released by pressing a button, pulling a trigger, or even pulling a short string passing into the mechanism. The [[slow match]] held in the clamp swung into a [[flash pan]] containing priming powder. The flash from the flash pan travelled through the [[touch hole]] igniting the main propellant charge of the gun. As the match was often extinguished after its relatively violent collision with the flash pan, this type fell out of favour with soldiers, but was often used in fine target weapons. |
| | | | |
| − | The technology was transported to [[Japan]], where it became known as the ''[[Tanegashima]]'', in [[1543]] by the Portuguese<ref>Olof G. Lidin, [http://books.google.com/books?id=6WQnNqhDNhAC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=true "Tanegashima: the arrival of Europe in Japan"]. ''Nordic Institute of Asian Studies, NIAS Press'', 2002. P.1-14]</ref> and flourished there until the 1900s. The Japanese Matchlock, or Tanegashima seems to have been based on snap matchlocks that were produced in the armory of Goa [[India]], which was captured by the Portuguese in [[1510]].<ref>''The bewitched gun : the introduction of the firearm in the Far East by the Portuguese'', by Rainer Daehnhardt 1994 P.26</ref> | + | The technology was transported to Japan (in 1543) by Portuguese and flourished there until the 1900s. The Japanese Matchlock, or Tanegashima was based on an unknown model of Portuguese snapping matchlock, but was refined so that the difficulties with self-extinguishing matches were almost eliminated. |
| | | | |
| | ==See also== | | ==See also== |
| Line 11: |
Line 10: |
| | * [[Muzzleloading]] | | * [[Muzzleloading]] |
| | * [[Black powder]] | | * [[Black powder]] |
| − | <noinclude>
| |
| − | == Notes ==
| |
| − | <references/>
| |
| | | | |
| | ==External links== | | ==External links== |
| | * [http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~dispater/handgonnes.htm Handgonnes and Matchlocks] | | * [http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~dispater/handgonnes.htm Handgonnes and Matchlocks] |
| | + | * [http://www.matchlock.net/ Matchlokkes] |
| | | | |
| − | {{early firearms}}
| + | [[Category:Firearm actions]] |
| − | [[Category:Firearm actions]] [[category:early firearms]] | + | |
| − | </noinclude>
| + | |
