Both the snaplock and matchlock were early gunlock mechanisms used in firearms such as muskets and rifles. While similar in some ways, they have key differences in how they ignite the gunpowder and fire the weapon.
Quick Answer: The Main Differences
Here are the key differences between snaplocks and matchlocks:
- Snaplocks use a flintlock mechanism to create a spark and ignite the gunpowder.
- Matchlocks use a lit slow match (wick or cord) to manually ignite the gunpowder.
- Snaplocks are faster, easier to use, and safer than matchlocks.
- Matchlocks predate snaplocks and were an earlier technology.
- Snaplocks replaced matchlocks as the primary firearm ignition system by the early 1700s.
What is a Snaplock?
A snaplock, also sometimes called a flintlock, uses a piece of flint to create a spark that ignites the gunpowder and fires the weapon. The term “snaplock” refers to the snapping sound made by the flint striking a piece of steel called the frizzen. Here is how a snaplock mechanism works:
- The flint is held in the jaws of a cock or hammer.
- When the trigger is pulled, the cock falls and the flint strikes the frizzen (the steel).
- This creates a shower of sparks that fall into the flash pan, igniting a small amount of priming powder.
- The flash from the priming powder travels through a small hole into the barrel, igniting the main gunpowder charge.
- The burning gunpowder creates an explosion of gases that propels the musket or pistol ball out of the barrel.
The flintlock mechanism represented a major improvement over earlier firearm designs. By creating a spark to ignite the powder, rather than manually applying an open flame, flintlocks enabled faster firing, greater reliability, and improved safety.
Advantages of Snaplocks
- Faster firing – no need to manually light a wick each time.
- Allows for aimed firing versus lit match that can obscure aim.
- More reliable ignition in wet weather compared to match.
- Safer than having an open flame near gunpowder.
- Easier to carry, handle, and reload than a matchlock.
Disadvantages of Snaplocks
- Flint wears down and needs to be replaced periodically.
- Moving parts are prone to breakage.
- Misfires are possible if the cock or flint fail.
- Requires priming powder that is highly susceptible to wet weather.
What is a Matchlock?
A matchlock is an earlier form of gunlock where the gunpowder is ignited by applying a slow-burning match into a flash pan. The matchlock was the first mechanically fired weapon, before the invention of the flintlock. Here is how a matchlock works:
- The match is a wick or cord that is kept continuously lit.
- The glowing match is held in a serpentine lever attached to the weapon.
- When ready to fire, the trigger releases the serpentine, bringing the match down into the flash pan.
- The lit match ignites the priming powder in the flash pan.
- The flash from the primer powder then ignites the main charge in the barrel, firing the ball.
Early matchlocks used an “S”-shaped serpentine to hold the match. Later versions had a more upright serpentine lever. Matchlocks were the primary firearms used in the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, before flintlocks became dominant in the early 1700s.
Advantages of Matchlocks
- Simple mechanism with few moving parts.
- Match is not dependent on mechanical action.
- Easy to manufacture and repair.
Disadvantages of Matchlocks
- Requires constantly lit match which is hazardous around gunpowder.
- Match can go out in rain or wind.
- Burn time of match limits rate of fire.
- Match glow can give away shooter’s position.
- Requires two hands to fire – one for match, one for weapon.
- Serpentine mechanism reduces shooting accuracy.
Snaplock vs Matchlock: Key Differences
Here is a summary of the major differences between snaplocks and matchlocks:
| Characteristic | Snaplock | Matchlock |
|---|---|---|
| Ignition Source | Flint striking steel | Lit slow match |
| Firing Time | Very fast | Slow, match burn time |
| Dry Weather Use | Highly reliable | Reliable |
| Wet Weather Use | Vulnerable priming powder | Match can go out |
| Safety | Safer – no open flame | Risk of accidental fire |
| Accuracy | Excellent aiming possible | Obscured by match |
| Concealment | Full – quiet ignition | Match glow gives away position |
| Earliest Use | Around 1500s | 1400s |
| Dominance | By early 1700s | Up to mid 1600s |
The Evolution from Matchlocks to Snaplocks
Matchlocks were the first widely used firearms, coming into common use in Europe in the mid-to-late 1400s. For the next two centuries, most muskets and early rifles used the matchlock design.
However, matchlocks had some significant drawbacks. Keeping the match lit in battle was problematic, especially in wet conditions. The glowing match would also reveal the shooter’s position at night. And the burn time of the match itself limited the maximum rate of fire for the weapon.
Various attempts were made to come up with a better ignition system. The earliest snaplocks or flintlocks were developed in the early 1500s. Rather than a slow-burning match, these weapons used a piece of flint to strike a metal surface and create sparks to ignite the powder. This addressed many of the issues of matchlocks.
But early snaplocks were not without their flaws. The manufacturing of the moving parts was expensive and prone to failure. The tendency for sparks to jump and prematurely ignite the powder was also an issue. So matchlocks remained dominant through most of the 1600s.
By the late 1600s and early 1700s, the design and reliability of snaplocks had progressed considerably. European gunsmiths developed sturdier locks, improved the sparking flint and steel, and incorporated safety features to protect against accidental firing. By 1700, most of Europe had transitioned to flintlock muskets.
The advantages of speed, reliability, accuracy, and concealment made snaplocks the preferred firearm for the next century. Variations on the flintlock design became widespread, including the British Brown Bess musket, the Charleville musket in France, and the early American long rifle. Matchlocks were quickly replaced except in more isolated regions.
The snaplock or flintlock mechanism dominated firearms until the invention of the percussion cap system in the early 1800s. But for over a century, it marked a critical advancement in ignition technology and military power. The transition from matchlocks to flintlocks played a key role in modernizing weaponry worldwide.
Conclusion
In summary, while matchlocks and snaplocks overlap in history, they use very different methods to ignite the gunpowder. Matchlocks apply a continuously burning slow match to a flash pan by hand. Snaplocks use a flint striker to create sparks and ignite the powder. While matchlocks preceded flintlocks, snaplocks became dominant by the 1700s due to their speed, reliability, accuracy, and concealment advantages. The shift from matchlocks to flintlocks revolutionized firearms technology and the battlefield.