Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-04-29

About 1910 the Germans invited the
wheellock. This particular whes.i-
lock was made in Spain in 1860. Yol
take this great key or spannier, as L
was called. and wind Up that wheel
en- the side OF the lcck until II
catches, then bring oyer the serpen-
tine. until the pyrites Of iron rested
against the serrated edge OF the
wheel Upon release OF the trigger
the first movement CT the wheel un-
covered the flash pan and sparks
ground from the pyrites fel into lin.
at this period gun making reached
its highest decorative development,
some OF these wheellocks being in
laid with gold, silver, pearl and ivory,
many months being spent on decora-
ton alone. Observe that up TO this
period guns shot not bullets but point
ed bolts, which often flew sideways,
80 German inventors put spiral
grooves inside the barrels to reEolye
the bolt on its axis and keep it sharp
end on.
About this time. 1920, class of
gentry in Holland completed an in
yention that was but slightly inn
proved for about 300 years, These
people were chicken thieves, who
could not use the matchbox as its
burning match betrayed their pres
ence and the wheellock or firelock
we're too expensive. So they invent
ed the flintlock or snap hannce," as
the first unimproyed flintlock was
called.
This is a Spanish snap hannce of
about 1880. Observe that a short flat
file stands upright just forward of
the powder flash pan. The serpen-
tine has been made shorter and
stronger, and is on, the other side of
the lock and is now called the cocks
bilr because its action resembles q
ROSTERS bill picking corn. Upon re-
lease of the trigger the cocks bill
holding the iron pyrites struck the
file and sparks fell in the flash pan
and discharged the. fuse. The flint
locks only improvement. was in hay-
ing the file or striker fastened to the
flash pan cover thus tumbllng over
when struck and automatically I'M
covering the flash pan, and the use
Of flint in the hammer, as it then
became known.
From 1860 until the beginning Of
the Civil War the flintlock was the
most improved and favorite firearm,
although clergyman had invented
the illuminate cap in 1897 and some
percussion arms were used as early
as 1920.
Now let us look over this bunch
Of flintlocks. See this pair of Eng
lish blunderbusses made in 1890 fol-
defense of coaches against the Dick
Turpins Of 'Merrie England With
handful of shot in the load, you can
well believe the legend that is en-
graved on the barrels: Happy is.
he who escapeth me. Did you ever
see such beautiful inlay OF silver in
steel on locks and barrels, and Such
beautiful carving on stocks?
Here is one made elliptical to scat
ter slugs from right to left, and this
brass Earreled biunderbuss has tri
angular bayonet that flies out from
under the barrel when you shoot so
you can follow up with a bayonet
play. This brass knob on this pistol
butt is to use as club after firing
your one shot.
Here is a breech-loading pocket
flintlock. Unscrew the barrel, pour
the well full OF powder, thumb on a
ball and screw barrel back on. 1t
only does away with a ramrod for
loading These are Spanish duelling
pistols, but you see they had invented
the double set trigger when these
were made in 1850.
This is Kentucky flintlock SOUR,
rel rifle made in 1904. just such an
arm as Daniel Boone or Davy Crockett
used. That barrel is 81 inches long
and. as you can see, is very. heavy, the
rifle weighing Is pounds. Those