Multiple charge! And the gunsmiths were able to achieve success on this path very early.
And although their success cannot be called complete, they managed to make weapons with wick and wheel locks multiply charged. And, of course, both rifles and pistols with a flintlock strike lock …
The history of firearms. The epigraph does not mean at all that this article will focus on a machine gun. No, absolutely not.
With these words, we just wanted to emphasize the importance of fast shooting. And the fact that they understood this for a very, very long time. That is why, by the way, the wheel lock was replaced with a flint percussion lock. After all, the wheel loops had to be started with a key, which took time. And more time to load and … you manage to make fewer shots than your opponent.
Turkish castle
Another problem was the high cost of the wheel lock, which prevented its mass distribution. This led to the appearance of the snaphons castle (or "shnaphan" in a number of our Russian publications), which was more perfect than the wick one, but cheaper than the wheel one. And almost as reliable.
The first examples of such a castle appeared in 1525. However, it took over 100 years for them to evolve into a classic flintlock.
Each country created its own version of such a castle. As a result, there were such varieties of it as: Swedish, Norwegian, Baltic, Karelian, Dutch, Russian castle.
Its Mediterranean version is known. And also in many varieties: Italian, Turkish, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic and Caucasian.
Sometimes it was called simply Spanish - in Turkey. And Turkish - in Russia.
The main thing that still differed from this lock from the wheel lock was that instead of a wheel with notches, an impact flint was used - a somewhat curved or completely flat steel plate, on which a trigger with flint or pyrite hit.
From the impact, a stream of sparks poured onto the shelf. That's all.
But even here there was a place for improving even this simple scheme.
In France, the flint was combined with the cover of the powder shelf. On impact, the lid opened, and a sheaf of sparks fell on top of it. It is believed that it was designed by a certain Maren Le Bourgeois in the city of Lizot in France, who made weapons for Henry IV. And already in 1605-1610. made him guns with locks like this.
As a result, such locks began to be called battery locks. Since they combined the shelf cover and the flint in one piece (battery), and also differently than in other locks, the trigger was triggered.
True, this lock was introduced very slowly.
On pistols in the first half of the 17th century. And on hunting rifles - only in the second.
They appeared in Russia under Peter I. And they existed until the Crimean War itself.
However, for us in this case, the fact is more important that simultaneously with the improvement of the charge ignition system, gunsmiths did not stop looking for ways to make their weapons also multiply charged.
And here they have achieved considerable success.
In the previous article, you could see a photo of a hunting wheeled revolver musket with a drum for eight charges with a wick lock. It was made in Germany around 1600-1610.
However, revolver pistols with much more sophisticated locks soon appeared.
However, back in 1680 in England by master John Dafta a revolver with a snaphons lock was made, with powder shelves on the drum, which cleverly shifted when fired by a flipping plate of flint.
Russia
Russia was in no way inferior to Western gunsmiths here.
So, in 1790, we also made a drum hunting rifle. That is, the level of development of technology was so high that it made it possible to make even such a complex weapon.
Expensive ?!
Yes, dear. And therefore, it did not find application in the army at that time.
But the reason was different. Not only in price. It's also a matter of tactics.
The infantry, having approached the enemy, usually fired only … two volleys (or rather had time to fire!). Then she attacked the rest with bayonets. And the whole reckoning was on who remains after this shooting: friends or foes. With this order of warfare, neither a large stock of cartridges, nor multiple-shot rifles were simply required.
Maximum rate of fire at the level of two shots (three maximum, until the soldier is not tired). And that's all. And then - "well done" bayonet. And win or lose.
However, it was not only drum magazine shotguns that were created. But sometimes very intricate designs with power from containers for gunpowder and bullets in the butt. Or in special tubes.
This was, for example, the flintlock rifle of the Italian Lorenzoni of the late 17th century, which had two tubes in the butt: one with gunpowder, the other with bullets. A dispenser was installed in the breech, controlled by a lever. One turn - and a bullet was put into the barrel. The second - and the measure of gunpowder was filled in. Then you could put the gunpowder on the shelf and cock the hammer.
In 1780-1785. in India, the Shalembron flintlock rifle was manufactured. The tubes under the barrel contained gunpowder and twenty-round bullets.
Truly, the ingenuity of some gunsmiths knew no bounds! Here's a look at the picture below.
Interestingly, at the end of the 18th century, flint six-shot revolvers of a very perfect design were already being made in Russia.
For example, one such pair: made in Tula in 1790 by master Ivan Polin. Below is a photograph of them.
But it is clear that such a weapon was rare. And in light of the above-mentioned purely tactical reasons, it simply could not find wide distribution.
Nevertheless, these were all "steps" on the ladder of progress.
Up and up to perfection.
The site administration and the author are grateful to the Deputy General Director of the State Hermitage Museum, chief curator S. B. Adaksin for the provided photographs of the exhibits.
