A firearm mechanism that creates sparks by striking flint against steel to ignite gunpowder; a gun equipped with this mechanism.
Compound of 'flint' (the stone) and 'lock' (a mechanism). This firearm technology emerged in the 16th-17th centuries and revolutionized warfare and hunting.
Flintlock technology was transformative—it made firearms reliable in wet weather and faster to reload than previous matchlock weapons. A flintlock musket was the assault rifle of the 1700s, giving European militaries overwhelming advantage.
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