OT question about gun mechanisms

[fearn]

Hi All,

This is an off-topic question, but it involves ethnographic firearms. I'm writing a fiction manuscript, and I'm trying to design a fictional fire arm.

The gun has to be manufactured by a fairly low technological base (think 18-19th Century). They also need to minimize the amount of oil and lubricants used (important random plot point--if you insist, I'll explain why it matters).

Obviously, I'm thinking of various old ethnographic guns, but I only really know how modern, western guns work, and they need lots of lubricants around the springs and other moving parts.

Any help would be appreciated. Think of this as a chance to talk about how different old and ethnographic trigger mechanisms work.

Best,

F