Flintlock Chronology, 1610's to 1720's

[Marcus den toom]

Hi Fernando K and Michl,

Thank you both for your kind post and compliment.
You are both right to say that to make this time line more accurate, it would need also locks from other countries.
As Michl pointed out, the early flintlocks where designed in France, Paris. During my research i found that there are many instances of flintlocks in other countries which would be dated older when looking at my study. Germany and the Netherlands seem to be adopting the styles the quickest, though with minor differences like the lack of the 'toe' (see the schloss Dyck lock).

Hopefully in the near future i might be able to make a follop up in this thread (help is always appreciated )

[Enmetena]

Very interesting flintlock arquebuses from Poland (now in Sweden ). Looted on 30 August 1655 in Warsaw. They are described as haiduk guns. We know that when king John Casimir escaped Warsaw, he left behind one company of musketeers and 100 haiduks on garrison. As the city had almost no fortifications they soon surrender to swedish army. So it is quite possible that those guns are indeed haiduck ones.

They are very interesting as those are clearly soldier guns, not state of the art. Very early soldier guns with true flintlock (in fact I don't know any older army issued true flintlocks).

They are held in Livrustkammern - inventory numbers 3025 and 3026.

Both guns:



Locks close-up: