Doglocks, Miquelet and Snaphance
Though there are technological differences these weapon types all perform in essentially the same way
The
Snaphance (or Snaphaunce) first appeared in the
late 1550s as a development of the earlier snaplock. The main
improvement was that the pan-cover opened automatically (to keep the
priming dry until the exact moment of firing), as in the wheel-lock. It
lacks a half cock or safety. The Miquelet is a type of Snaphance
is often termed the Mediterranean lock due to its diffusion to areas
surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, particularly in the Ottoman sphere
of influence. Regular Spanish troops generally employ the Spanish
Miquelet.
A Miquelet
lock
A Snaphaunce lock
An Arab made Miquelet Musket
A brace of Spanish Snaphaunce Horse Pistols
The English
Lock or Doglock is found on
almost all English and Dutch manufactured guns until about 1715 and
is the standard for British Army
muskets until the Brown Bess was issued. (As the Brown Bess has
come into service all Doglock muskets have been turned over to the
Navy.) The
English and the Dutch used this style of flintlock firearm the most,
which uses an external catch or DOG as a half cock safety.
The Doglock is one of the most common types of firearm in the
American Colonies and Caribbean.
