Wheellocks, the first guns that could be carried loaded and ready to fire, are expensive and require constant maintenance to prevent the mechanism from seizing up. (A major problem in a ship board environment.) Still manufactured (though rarely) into the early 18^th century, as expensive and ornate custom weapons, with many older ones still in service. Wheellocks use pyrite instead of flint.

Even wheellocks that are not exposed to dampness and a ship board environments required considerable cleaning and maintenance due to the corrosive effect of black powder on the complex spring mechanism.

Wheellocks were built into a variety of weapon types.
    

Pistols

                      

Muskets & Carbines

                                                                                             


Dragoon Pistol

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