That challenge is not hyperbole. To use a flintlock rifle effectively, one must become a master at two processes that are at first clumsy and arduous: loading and firing. It’s not ripping open powder ...

With the rifle in the firing position, pull the hammer to full cock. You’re ready to fire. The reward for a successful loading process is a cloud of smoke. Many traditional muzzleloading ...

To load and fire the flintlock musket the soldier had to carry out a set sequence of movements.' The musket was transformed by the improvement of its firing mechanism, with a spark produced by ...