Flintlock

A flintlock is a historical type of firearm that uses a mechanism involving a piece of flint to ignite gunpowder. When the trigger is pulled, a spring-driven hammer strikes the flint against a metal frizzen, creating sparks. These sparks then ignite the gunpowder in the pan, setting off the main charge in the barrel and firing the bullet. Flintlocks were popular from the 17th to the 19th century and were used in muskets and pistols. They marked a significant advancement in firearm technology before being replaced by percussion locks and other more reliable ignition systems.