cock
Quick Summary
The cock is a component of a flintlock firearm's ignition system. It is a small vise that holds the flint. When the trigger is pulled, a spring causes the cock to pivot, striking a steel surface called the frizzen. This action creates sparks that ignite the gunpowder in the priming pan, which then fires the main charge in the firearm's bore. The flintlock, developed in the early 16th century, superseded earlier ignition systems like the matchlock and wheel lock, and was eventually replaced by the percussion lock in the 19th century.12
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