Editing Flintlock (section)

==Method of operation==
{{Further|Flintlock mechanism}}
[[File:Flintlock ignition animation.gif|thumb|right|Flintlock firing]]
[[File:Flintlock ignition movie.gif|thumb|right|Sparks generated by a flintlock mechanism]]
[[Image:Flintlock5892.jpg|thumb|upright|Flintlock firearm ignition sequence]]

* A cock tightly holding a sharp piece of [[flint]] is rotated to [[half-cock]], where the [[Sear (firearm)|sear]] falls into a [[Safety (firearms)|safety notch]] on the tumbler, preventing an accidental discharge.
* The operator loads the gun, usually from the muzzle end, with [[black powder]] from a [[powder flask]], followed by [[lead shot]], a round lead ball, usually wrapped in a piece of paper or a cloth patch, all rammed down with a [[ramrod]] that is usually stored on the underside of the barrel. Wadding between the charge and the ball was often used in earlier guns.
* The flash pan is primed with a small amount of very finely ground gunpowder, and the flashpan lid or frizzen is closed.

The gun is now in a "primed and loaded" state, and this is how it would typically be carried while [[hunting]] or if going into battle.

To fire:

* The cock is further rotated from [[half-cock]] to full-cock, releasing the [[Safety (firearms)|safety lock]] on the cock.
* The gun is leveled and the trigger is pulled, releasing the cock holding the flint.
* The flint strikes the [[frizzen]], a piece of steel on the priming pan lid, opening it and exposing the priming powder.
* The contact between flint and frizzen produces a shower of sparks (burning pieces of the metal) that is directed into the gunpowder in the flashpan.
* The powder ignites, and the flash passes through a small hole in the barrel (called a vent or [[touchhole]]) that leads to the combustion chamber where it ignites the main powder charge, and the gun discharges.

The British Army and the Continental Army both used [[paper cartridge]]s to load their weapons.<ref>Day of Concord and Lexington (French, 1925) p. 25 note 1. See also pp. 27-36.</ref> The powder charge and ball were instantly available to the soldier inside this small paper envelope. To load a flintlock weapon using a paper cartridge, a soldier would

* move the cock to the half-cock position;
* tear the cartridge open with his teeth;
* fill the flashpan half-full with powder, directing it toward the vent;
* close the frizzen to keep the priming charge in the pan;
* pour the rest of the powder down the muzzle and stuff the cartridge in after it;
* take out the ramrod and ram the ball and cartridge all the way to the breech;
* replace the ramrod;
* shoulder the weapon.

The weapon can then be fully cocked and fired.