Editing Flintlock (section)

==Cultural impact==
Firearms using some form of flintlock mechanism were the main form of firearm for over 200 years. It was not until [[Alexander John Forsyth|Reverend Alexander John Forsyth]]  invented a rudimentary [[percussion cap]] system in 1807 that the flintlock system began to decline in popularity. The percussion ignition system was more weatherproof and reliable than the flintlock, but the transition from flintlock to percussion cap was a slow one, and the percussion system was not widely used until around 1830. The [[Springfield Model 1840 Flintlock Musket|Model 1840 U.S. musket]] was the last flintlock firearm produced for the U.S. military.<ref>Flayderman, 1998</ref> However, obsolete flintlocks saw action in the earliest days of the [[American Civil War]]. For example, in 1861, the Army of Tennessee had over 2,000 flintlock muskets in service.

As a result of the flintlock's long active life, it left lasting marks on the language and on drill and [[parade]]. Terms such as: "[[Wiktionary:lock, stock and barrel|lock, stock and barrel]]", "[[Wiktionary:go off half-cocked|going off half-cocked]]" and "[[Wiktionary:flash in the pan|flash in the pan]]" remain current in English. In addition, the weapon positions and [[drill commands]] that were originally devised to standardize carrying, loading and firing a flintlock weapon remain the standard for drill and display (see [[manual of arms]]).