Wheel lock guns were considered to be the best ignition during their time. They overlapped with the match lock, snaphaunce, early and late forms of flint locks and even into the percussion period. The biggest drawback was they were difficult to repair. The earliest ones were actually made by clock makers. The spanner (pictured below the pistol) is used to wind the wheel about 3/4 of a turn. The wheel extends up through the bottom of the pan. The pan is primed and a sliding cover is slid over the pan. To fire, the cock with a piece of iron pyrite clamped in the jaws, is pulled down on top of the cover. When the trigger is pulled, the cover opens, the pyrite hits the wheel as it spins creating a spark within the pan. It is a faster ignition than the common flint lock.

This one pictured is circa 1680 and in 32 gauge or .50 smoothbore.

 

 

Call or email me to discuss building one for you. *5% Va. state tax will be added to any in-state orders or items picked up within the state.