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Weapons of the Revolutionary War. Muskets. Principal weapon was the musket. 1 st musket developed 400 years before the Revolutionary War had no trigger mechanism. Matchlock Musket. By 1500, the matchlock musket was developed. It had a trigger and hammer to force the musket ball out.
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Muskets • Principal weapon was the musket. • 1st musket developed 400 years before the Revolutionary War had no trigger mechanism.
Matchlock Musket • By 1500, the matchlock musket was developed. • It had a trigger and hammer to force the musket ball out. • The problem was with the timing because it took so long to burn the wick and it was affected by the weather.
Wheel Lock Musket • By 1530, the Wheel Lock was invented. • The Wheel Lock had no wick, but • It was expensive • It broke down easily.
Flint Lock Musket • By 1550, the Flint Lock musket was developed. • The hammer broke flint forward which led to discharge of the musket ball. • Less expensive, and had not wick to light. • It was the dominate weapon for the next 2 hundred years including infantry in the Revolutionary War.
Muskets • Americans largely used French Charleville muskets, which were more accurate than the British “Brown Bess” muskets.
Rifles • Rifles were more expensive and more fragile, but had batter accuracy. • As the rifle is used, it becomes less and less accurate. • There were no bayonets for rifles, only for muskets. • Rifle had better accuracy at a greater distance. • The majority used muskets, not rifles.
Ammunition • During the War, solid shot balls were shot out of cannons. • Some were hollowed out and filled with gun powder and a wick, and then shot out of the cannon. • Range was 250-350 yards with good accuracy.
Ammunition • During the War a British officer came up with the idea of filling the ball with gunpowder and musket balls. His name was Henry Shrapnel.
General • Even though the British had more resources, it did not translate into more firepower because guns and cannons were cheap to make. • The Americans began to make their own weapons in Maryland where there was no military operations. • Springfield, MA was the main rebel armory. • The Revolutionary War did not bring any advancements in weaponry while it was going on.