Animated Flintlock Mechanism
The Taylor & Mander pistol
Shown below is a schematic drawing of the flintlock dating from the early 1700s. The various moving components have been animated to demonstrate how the flintlock mechanism works. This is just the lock mechanism removed from the wooden stock. The upper image shows the inside of the lock and the lower image the outside.
The lock was made by Taylor & Mander. The pistol to which it is fitted has a 4" cannon-barrel (see picture). The pistol furniture is brass with grotesque mask butt-plate. It is a good example of the simple flintlock. Later flintlocks had many refinements added but the operating principle was unchanged.
Flintlock mechanism
To prepare for firing, the cock is pulled back to the half-cock position. The tip of the sear engages the half-cock notch in the tumbler. The lock is safe in this half-cock position since pulling the trigger will not release the sear.
In this position the pan is primed with gun-powder. The fissen, which incorporates the pan cover is then snapped shut. The fissen is held in place by the external fissen spring. The pistol may be safely carried and handled in this loaded, half-cock state.
To enable firing, the cock is pulled back further until the sear engages with the second step in the tumbler. The lock is now cocked.
To fire the pistol, the trigger is pulled which lifts the back of the sear. The sear tip slides off the tumbler. The tumbler is now free to rapidly rotate under the force of the main spring. The flint in the cock strikes the fissen generating sparks of red hot metal. The fissen pivots backwards as it's stuck, exposing the pan to the shower of sparks. The motion of the cock is arrested by the shoulder of the cock hitting the top of the lock plate.