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     On a flintlock musket, a piece of flint is held in the jaws of the hammer, or cock. When the trigger is pulled, a spring forces the hammer to pivot forward. The piece of flint, extending from the hammer, strikes the frizzen which covers the pan, in which very fine black powder lies. As the flint strikes the frizzen, it forces it open and causes a spark to light the black powder that is suddenly exposed. The black powder burns and ignites the actual gunpowder that has been inserted into the gun barrel. By igniting, the gunpowder causes the weapon to fire. The matchlock musket used a lit and smouldering length of tight woven cloth cord called a 'match' to introduce a flame to the fine black powder in the gun's pan. As the trigger is pulled, the lit end of the match is lowered into contact with the powder in the pan.

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