Description 18th century English flintlock pistol. Reproduction spark pistol in metal and wood with simulator mechanism for loading and firing. Size: 36cm Weight: 550g Spark guns had a flint or flint, which when the hammer was struck produced the spark that ignited the gunpowder. All of these guns required their ammunition to be manually reloaded after each shot. The ammunition, introduced through the muzzle, consisted of gunpowder, bullet and block of paper, which served as a cap to keep the previous two compressed inside the barrel. These pistols were used as self-defense weapons until the mid-19th century. Their effective range was short and they were often used as a complement to a sword or knife. Spark guns were prone to many problems compared to modern firearms, from moisture or accidental firing. In combat, generally these weapons were used for a single shot, as the method of reloading was very slow and there was generally not enough time to reload it.
