Wheel Lock Vs Flintlock – Which Is More Powerful?

Key Point: The wheel lock uses a rotating steel wheel to generate sparks, while the flintlock uses a piece of flint to strike against steel, creating sparks. The wheel lock is more complex but allows for a smoother, slower ignition, while the flintlock is simpler and faster.

Here we will cover the topic of Wheel Lock vs Flintlock. We will take a look at these two pistols and discover what’s the difference between the two. So, if you ever wondered what the difference between the two is, you came to the right place.

Before we begin let’s start with the main differences between the wheel lock and the flintlock are:

Flintlock and wheel lock pistols are two types of firearms that were widely used during the 16th to 18th centuries. The main differences between these two pistols include their ignition system, mechanism complexity, cost, reliability, rate of fire, and loading method.

Or to present it more simply.

Now, this was a short summary of what awaits you in the article. So, now let’s go into a little more in detail about the differences between the two. Starting with the ignition system.

Ignition System – Wheel Lock vs. The Flintlock

Let’s start with flintlocks first.

Flintlock pistols used a flint striking mechanism to ignite the powder charge. In this system, a piece of flint is held in a clamp and struck against a piece of steel (known as the frizzen), which creates a spark to ignite the powder in the pan. When the trigger is pulled, the flint is released and strikes the frizzen, creating a shower of sparks that ignite the powder in the pan, which in turn ignites the main powder charge in the barrel and propels the bullet out of the gun.

And what about the wheel lock?

Wheel lock pistols used a spinning wheel to create a spark and ignite the powder.

In this system, a spring-loaded steel wheel is rotated against a piece of iron pyrite (also known as touch-hole primer), which creates a spark that ignites the powder in the pan.

When the trigger is pulled, the wheel is rotated, producing a spark that ignites the powder in the pan, which in turn ignites the main powder charge in the barrel and propels the bullet out of the gun.

Overall, the wheel lock system was considered to be more reliable and efficient than the flintlock system, but it was also more expensive to produce and maintain, which limited its use to the wealthy and the military.

Now, let’s take a look at the mechanical complexity of the two pistols.

Their Complexity – Wheel Lock Vs The Flintlock

Let’s start with the Flintlock as we did before.

Flintlock pistols had a simple mechanism, which made them more affordable and accessible to a wider range of people. This included military and civilian populations. The flintlock mechanism involved a few moving parts, such as the flint, frizzen, and pan, which were relatively easy to manufacture and maintain.

Wheel lock pistols, on the other hand, had a more complex mechanism. This made them more expensive to produce and maintain. The wheel lock mechanism involved a spring-loaded wheel, a piece of iron pyrite, and a mechanism to rotate the wheel, which is all more intricate and difficult to manufacture than the simple flintlock mechanism.

Additionally, the wheel lock mechanism required more maintenance and was more sensitive to wear and tear, which further increased its cost. So, Flintlocks win this one.

On to the next part, which is …

Their Cost

Flintlock pistols were generally less expensive than wheel lock pistols due to their simpler mechanism.

The flintlock mechanism involved fewer moving parts and was easier to manufacture, which reduced its cost. Additionally, the flintlock mechanism was more durable and required less maintenance, which further reduced its overall cost.

As a result, flintlock pistols were freely available and were used by both military and civilian populations.

Wheel lock pistols, on the other hand, were more expensive due to their more complex mechanism. The wheel lock mechanism involved a bunch of intricate moving parts which were all more intricate and difficult to manufacture.

On top of that, the wheel lock mechanism required more maintenance and was more sensitive to wear and tear, which further increased its cost. As a result, wheel lock pistols were primarily used by the wealthy and the military, as you can see here.

Let’s delve a little into their reliability.

Reliability – Wheel Lock vs The Flintlock

Flintlock pistols were known to be less reliable than wheel lock pistols due to the sensitivity of the flint mechanism to weather conditions such as humidity.

The flint in the flintlock mechanism was prone to moisture, which could cause it to lose its sharpness or become clogged with debris, reducing its effectiveness in creating a spark to ignite the powder.

Additionally, the flintlock mechanism required careful handling to prevent misfires, which further reduced its reliability.

Wheel lock pistols were known to be more reliable than flintlock pistols. The wheel lock mechanism used a spinning wheel to create a spark, which was not as sensitive to weather conditions as the flint mechanism. Additionally, the wheel lock mechanism was more durable. Which definitely made the wheel lock better than the flintlock in this regard. But why then, did the flintlock ultimately replace the wheellock? Well, the cost angle we talked about earlier played the biggest part. It was just cheaper to make a flintlock pistol than a wheel lock. And a lot easier.

The cost of production and the ease of production itself played the biggest part in why the wheel lock ultimately lost to the flintlock pistol.

Rate Of Fire Of The Two Pistols

Let’s start with the flintlock, as always.

Flintlock pistols had a slower rate of fire compared to wheel lock pistols. A Flintlock required a relatively long time to reload, as the user had to prime the pan with powder, place a ball in the barrel, and then cock the hammer to prepare the pistol for firing. Additionally, the flintlock mechanism could misfire if not handled properly, which further reduced its rate of fire.

The wheel lock mechanism was faster to reload, as the user only had to insert a new charge of powder and ball into the barrel. On top of that, the wheel lock mechanism was less prone to misfires, which further improved its rate of fire.

And the last key difference we will cover is …

The Loading Method – Wheel Lock vs Flintlock

Starting with Flintlocks again.

Flintlock pistols required a longer time to reload than wheel lock pistols. The reloading process for a flintlock pistol involved priming the pan with powder, placing a ball in the barrel, and cocking the hammer. This process was time-consuming and could be hindered by misfires, leading to a slower reload time.

In contrast, wheel lock pistols could be reloaded more quickly than flintlock pistols. The reloading process only required inserting a new charge of powder and ball into the barrel, which was a simpler and faster process compared to the flintlock mechanism.

So, the loading method was a key difference between flintlock and wheel lock pistols. Flintlocks were slower to reload, while wheel locks were faster. This impacted their overall use and popularity.

In Conclusion

The main reason, why the flintlock pistol won out in the end and practically displaced the wheel lock was simple. They were easier to produce and thus far cheaper. This enabled the flintlock to be used by ordinary civilians and for ordinary soldiers to be equipped with flintlocks. This made this type of firearm far more available and widespread than the wheel lock.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. I hope you learned a thing or two. To see how the Wheelock compares to the matchlock system then go here to find out.

Or click here to see how the matchlock compared to the flintlock.

Take care!

Sources: Peterson, Harold L. The Treasury of the Gun. Golden Press, 1962