Economies
of scale!
In 1632 the price of a new musket was 15s 6d
By
1645 the New Model Army was buying them for 10s
Society
of the Open Rope
© The
Society of the Open Rope, all content,
photographs and text.
Equipment
Apart from his musket
(and his rest if he used one) the ordinary musketeer also carried his bandolier
with wooden containers for 12 shots worth of powder (which made a noise when
he moved and got in the way), a flask of powder for after the 12 shots were
used up, a flask for his priming powder (which was finer in grain), a bag
of musket balls (which he chewed to ensure they were round and smooth) a wire
to clean the touch (or firing) hole of the musket, possibly a small oil bottle,
wadding to keep his musket balls in place and a device for ensuring the powder
went into the charges without spilling. Not to mention his eating knife, his
drinking cup and anything else he didn't want stolen by his comrades!
Although the Gentlemen
of the Pike were given precedence as the senior arm of the 17th Century armies,
musketeers became increasingly important through the Civil War ~ up to the
point where some regiments only employed pike to protect musketeers and to
combat the cavalry charge.
The ordinary musket had
a barrel of about 1.4m and was principally of the matchlock
variety. It takes its name from the ignition of the charge by means of a length
of burning match being dropped into the priming pan containing
black powder, attached to a metal arm (serpent) and applied by pulling the trigger.
Matchlocks
were muzzle loaded by inserting powder, musket ball and wadding
(to keep the ball in place) down the business end of the tube, after the priming
pan had been filled with black powder. Since it was common practice to ensure
a constant supply of burning match by lighting both ends, a high level of manual
dexterity was required to remain safe. Consider also that the 17th Century musketeer
carried all his issue of powder about his person, in his bandolier or powder
flask or as charges in his pocket or pouch!
The
individual musket is a wildly inaccurate firing piece, but the effect of volley
fire is not to be underestimated. The musket has an effective range of between
200 and 300 yards but at close range it does appalling damage to the enemy.
A continous battery of fire can be kept up by the ranks firing in turn and
retreating to the rear of the column to reload when giving ground or by the
rear rank coming through to the front to fire in turn when advancing.
Characters
of the English Civil War
The
Musketeer
Matchlock
with match in position
