Arquebuses and Muskets
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Champlain used firearms to impress his allies and to
surprise his enemies. |
Arquebusier, 1610
Detail of the engraving
Yroquois’ Fort
Champlain, The Voyages, 1613
National Library of Canada
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Matchlock musket and wheel-lock carbine, 1630
Musée de l’Armée,
Paris, France
Photo: Steven Darby, Canadian Museum of Civilization
CMC S2004-646
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1609 . . . [their chiefs] asked me as a token of great friendship and
rejoicing to have muskets and arquebuses fired off, whereat they would be
much pleased. I did so, and they uttered loud cries of astonishment,
especially those who had never heard or seen the like.
Champlain, The Voyages, 1632
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Matchlock musket
mechanism, 1630
Musée de l’Armée,
Paris, France
Photo: Steven Darby, Canadian Museum of Civilization
CMC S2004-648
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Towards the end of the sixteenth century, portable firearms were
becoming more common. The crossbow was replaced by the musket and the
arquebus, heavy, solid firearms that were charged with round stone or lead
bullets. A match or, later, a flint, activated by a wheel mechanism, ignited
the powder.
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Wheel-lock carbine
mechanism, 1630
Musée de l’Armée,
Paris, France
Photo: Steven Darby, Canadian Museum of Civilization
CMC S2004-647
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