How To Fire a Matchlock Musket in Thirty-seven Easy Steps
Without Blowing Your Hands Off
by Maeve Kane
as Assissted by the Lovely and Talented Eric Ferguson
Introduction and Bylaws
Interpretive
Clothing
Scottish Culture
History
Music and Dance
Military Life
Language
Bibliography, Sources
and Library Materials
Step 2: Take your musket in your right hand.
Step 3: Hold your musket in your right hand.
Step 4: Hold your musket well in both hands.
Step 5: Open your pan.
Step 6: Pour priming powder into the pan.
Step 7: Shake excess powder off the pan.
Step 8: Blow excess powder off the pan.
Step 9: Present your piece.
Step 10: Order your musket with the butt resting on the ground and the trigger facing backwards.
Step 11: Fill your musket with a pre-measured charge from your bandolier.
Step 12: Retrieve a ball from your ammo pouch.
Step 13: Insert the ball in the barrel.
Step 14: Take the scouring stick from its holder.
Step 15: Turn the scouring stick.
Step 16: Shorten the scouring stick.
Step 17: Insert the scouring stick in the barrel and seat the charge.
Step 18: Withdraw the scouring stick.
Step 19: Turn the scouring stick.
Step 20: Shorten ramrod.
Step 21: Reinsert the scouring stick in its holder, using only the pinkie lest the gun go off accidentally and blow your hand off.
Step 22: Advance your musket.
Step 23: Grasp your musket with your right hand.
Step 24: Hold your musket in your right hand.
Step 25: Hold your musket well.
Step 26: Present your matchcord.
Step 27: Blow on your match.
Step 28: Cock your match in the match lock.
Step 29: Test your match by moving the matchlock toward the closed pan. Be sure not to extinguish your match while doing so.
Step 30: Cover your pan.
Step 31: Blow on your match.
Step 32: Open your pan.
Step 33: Present your piece.
Step 34: Give fire. (Look away, to protect your eyes from the flash.)
Step 35: Take down your piece.
Step 36: Uncock your match.
Step 37: Repeat from step 1 until dead or victorious.