Musketeer
By the mid 17th Century the use of firearms on the battlefield had become widespread, at the forefront of this new type of warcraft was the musket. The majority of muskets used in the English Civil Wars were the basic Matchlock type weapons - this mean that the main charge in the barrel was detonated by plunging the burning tip of a rope ( called the match ) into a priming pan adjacent to the barrel at the breech. All muskets from this age were muzzle loaders - meaning that the main charge, musket ball and wadding were pushed down the open end of the barrel and rammed home using the rod on the underside of the weapon.
The musketeer would carry his gunpowder in a bandolier, this was a belt slung over his left shoulder and lies across the body. Attatched to this belt were a number of wooden bottles which contained the individual measured main charge which was poured down the barrel. A flask was also attached to the bandolier, this contained the finer powder used to prime the pan at the breech of the barrel.
Although the accuracy of these weapons is negotiable in comparison to modern firearms, recent studies indicate that they were more effective than previously thought. A good musketeer could fire up to four shots per minute. When opposing musket blocks were too close to each other the musketeers would hold their weapons by the muzzle and attempt to beat their foe to death using to stock. This was called going in at 'club musket' or 'pell-mell'.
Musketeers usually carried a sword as additional protection, they rarely wore armour. They had little protection against cavalry and had to rely on pikemen for protection against the horse. The desired ratio was two musketeers to one pikeman.
Musketeers within the Regiment, and The Sealed Knot as a whole, are trained to the highest standards. All firing musketeers have had to pass The Sealed Knot's rigorous Musket Test. All those wishing to fire MUST have a current shotgun certificate and blackpowder license.
The musketeer would carry his gunpowder in a bandolier, this was a belt slung over his left shoulder and lies across the body. Attatched to this belt were a number of wooden bottles which contained the individual measured main charge which was poured down the barrel. A flask was also attached to the bandolier, this contained the finer powder used to prime the pan at the breech of the barrel.
Although the accuracy of these weapons is negotiable in comparison to modern firearms, recent studies indicate that they were more effective than previously thought. A good musketeer could fire up to four shots per minute. When opposing musket blocks were too close to each other the musketeers would hold their weapons by the muzzle and attempt to beat their foe to death using to stock. This was called going in at 'club musket' or 'pell-mell'.
Musketeers usually carried a sword as additional protection, they rarely wore armour. They had little protection against cavalry and had to rely on pikemen for protection against the horse. The desired ratio was two musketeers to one pikeman.
Musketeers within the Regiment, and The Sealed Knot as a whole, are trained to the highest standards. All firing musketeers have had to pass The Sealed Knot's rigorous Musket Test. All those wishing to fire MUST have a current shotgun certificate and blackpowder license.
