League Of Augsburg - Fighting Talk

When did the German states abolish the matchlock in favour of the flintlock.

I know The Danes had whole regiments armed with them in 1690s, so probably at the same time? The French took longer as to why I don't know maybe they were just as good the matchlocks so why pay more for flintlocks? As the saying goes don't fix anything that ain't broke

Unfortunately, there is not a simple answer to this question, although I cannot give firm information regarding the German states, I can for the English army.
As late at 1690, the Board of Ordnance was still placing large orders (10,000) for matchlocks as well as for flintlock (snaphance) Muskets, from the late 1670's English regiments were issued with a mix of matchlock and flintlocks per company, generalaly in the order of 1 flintlock to 5 matchlocks.

in 1688/9 Dumbartons, Kirks, Prince of Denmarks, Trawneys, and the Holland regiment should have had 6 snaphance and 28 matchlock muskets per company (with 16 pike) but are recorded as having 34 matchlocks per company and the 16 pikes. only the two regiments of Foot Guards are showing as having all flintlocks.


hope it helps, although probably just adds to the confusion

Mark

Mark, the 10,000 matchlocks were no doubt those ordered for the Irish militia. Order was never fulfilled as gunsmiths refused to accept/fulfill the contract for fear of bankruptcy should the Government not pay promply enough. For this reason Ginkel was able to conduct the 1691 with his full OOB otherwise half of his army at Aughrim would have been Militia.

According to a Schuster&Francke received the Saxon Army 1693 to 94 the Flintlock musket with Iron Ramrods

Fairly sure that the Bavarian army had switched over completely to flintlocks by 1696, as they had already started getting rid of their pikes, which were gone completely by that year, and were using Spanish Riders to defend against cavalry.

Would militias have kept the matchlock and pike for a while after the regular army switched the flintlock and bayonet?

Hmmmm I would say highly likely as flintlocks were probably more expensive at the time and you wouldn't want untrained units or rabble miss using them

Reason the French sent so many matchlocks to Ireland is that they had been put into storage for the French Second Line/Militia units as the main army went over to flintlocks.