PIRATE FIREARMSIn the 17th century, firearms were heavy, inaccurate, and slow to use. But the 9-oz (250-g) shots they fired were devastating. A longer gun barrel meant greater accuracy, but the musketoon was still inaccurate over 35 ft (10 m).
Until the mid 17th century, most guns were fired with some sort of burning fuse. This made them dangerous on board ship, where fire was a continual problem. Keeping powder dry at sea was also difficult.
FIRING A FLINTLOCK
When the trigger was released, the flint sprang forward against the steel, sending a shower of sparks onto the priming powder. This lit with a flash that passed through a tiny hole into the barrel and detonated the main charge. The force of the exploding charge forced the ball out of the barrel. Wadding kept the ball in place before firing.
There were a lot of things that could go wrong with firearms, no spark, damp powder, trigger jamming, and misfires were frequent.
When the trigger was released, the flint sprang forward against the steel, sending a shower of sparks onto the priming powder. This lit with a flash that passed through a tiny hole into the barrel and detonated the main charge. The force of the exploding charge forced the ball out of the barrel. Wadding kept the ball in place before firing.
There were a lot of things that could go wrong with firearms, no spark, damp powder, trigger jamming, and misfires were frequent.
After all this fighting pirates needed medical attention, but vessels carried only such medicines and medical instruments as they were able to steal from others, and it was pure chance if a member of the crew knew how to use them correctly. In hot, unsanitary conditions dysentery was common and devastating. Wounds quickly festered, requiring surgery. The patient needing an amputation was made drunk and held down while his limb was sawed off. The raw stump was stitched up and sealed with hot tar.
