Linstocks had serpentine jaws to grip the slow match and a sharp point at the base to stick in the ground. In emergencies gunners could use the spear blade as a weapon to defend the cannon.
Like most early modern military equipment
Linstocks had serpentine jaws to grip the slow match and a sharp point at the base to stick in the ground. In emergencies gunners could use the spear blade as a weapon to defend the cannon.
Like most early modern military equipment the linstock had a second function; 16th century examples had measurements in inches and a protractor engraved on the blade to allow the gun captain to check the angle.
By the 18th century flintlock firing devices had been introduced, rendering the artillery linstock obsol