The first firing mechanism or "lock" used in antique firearms. It used an arm that held a burning piece of match cord that would be lowered into a pan of powder that would ignite the firearm. This mechanism could be as simple as an "S" shaped lever called a serpentine that would lower the arm into the pan or it could use a locking mechanism and spring that upon releasing the lock would "snap" the arm rapidly into the pan. The latter type of matchlock were referred to as "snap matchlocks." Most arquebuses, including the Japanese tanegashima, were matchlocks.
General time periods for use include the late Medieval to early Renaissance eras, including Japan's Sengoku Jidai.
This firing mechanism was theoretically replaced by the wheellock, but due to cost, would not be completely replaced until the flintlock.
