Touch Hole

A touch hole is a small hole through which the propellant charge of a cannon or muzzleloading gun is ignited. In small arms, the flash from a charge of priming held in the flash pan is enough to ignite the charge within. In artillery, priming powder, a fuse, squib, or friction igniter is inserted into the touch hole to ensure ignition of the charge.

The powder in the touch hole was lit either with a slow match, a linstock or a type of Flintlock mechanism that was known as a gunlock.

Read more about Touch Hole:  Spiking The Guns

Famous quotes containing the words touch and/or hole:

    A little touch of Harry in the night.
    William Shakespeare (1564–1616)

    Angel of hope and calendars, do you know despair?
    That hole I crawl into with a box of Kleenex....
    Anne Sexton (1928–1974)