LOCK & LOAD where did it come from

[jjfitch]

There seems to be agreement regarding the commands "lock and load" or a variation.

The OP is asking about the origin!

Smiles,

 

[AK0perator47]

@Andy54Hawken would have been my suggestion for asking the question but everyone else has already posted on it

 

[Certaindeaf]

@Andy54Hawken would have been my suggestion for asking the question but everyone else has already posted on it

Yea, not speaking for the Andy but on just an intuitive level and sequence means something at least originally, I think it's from front stuffer days as the piece is made safe by/with the half-cock hammer position. It then makes sense to 1: "lock" the hammer to half cock 2: derp.

 

[GrayGoose]

Hunter Biden's version would mean:
1. LOCK the door
2. LOAD the crack pipe

 

[Andy54Hawken]

Something to consider here is the use of paper cartridges with flintlock muskets...

To load a flintlock musket with a paper cartridge :

1) Place the hammer / cock of the musket on half cock and open the frizzen....
2) Take a paper cartridge from your pouch / bag....
3) Bite the end of the paper cartridge containing the powder off....
4) Sprinkle a little of the powder in the lock pan and close the frizzen....
5) Taking care not to spill any of the remaining powder , upend the cartridge and "thumb start" it down the bore...
6) Remove the ram rod , and rod the load down the bore...
7 ) Be sure to replace your ram rod...
8) Place the hammer at full cock....
9) Take aim and fire.....

With practice , this is pretty speedy to do.
Notice that first you put the hammer on half cock...the hammer is part of the lock...
The steps afterwards are part of the loading ....

Not sure if the term "Lock and Load" comes from this era or not...
Just thought the above was interesting.

With that said...
I have not read any period ( 17th - 19th century ) accounts using the term Lock and Load.
I have read it in WWI and WWII accounts onward.
Andy

 

[jjfitch]

Something to consider here is the use of paper cartridges with flintlock muskets...

To load a flintlock musket with a paper cartridge :

1) Place the hammer / cock of the musket on half cock and open the frizzen....
2) Take a paper cartridge from your pouch / bag....
3) Bite the end of the paper cartridge containing the powder off....
4) Sprinkle a little of the powder in the lock pan and close the frizzen....
5) Taking care not to spill any of the remaining powder , upend the cartridge and "thumb start" it down the bore...
6) Remove the ram rod , and rod the load down the bore...
7 ) Be sure to replace your ram rod...
8) Place the hammer at full cock....
9) Take aim and fire.....

With practice , this is pretty speedy to do.
Notice that first you put the hammer on half cock...the hammer is part of the lock...
The steps afterwards are part of the loading ....

Not sure is the term "Lock and Load" comes from this era or not...
Just thought the above was interesting.

With that said...
I have not read any period ( 17th - 19th century ) accounts using the term Lock and Load.
I have read it in WWI and WWII accounts onward.
Andy

During the 17th and 18th centuries the term "lock, stock and barrel" referred to the rifles of the era. The "lock" was the trigger -hammer mechanism. Placing the hammer in "lock" position could have been a safety feature prior to loading.

Smiles,

 

[SonicBlue03]

It didn't come from Dennis Leary, but it's no surprise he stole it years ago and didn't credit the original source.

 

[fredoesway]

GREAT i guess this not a dead end post afterall, thanks to everybody for replys. remember put your thinking caps on.

 

[oremike]

Lock and Load for rifles is the same as Make Ready for pistols

 

[Mike_M57]

A town I used to live in had a small building with two businesses in it, side-by-side: a hair salon and a liquor store.

I always thought they should've gotten together and called themselves Locked & Loaded