I am certainly no expert and I am sure someone - or many - will correct me if my understanding is wrong.
As I understand it a 'bank' gun wasn't used for robbing banks. It was used shooting from the bank of a river or lake and had longer barrels to help fetch the higher bids down.
The tube lock was a method of ignition around at the same time as the flint lock was making way for the percussion cap. The detonating compound was in the form of a small straw which was clamped in place over the flash hole. When the hammer came down it struck the tube igniting the detonating compound. Better than the flintlock but not as good as the percussion cap. The other two ignition systems we had on show at the last event, two years ago, were the pill lock and the scent bottle. When I get chance I will dig out the photos. The pill lock was similar to the percussion cap - but without the copper casing - so not as robust or protected. I will leave someone else to explain about the scent bottle as I could never quite see how it actually worked without blowing everything up!!!
