 However, firearms using some form of flint ignition mechanism had already been in use for over half a century.The development of firearm lock mechanisms had proceeded from the matchlock to wheellock to the earlier flintlocks (snaplock, snaphance, miquelet, and doglock) in the previous two centuries, and each type had been an improvement, contributing design features to later firearms which were useful.Le Bourgeoys fitted these various features together to create what became known as "the" flintlock or "true" flintlock.