The first firearms were simply scaled-down versions of cannons that were awkward to aim and fire. The matchlock musket, or arquebuse, was the first practical rifle, first used around the mid 15th century, and common until the early 1700's. 
 The arquebuse was the first gun with an actual trigger, which allowed the user to aim his weapon as it fired. The trigger set a lit match cord (or match) to the musket's touchhole (thus the name matchlock).  These muskets were about 6 feet long and weighed 25 pounds. In order to be effective in battle, the musketeer would often use a forked staff to help aim his weapon. Also, lines of several musketeers normally rotated firing, unleashing a nearly-continuos volley upon the enemy at distances of 50 to 100 yards. Not a useful attack weapon, due to the time involved in preparing a shot, it was nonetheless useful in defense. The bores of muskets were smoothbore, which enabled relatively quick loading of the weapon, but at the expense of accuracy.
