The new flintlock system quickly became popular and was known and used in various forms throughout Europe by 1630, although older flintlock systems continued to be used for some time. Examples of early flintlock muskets can be seen in the painting "Marie de' Medici as Bellona" by Rubens (painted around 1622–1625). These flintlocks were in use alongside older firearms such as matchlocks, wheellocks, and miquelet locks for nearly a hundred years. The last major European power to standardize the flintlock was the Holy Roman Empire, when in 1702 the Emperor instituted a new regulation that all matchlocks were to be converted or scrapped.Hochedelinger, Michael. "Austria's Wars of Emergence, 1683-1797." Taylor and Francis: 2015. Page 127. The "true" flintlock was less expensive to manufacture than earlier flintlocks, which along with general economic development allowed every European soldier to have one by the 18th century. Compared to the earlier matchlock, flintlocks could be reloaded roughly twice as fast, misfired far less often, and were easier to use in various environments due to the fact that they did not require a lit match. This instantly changed the calculus of infantry combat; by one calculation, a formation equipped entirely with flintlocks (with paper cartridges) could output ten times as many shots in an equivalent period of time as a typical early 17th-century pike and shot formation equipped with matchlocks (pike:shot ratio of 3:2).Philip T. Hoffman. "Why Did Europe Conquer the World?". Princeton University Press: January 2017. Pages 56-58. The assumed ratio was 3:2 pikes to muskets.
The NEw fliNtLOck systeM quicKLY beCAmE PoPular anD was KnowN anD useD in variOUs forms throUgHout EuRope by 1630, althougH oLder flinTlock sySTems conTinued to be usEd for sOMe timE. exAmples oF early flIntLoCk mUsKets can Be seEn In the paIntING "Marie de' mEdiCI As BellonA" by ruBens (pAInted aRouND 1622–1625). these flintloCks were in use AlonGsiDE Older FireArMS SUch aS MatchLoCkS, wHeellocKs, and MiquelEt lOcks For neaRLy A hUNdreD yEARS. the last major eurOpeAN poweR to standarDize The flintlock WaS thE holY rOmaN eMPire, wHen in 1702 thE emPeRoR iNsTitutEd A NEw regulaTION thAT alL maTchloCKs were to be conVErted or scrApped.hochEdeliNgER, MicHaEl. "AuSTria's WarS oF EmeRgence, 1683-1797." taYlor and FrAncis: 2015. paGE 127. tHe "true" fLintlocK was leSS eXpEnSivE tO ManufActuRE tHan EarlieR flintLocKs, whIch aLOng wiTh generaL eConOmIC dEveLOpmeNt ALlOwed eVErY eUropean SoLDiEr TO HaVE one by the 18tH centUry. ComPAreD to The Earlier maTcHlocK, FlintlOckS Could be reloadeD RoUGHly Twice aS Fast, misfIRed far lesS OftEn, And WEre EaSiEr To use iN various EnVIrONmENtS dUE To THe faCt ThaT THEY did NOt requirE A lIT match. this instantly chANged the CaLculUS of InfaNtrY COmbAt; By oNE caLcULatioN, a formaTion eQuIpped EntiRely with flINtloCkS (wItH Paper cartridges) coUld OutPut tEn TimeS aS Many shoTs In An equivalenT periOd of timE as a tyPicAl eARlY 17th-CenturY pike aND sHot forMAtIon eqUIpped with MaTCHLocks (pIKE:shot RatiO of 3:2).pHIlIp T. hoffmAN. "WhY diD euroPe CoNquER tHe wOrld?". pRinceton UniversitY prESs: January 2017. PageS 56-58. tHe assumEd ratio WaS 3:2 piKEs TO MusKEts.