Looking for a few wise old men.

[Stockton]

For those w/ BRD

Lock - Lock the bolt to the rear
Load - Insert magazine and release the bolt forward

You have now locked and loaded your weapon. Now move your selector switch from safe to semi and scan your lane.

[SgtDinosaur]

I always figured it related to the Garand. You have to lock the bolt to insert a clip. Never thought about the percussion angle, but it sure makes sense.

[tteng]

Just guessing. The firing mechanism on a flintlock (or caplock, matchlock..) is a..'lock'. If one is shooting a musket w/ pre-packaged paper cartridge and no powder horn, as was done 200yrs ago on the battle field, after each shot you'll cock the hammer, bite off the tip of paper cartridge and prime the pan, close the frizzen, dump rest of powder and ball down the barrel, ram it home, shoulder the arm, and fire.

[IGOTDIRT4U]

You have now locked and loaded your weapon. Now move your selector switch from safe to semi and scan your lane.

I think what most hear versus what is intended to be said, is that (at least this is how I have heard the saying) the saying is really, "locked and loaded."

In that context, which I believe to be proper way to say the phrase, it makes all the sense.

But, hey what do I know; I usually used it for Friday night frat parties to describe my readiness...

[Desert_Rat]

Why is it "locked and cocked?"
and not "cocked and locked?"
I assume it's a reference to the 1911 model pistols?

[bplvr]

Librarian is 100% correct... AGAIN ! When you load a BP gun you first put the hammer on 'first notch' {safety} Load your ball and powder and then your cap.When you are ready to fire put the hammer on the'second notch'
and keep your finger off the trigger. As my double set triggers on my Sharps are set at 4# 1st trigger and 5 oz. 2nd trigger , lock and load MUST be followed . BP is a LOT of fun !

[bplvr]

Was it "Fix bayonets" or "Affix bayonets"?

" fix..... bayonet " { most rifles don't have two}

[Crusader]

I believe it comes from the days of muskets, when the hammer was manually locked at half-cock, then the rifle was loaded, then the rifle was set at full-cock and then fired.

Lock, then load.

[Scarecrow Repair]

" fix..... bayonet " { most rifles don't have two}

If the sergeant or officer was giving orders to more than one troop, plural certainly would be correct.

[tteng]

I believe it comes from the days of muskets, when the hammer was manually locked at half-cock, then the rifle was loaded, then the rifle was set at full-cock and then fired.

Lock, then load.

Purely guessing here..But I would think type of firearm/accountrement (smoothbore vs. rifle, powderhorn or paper-cartridge) and soldier's background (townfolk/farmer vs. hunter) dictates sequence of firing (lock-load-fire or load-lock-fire).

Most Continental soldiers (farmers and townfolks) and redcoats carried gov. owned smoothbore (w/ bayonet lug) and paper cartridges and engage in close-distance volley firing: couple quick volleys to break the opposing formation and up&at them w/ bayonet. So muskets are unloaded most of time, and only lock&load during the battle.

Whereas riflemen, of hunters background who owns relative expensive rifles (accurate but slow loading and no bayonet lug), dictated by their equipment, would probably engage the redcoats (especially the officers, non-comms and artillarymen) from long distance at their own individual pace and avoid the hand-to-hand combat. Also because BP absorbs moisture, their powderhorn (and lifelong habit of not wasting powder but always have a loaded rifle) enable them not to prime the pan until firing is imminent. So rifles are loaded but unlocked most of time.

[spareparts]

Found on this site:

http://asymptoticlife.com/2008/09/20/history-lock-and-load.aspx

[Decoligny]

I believe it comes from the days of muskets, when the hammer was manually locked at half-cock, then the rifle was loaded, then the rifle was set at full-cock and then fired.

Lock, then load.

And hence another old saying "Don't go off half-cocked!"

You would not want to go into battle without going from half-cocked, to full-cocked and ready to fire. If you went half-cocked, you would aim, then pull the trigger, and nothing would happen.

I have heard "stories" of individual Civil War soldiers who were found dead on the battlefield with 4 or 5 loads of ball and powder and their muskets being at half-cocked position. They were so scared that they didn't remember to full-cock and kept loading up, aiming, and pulling the trigger, and then re-loading, never realizing that they hadn't fired the weapon.

[smle-man]

Just guessing. The firing mechanism on a flintlock (or caplock, matchlock..) is a..'lock'. If one is shooting a musket w/ pre-packaged paper cartridge and no powder horn, as was done 200yrs ago on the battle field, after each shot you'll cock the hammer, bite off the tip of paper cartridge and prime the pan, close the frizzen, dump rest of powder and ball down the barrel, ram it home, shoulder the arm, and fire.

Correct: The soldier was being told to look to the priming (the lock) and the load (the powder and ball with the paper for wadding). The order was not to lock anything nor actually load the piece - that was a 9 (or 12 - I forget) process. 'Lock and Load' was a warning command to get the soldier's attention. It has carried over to today's military and is used to actually load and charge the firearm. that is why it sounds bacwards.

[smle-man]

And hence another old saying "Don't go off half-cocked!"

You would not want to go into battle without going from half-cocked, to full-cocked and ready to fire. If you went half-cocked, you would aim, then pull the trigger, and nothing would happen.

I have heard "stories" of individual Civil War soldiers who were found dead on the battlefield with 4 or 5 loads of ball and powder and their muskets being at half-cocked position. They were so scared that they didn't remember to full-cock and kept loading up, aiming, and pulling the trigger, and then re-loading, never realizing that they hadn't fired the weapon.

Muskets were loaded with the hammer down so as not to allow embers remaining inside the barrel to be fanned when the powder and ball were rammed home. If the hammer is at half cock then air can be driven through the nipple. Once the weapon is loaded the hammer was cocked and the cap placed on the nipple.

[tteng]

I have heard "stories" of individual Civil War soldiers who were found dead on the battlefield with 4 or 5 loads of ball and powder and their muskets being at half-cocked position. They were so scared that they didn't remember to full-cock and kept loading up, aiming, and pulling the trigger, and then re-loading, never realizing that they hadn't fired the weapon.

The sergeants must be dead already, because they're there to prevent such thing from happening.

Someone once asked Duke of Wellington on what's required of a lieutenant. 'Just brave' he answered. The idea being: the scared junior officer would lead the redcoat files in front. And the sergeants are behind dressing the files, handing out spare ammo and flints, and generally making sure the men are doing their duty.

I wonder, in those days, if dead-lieutenants and live-sergeants have the same positive effect on the morale.