What is the primary component used for igniting the black powder in flintlock muzzleloaders?

The primary component used for igniting the black powder in flintlock muzzleloaders is flint. When the hammer strikes the flint, it creates a spark. This spark then ignites the priming powder located in the flash pan, which in turn ignites the larger charge of black powder in the barrel, resulting in the discharge of the firearm.

Flint is a hard mineral that produces a strong spark when struck against a metal surface, usually the frizzen. The frizzen is a steel plate that, when hit by the flint, allows the generated spark to ignite the powder. While the hammer is important for delivering the force that strikes the flint, and the flash pan is where the ignition process begins, it is the flint itself that is critical for producing the initial spark needed to ignite the black powder. The functional interplay of these components highlights the importance of flint in the operation of flintlock muzzleloaders.