Black powder firearms are weapons that use black powder as a propellant. This type of powder is a mixture of saltpeter, charcoal, and sulfur, which ignites when exposed to a spark. Common examples include muskets, pistols, and cannons, which were widely used from the 15th to the 19th centuries. These firearms operate by loading the black powder and a projectile into a barrel. When the trigger is pulled, a spark ignites the powder, creating gas that propels the projectile forward. Notable historical figures, such as George Washington and Napoleon Bonaparte, relied on black powder firearms during their military campaigns.