Miquelet (miguelet) is a modern term applied to a distinctive form of flint-against-steel ignition mechanism prevalent in the Mediterrean lands in the late 16th to early 19th centuries.

The miquelet snaplock with its combined battery and pan cover was the final innovative link that made the true flintlock mechanism possible. It proved to be both the precursor and companion to the true flintlock. The miquelet was almost certainly born in Spain during the last half of the 16th century. Two major variants of the miquelet were produced. The Spanish lock where the mainspring pushed up on the heel of the cock foot and the two sears engaged the toe of the cock foot. The other variant was the Italian type where the mainspring pushed down on the toe of the cock foot and the sears engaged the cock on the heel of the foot.

The lock was known by various names, depending on region or variation of design. In Spain, it was known as the llave española; a la Catalan, or simply the patilla. In Portugal, it was known as the fecho de patilha de invenção. Indigenous variations to the preeminent patilla had names such as the a la de invenciõn, later known as the alla romana or romanlock or just plain Italian. The French influenced hybrid was known as the ala moda or more commonly, as the Madrid lock. It was French in appearance, but Spanish in operation of the sears. The miquelet is often termed the Mediterranean lock due to its migration to areas surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, particularly in the Ottoman sphere of influence, such as Turkey and the Balkans.

Additionally, the agujeta lock, a contemporary of the patilla was produced in Ripoll, primarily on a long barreled pistol called a pedrenyal. Ripoll was a gun-making center in Catalonia. The agujeta lock survived in modified form in North Africa well into the 20th century.

A percussion lock or caplock mechanism styled on the patilla pattern miquelet was used on pistols and sporting guns right up to the advent of the cartridge firearm; indeed, many percussion locks were modified or adapted for use with cartridge firearms. Sculpturing of the hammer in the form of dogs or fish was a common practice on these percussion miquelet locks.

A. Cock (hammer). B. Combined battery (steel) and pan cover. C. Battery bridle (battery spring is underneath). D. Mainspring E. Cock bridle. F. Heel of cock (mainspring pushes up here). G. Lockmakers die stamp or punzòn. H. Full Cock Sear-flat (horizontal through lockplate). I. Half Cock Sear-round (very positive safety feature). J. Foot of Cock (flat bottom or toe engages sears).

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Miquelet References