Thanks! I haven't shot it yet, but intend on doing so today. I think that I should since my wife is pregnant and is scheduled for a c-section tomorrow. Life will be different, although I hope to still have time for shooting!
I have polished the plate, and the pull is still quite heavy. It might be that I am just used to feather light trigger pull on more modern weapons (like my Baker, M1, .357 and 9mm). This is the first matchlock I have ever handled.
I would say it pushes down like a steam locomotive driver. Never thought of it that way before, but it is actually mechanically quite similar to that.
Clayton