Author Topic: Late Baker Rifle  (Read 1163 times)

Offline ntqlvr1948

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Late Baker Rifle
« on: August 24, 2022, 03:24:23 AM »
I have a baker rifle that I believe could be from around 1810 to 20. I looked in books and see examples with earlier style hammers etc. This gun was found in Connecticut. It has no patch box and never had one, A groove was routed and plugged. There could not have been a box as the butt plate was not notched  and the routed wood was not shaped right anyhow. I believe it was from the end of the flint period.  Any ideas?








Offline Mattox Forge

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Re: Late Baker Rifle
« Reply #1 on: August 27, 2022, 04:36:41 PM »
Hi. Nice looking. Do you have some over all photos that show the whole length of the rifle and the off side? The drop and pull and cheekpice shape might be clues to its lineage. The lockplate appears to have a slight curve to its face. Is that real or a lighting artifact.

Thanks,

Mike

Offline Pukka Bundook

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Re: Late Baker Rifle
« Reply #2 on: August 27, 2022, 04:47:49 PM »
I don't think this is the last style of lock used on the Baker, so am non-plussed  on the butt trap unfinished.
I took the liberty to send a link to another forum where some of the best heads are regarding these rifles.
Will report back as and when.

Best,
Richard.

Offline ntqlvr1948

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Re: Late Baker Rifle
« Reply #3 on: August 27, 2022, 10:09:29 PM »
Thanks for the input so far. The lock is not flat faced. Gun is 46 inches long. Has original bayonet lug. I am not the best picture taker but here goes...






Offline Mattox Forge

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Re: Late Baker Rifle
« Reply #4 on: August 27, 2022, 10:49:07 PM »
Thanks for the input so far. The lock is not flat faced. Gun is 46 inches long. Has original bayonet lug. I am not the best picture taker but here goes...





The stock is definitely not an Ordnance pattern one. The drop is much lower. This is undoubtedly a rifle commissioned for a volunteer rifle unit or for an officer's purchase. A number of British regiments authorized the officer's and some NCO's to carry Baker rifles. One of the major complaints from the troops about the standard 1803 Pattern Infantry Rifle was that the stock needed "more bend". Too high of a comb to get a good sight picture. This stock seems to have adjusted that somewhat.

Odd that they omitted the patch box. That was a feature missing from the 1776 Pattern Infantry Rifle that was desired.

The fact that the stock seems to have been roughed out with a patch box suggests that the guns may have been semi "bespoke" as was the custom of English gun makers for the civilian trade. Guns were fitted up with larger butts to allow them to be finally fitted to a customers specific dimensions.

I have noticed that the Morris Volunteer Rifles differ in stock particulars by comparing various photos. They have very different drops and comb lines. The example I own has a drop, pull, and comb line very similar to a standard Baker, but others have much lower drops, etc.

This might have been a rifle captured during the 1812 War by someone who returned from the fighting in Canada.

Mike

Offline ntqlvr1948

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Re: Late Baker Rifle
« Reply #5 on: August 28, 2022, 01:07:55 AM »
Thanks, I aimed the gun and it definitely has a very comfortable drop.

Offline Pukka Bundook

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Re: Late Baker Rifle
« Reply #6 on: August 28, 2022, 03:44:45 PM »
This on the topic of this gun, from my old stomping grounds;

https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/britishmilitariaforums/late-baker-t30165.html#p263800


Offline ntqlvr1948

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Re: Late Baker Rifle
« Reply #7 on: August 28, 2022, 10:23:25 PM »
Thanks, the wood plug is only 1 and 3/16 wide so I know the patch boxes are definitely wider.