Baker

[DuncaninFrance]

Thought I would post this just to get some juices flowing.



I do not shoot it but may look at the possibilities later. It is circa 1812 and may well have been used in the Peninsula Wars. It ended it's life in a militia in England I think.

Enjoy!

[MT Gianni]

Looks like a good example of the era. Gianni.

[versifier]

Well, don't just tease us and walk away smug. What caliber is it? Is it still shootable? Was it a standard military rifle? I know virtually nothing about flinters from that place and time, but am always curious.

[floodgate]

DuncaninFrance:

WOW, I envy you that beYOOtiful specimen! The rifle was designed by English gunmaker Ezekiel Baker, and was adopted following trials in 1800. It was a 20-bore, or about 0.615" caliber, had seven grooves with one-quarter turn in the 30" length of the barrel (i.e.; 1:120"), and was the first really effective military rifle in wide usage. For a terrific read on the Baker and its use in the Peninsular War, get a copy (from AbeBooks) of Mark Urban's "Wellington's Rifles" (Walker, 2004); one of the few history writers who really understands his guns!

There is a replica available, patterned after the Baker but a smooth-bore and made in India (it is reported to be on the low end of "so-so" as to quality). They CAN be rifled, tuned up and made to shoot, but - much as I wanted one - I decided after reading several threads on the military sites that it was not worth the expense.

floodgate

[joeb33050]

The "Sharpe" series of novels, about Richard Sharpe, a fictional character, and the British wars from India to Spain to France, frequently mention the Baker rifle and explain it's use. The author, as many do, speaks of accuracy that many shooters have dreams of. ? Cornwell? is the author.

[DuncaninFrance]

? Cornwell? is the author.

It's Bernard Cornwell and they are good books. Some have been made into TV films in the UK and although partly changed for 'presentation' are still very good to watch.
I will post a list of books that I have read containing information on this weapon.
Here is another shot to help your interest!!


Also a shot of a friend of mine at our club shooting a Charleville 1777 Dragon, the weapon that was used by the French at the time. This is also an original

[DuncaninFrance]

Here is a list of books that I recommend to anyone interested in the era of the Napoleonic Wars.


ISBN TITLE - AUTHOR
0571216811 Rifles - Mark Urban
0571205380 The man who broke Napoleons codes - Mark Urban
1903040027 Rifleman - Philipp Elliot-Wright
094677188X Wellington’s Military Machine - Philip J Haythornthwaite
Guild Publishing The Napoleonic Source Book - Philip J Haythornthwaite
0004145364 Marching with Sharp - B J Bluth
1843428210 Regulations for the exercise of Riflemen & Light Infantry 1814. - Naval & Military Press
0713455993 The British Light Infantry Arm circa. 1790-1815 - David Gates
0951660020 Rifles at Waterloo - George Caldwell & Robert Cooper
1846770009 Rifleman Costello - Edward Costello
1846770017 Captain of the 95th Rifles - Jonathan Leach
1846770203 Bugler & Officer of the Rifles. - William Green & Harry Smith
184415288X Tales of the Rifle Brigade - John Kincade
1846770475 The complete Rifleman Harris - Benjamin Harris
1843423960 British Rifle Man - George Simmons

[floodgate]

Yeah, those smoothbore "Bakers" from India were made for filming movies from the Sharpe books; good enough for TV, but not for us.

floodgate

[shooter575]

http://www.loyalistarms.freeservers....rearms-01.html list a custom made Baker rifle they make.
Also a parts kit can be had at http://www.therifleshoppe.com/ for the so inclined. I would love to build one but it is way down on my list.

[DuncaninFrance]

Yeah, those smoothbore "Bakers" from India were made for filming movies from the Sharpe books; good enough for TV, but not for us.

I just found out that the Bakers for the Sharp films were made in the UK.