Discussion Baker rifle?

[archieclement]

Read an interesting article on it, apparently it was somewhat a revolutionary or influential arm. Wiki says about 22k were produced and used by British up to 1837. Supposed to have had good accuracy with some famous long range shots made.

Hadn't seen any references to ACW, so my question would be had any been converted to percussion and imported or used during ACW?

Baker rifle - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[johan_steele]

There is one questionable mention of a British rifle converted from percussion gleaned from a battlefield. The problem was that it was a mid/late war battlefield. The CS troops involved where IIRC Longstreets men who had top tier arms by then.

There's no way to know if the author was correct about it being a conversion or even just talking through his hat.

I'm unaware of any that were imported.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

I'm pretty sure any use in the war was extremely limited if at all.

Tennessee had a lot of flintlocks left in their stores when the war began, supposedly leftovers from the Battle of New Orleans, and its possible there could've been half a dozen in there I would think. Beyond that I bet there were none from my limited knowledge.

The problem with them being run through the blockade is I highly doubt any were left to be sold off even as scrap in Britain by the 1860's. When the British decided to adopt a replacement in, I think it was 1835 or 36, what Bakers they had left were described as being completely wore out by some officers, so much so with advancing rifle tech a new rifle was desperately needed.

Combine that with Bakers supposedly being sold off to Mexico and other poor countries over the years, and I doubt any were left.

(Just got to mention, after reading archeology reports, I'm kind of halfway doubtful they were as common in the Mexican Army as a lot of books say. Maybe in the 1848 Mexican War, but Texas Revolution I bet they were next to non-existent. Sh** ton of evidence of Brown Besses, even in the light companies where Bakers should've been, but very little to any of Bakers I've seen.)

Now for the Baker's replacement, the Brunswick, there were a few. It had been replaced in 1853-ish, and the second model which bears an outward resemblance to the Baker only percussion, those made it over in a modified form with P1853 style rear sights.

Brunswick Rifle - Confederate Purcahsed

Brunswick Rifle Confederate Purcahsed

collegehillarsenal.com

@Grayrock Volunteer can enlighten anyone on that rifle if he wishes.

On a side note, as a fan of the hokey Sharpe tv series, I love the Baker.

 

[redbob]

I'm pretty sure any use in the war was extremely limited if at all.

Tennessee had a lot of flintlocks left in their stores when the war began, supposedly leftovers from the Battle of New Orleans, and its possible there could've been half a dozen in there I would think. Beyond that I bet there were none from my limited knowledge.

The problem with them being run through the blockade is I highly doubt any were left to be sold off even as scrap in Britain by the 1860's. When the British decided to adopt a replacement in, I think it was 1835 or 36, what Bakers they had left were described as being completely wore out by some officers, so much so with advancing rifle tech a new rifle was desperately needed.

Combine that with Bakers supposedly being sold off to Mexico and other poor countries over the years, and I doubt any were left.

(Just got to mention, after reading archeology reports, I'm kind of halfway doubtful they were as common in the Mexican Army as a lot of books say. Maybe in the 1848 Mexican War, but Texas Revolution I bet they were next to non-existent. Sh** ton of evidence of Brown Besses, even in the light companies where Bakers should've been, but very little to any of Bakers I've seen.)

Now for the Baker's replacement, the Brunswick, there were a few. It had been replaced in 1853-ish, and the second model which bears an outward resemblance to the Baker only percussion, those made it over in a modified form with P1853 style rear sights.

Brunswick Rifle - Confederate Purcahsed

Brunswick Rifle Confederate Purcahsed

collegehillarsenal.com

@Grayrock Volunteer can enlighten anyone on that rifle if he wishes.

On a side note, as a fan of the hokey Sharpe tv series, I love the Baker.

The Sharpe's concept was based on a pre WWII book called Rifleman Dodd by C.S. Forester

 

[Library Lady]

The Sharpe's concept was based on a pre WWII book called Rifleman Dodd by C.S. Forester

Another book to place on the "Needs Hold" list.

You all do know that I'm trying to whittle down my various "Read Me" lists (not to mention the piles of books on the floor), right?

 

[redbob]

Another book to place on the "Needs Hold" list.

You all do know that I'm trying to whittle down my various "Read Me" lists (not to mention the piles of books on the floor), right?

This book was available to troops in a small paperback book for 25 cents as part of the The Infantry Journal 's Fighting Forces Series. This book was published in England under the title Death to the French

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

The Sharpe's concept was based on a pre WWII book called Rifleman Dodd by C.S. Forester

Did not know that.

I've not read the books, but I've watched and listened to the show while reading or sewing up uniforms many times.

 

[Library Lady]

When I looked to see if any library in the consortium had Rifleman Dodd and found that one did, I also found that their edition paired it with The Gun, also by C. S. Forester. See plot summary below. There's got to be someone who is into artillery that might like it.

The Gun (novel) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

And please make note, it was made into a movie, too.

 

[redbob]

When I looked to see if any library in the consortium had Rifleman Dodd and found that one did, I also found that their edition paired it with The Gun, also by C. S. Forester. See plot summary below. There's got to be someone who is into artillery that might like it.

The Gun (novel) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

And please make note, it was made into a movie, too.

Here is my copy, the cover and other available titles:

 

[Lanyard Puller]

Brunswick YES, Bakers NO; {even the Confederacy wasn't that desperate}
I've got several Brunswicks with CS identification, but the few Bakers I've encountered at gunshows were all put together from parts.

 

[yulzari]

I too doubt if any Baker Rifles saw ACW use.

But they were serving in the First Carlist War in Spain both as ex British and Portuguese service rifles and as civilian made versions commonly called 'volunteer' rifles. Not to mention with the British Auxiliary Legion. Some of these just might have been percussioned in Spain and sold on to US buyers.

I base this (tiny) possibility on my Henry Nock made twist barrel Baker Rifle which I bought in France that had come from Vigo in Spain. This had been percussioned sometime, somewhere, in Spain. So the possibility exists, but I very strongly doubt it.

Edit. I do note two things. One is that Baker bore size conicals were made and found on ACW battlefields, although I can only find them referred to as small bore Brunswick bullets (?), but of course they could have been for anything of about that size. The other is that I find that post First Carlist War the Spanish ordnance took in all sorts of old arms and percussioned them. It is possible that my Baker was one such. Or of course any local gunsmith. They even percussioned Brown Bess. Gives that OP question some context but none of this is evidence nor alters my opinion.