SOLD REDUCED Smoothbore Copy of Baker Rifle .62

[BigSkyRambler]

This is an Indian copy of the famous Baker Rifle. It has a 30.5" smoothbore barrel. Bore is mirror bright and likely unfired. Lock has British style crown/"G.R." & "TOWER" markings. Some scratches on frizzen from sparking. No other visible markings. Dual leaf folding rear sight and brass blade front sight. Bright finish w/ brass furniture. Bayonet bar for sword bayonet. Walnut stock has nice figure. Sling swivels & patch box. Stock shows a chip forming in ramrod channel & some light handling wear. Brass parts show scattered oxidation and some minor dings. Bright parts remain mostly bright w/ some scattered light oxidation from storage or display. $650 + Shipping.

 

[BigSkyRambler]

More photos.

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

For prospective Buyers, that appears to be the same model as I had just sent the barrel out to Bobby Hoyt and he rifled it to be a 62-cal rifle for only $80 plus shipping.

 

[BigSkyRambler]

For prospective Buyers, that appears to be the same model as I had just sent the barrel out to Bobby Hoyt and he rifled it to be a 62-cal rifle for only $80 plus shipping.

Hoyt does great work and doesn't charge you a kidney for it.

 

[BigSkyRambler]

Reduced.

 

[wganz]

Who was the importer?

 

[BigSkyRambler]

Who was the importer?

No idea. Do they mark them anywhere? Nothing really jumps out at me.

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

Who was the importer?

FWIW it looks identical, even down to the somewhat crude shaping of the 2-leaf rear sight blades, to the one I got from Military Heritage. As posted above, I sent the barrel out a couple months ago and had Bobby Hoyt rifle it.

I placed it along-side (1 above/1 below) 2 Bakers freshly built from TRS kits and the builders of those kits were amazed really. Besides the comment about the rear sight, which is the only feature thus formed, the only differences visually were say things like the length of a ramrod pipe or where it was positioned, one or the other being a tad (~1/4" or so) more forward or rearward than the other rifles. From 3' away they look like they're from the same 'tribe'.

 

[BigSkyRambler]

Sunday Bump.

 

[BigSkyRambler]

Humpty Bumpty.

 

[BigSkyRambler]

BTT.

 

[Commodore Swab]

Cheaper than a new one for sure.

 

[BigSkyRambler]

Cheaper than a new one for sure.

And no sales tax!

 

[BigSkyRambler]

BTT.

 

[Walkabout]

We're Bakers ever manufactured smooth bore historically? Were they ever converted to smooth bore? Thanks

 

[BigSkyRambler]

We're Bakers ever manufactured smooth bore historically? Were they ever converted to smooth bore? Thanks

Rifled in service. Some likely bored smooth in civilian hands, just like many military rifles.

 

[Cubreac]

We're Bakers ever manufactured smooth bore historically? Were they ever converted to smooth bore? Thanks

Here's a good synopsis of the history of the Baker rifle:
https://web.prm.ox.ac.uk/england/englishness-baker-rifle.html
Balazs Nemeth's book, EARLY MILITARY RIFLES (ISBN 9781472842312, Osprey) is highly recommended. He also made at least one video on the Baker rifle for his YT channel, Capandball.
Rob of British Muzzleloaders on YT has put out three, I think, videos on the Baker that are a must for anyone interested in the subject.
I can't find the source now, but I remember reading that the 95th had at least some smoothbore Bakers at Waterloo, where one battalion was formed in line near La Haye Saint.

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

C'mon guys ... buy this ... as Bobby Hoyt refiled mine to be a true 62-cal rifle for only $80!

He'll even rifle it with the ultra-slooooooow twist of the originals if you want, although he doesn't recommend it. Mine shoots like a house a'fire!