Baker Fusil

[heelerau]

<img src=" <a href="https://flic.kr/p/2eyYKLr" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">image1 by Gordon Hazel, on Flickr" />
Off down the range yesterday, been working up this little rifle. It may as likely be a Baker style sporting rifle, although it was sold to my mate as an Officers Fusil. Bore is heavily grooved for patched round ball, not much pitting but does seem rough in places. I am considering removing the breech plug and casting a lead lap. So far it has had the brillo and oil treatment. I loaded it with a thick greased hard felt wad over powder, 2 1/2 drams of Goes FFg, with a .62 patched ball. This target was shot offhand at 50 yards. Ignition is ver quick and recoil pleasant. The little rifle is nice to hold offhand. Trigger crisp and fairly light. Once the piece settled down after a few shots, and they started to bite paper, it finally settled down and the last 6 shots were poi in the black. I think once the bore has been lapped and maybe a bit more powder as the twist is at least 1/78 or slower we will see what it can do. I has only a fixed rear sight so suspect its a 100 yard rifle at most. Would be nice on pig or kangaroos at short range. <img src=" <a href="https://flic.kr/p/2etCM2J" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">P1020659 by Gordon Hazel, on Flickr" />

 

[Idaholewis1]

Cool looking old Rifle! And appears to shoot good  :ttups:

 

[Buck Conner1]

Gordon where have you and that kid Mike been? 

Saw it was hotter than hell down there this time of the year breaking records for a week. You guys OK ???

 

[Buck Conner1]

You folks may or may not know what Gordon is referring to with the term "Baker Rifle".

Ezekiel Baker (1758–1836) was a master gunsmith from Whitechapel, London, who became known for his design of the Baker Rifle in 1800.   Baker was apprenticed to gunsmith Henry Nock and opened a gun shop of his own at 24 Whitechapel Road, London in 1775.   He later wrote a book on his experiences when making and using his Baker rifles. An important gunsmith in England.

 

[Idaholewis1]

You folks may or may not know what Gordon is referring to with the term "Baker Rifle".

Ezekiel Baker (1758–1836) was a master gunsmith from Whitechapel, London, who became known for his design of the Baker Rifle in 1800.   Baker was apprenticed to gunsmith Henry Nock and opened a gun shop of his own at 24 Whitechapel Road, London in 1775.   He later wrote a book on his experiences when making and using his Baker rifles. An important gunsmith in England.

Thanks for Posting Buck! I had no idea?

 

[heelerau]

Strong Eagle I cannot seem to answere you pm.  Mate rate of twist is 1 in 120  inches, the bore is lightly pitted. Where the powder charge sits it is quite rusty scale, but the bore fore ared of that looks pretty good. I have given it a fair bit of work with oiled brillo pad. I put about 30 rounds through it the other day, using the thick greased hard felt wad, that kept it easy to load. I found though a certain amount of roughness when loading the patched ball. I have removed the breech plug. What do you suggest? 

Kind regards 

Gordon .

 

[Buck Conner1]

Gordon, Strong Eagle has left the area in search of better water and less pastures to spread his knowledge (crap) on ....   :scratch: He is gone like in most of the other forums that he was asked to move on. Jonathan locked his IP address out of our forum like done with others.

 

[Idaholewis1]

Gordon, Strong Eagle has left the area in search of better water and less pastures to spread his knowledge (crap) on ....   :scratch:  He is gone like in most of the other forums that he was asked to move on.

:lol!:  You da Man Buck!! :ttups:

 

[heelerau]

So I gather from a PM.  Had no idea there was a problem. 
   I poured a lap yesterday and had the barrel set up in the smithy ready to go, could not find the paste for lapping. Put it in a safe place never to be found. Anyway had to go down to town for something else, picked up more paste and have been lapping the bore. Lap is now working the full length of the barrel nicely, will finish off with the finer grade. The Minister of War and Finance will visit the smithy with her camera so will post some photos later today. I will get to shoot  the little rifle later in the week.