Have I lost the plot?

[Mike Brooks]

Leather? :shocked2: God Golly, I'd grease the bejeepers out of it. :haha: Let us know how it all turns out. :thumbsup:

 

[robinghewitt]

They did some Baker balls with an all over leather patch but Baker wasn't to keen on that. Said the patch stuck with the ball and put it off the mark, also made a humming noise as it went through the air :thumbsup:

 

[Mike Brooks]

Sort of a tiny lead filled base ball...... :haha:

 

[Stumpkiller]

"Snotty" :rotf: :rotf: :rotf:

I use the mushroom end down (as I was taught) with my Bess. NEVER put your palm over a rammer, so the mushroom ain't designed to ease the pressure on the end. The trumpet angle also eliminates the need for a short starter as you get a better purchase when the taper is big end down.

Just my 2¢

 

[robinghewitt]

Hi Stumpkiller

That's what I thought until I got this Baker :thumbsup:

The narrow end is cupped to fit the ball and the fat end simply doesn't fit in the hole :shocked2:

Squire Robin

 

[Mike Brooks]

"Snotty" :rotf: :rotf: :rotf:

I use the mushroom end down (as I was taught) with my Bess. NEVER put your palm over a rammer, so the mushroom ain't designed to ease the pressure on the end. The trumpet angle also eliminates the need for a short starter as you get a better purchase when the taper is big end down.

Just my 2¢

Apples and oranges here. The bess rod is designed to go in big end down first, it also doesn't have any collar on the small end to be centered on the ball.. The Baker, with it's captured rod, isn't made to be used the same way.
As soon as you use a Baker or M1776 rifle you smack your self in the forehead and say OOOHHHH, of course! :hmm: :haha:

 

[mmahlock]

Mike, just a note.

Not all Baker Rifles had captive/swivel ramrods. That feature was used only on cavarly cargines.

 

[Va.Manuf.06]

Mike, just a note.

Not all Baker Rifles had captive/swivel ramrods. That feature was used only on cavarly cargines.

:shocked2: Are you absolutely sure about that? Might want to check your resources... We'll wait. :snore:

 

[robinghewitt]

:shocked2: Are you absolutely sure about that? Might want to check your resources... We'll wait. :snore:

Yes, let's wait. I'm saying nothing until I see if Mike puts his infallible foot in it :rotf:

 

[robinghewitt]

It's gone very quiet, I expect Mike will be along in a minute :grin:

 

[Mike Brooks]

Well, I learn something new every day.... :haha: It seems the infantry models don't have ram rod swivels, and the calvary models do have ram rod swivels. The infantry model is still loaded with the small end of the rod that has the removable brass cupped colar. There is a ball puller that also screws onto the rod....when you need that sort of thing.... :hmm:
My sources indicate there were only 18,819 infantry Bakers made, with production ending in 1815.... These figures were for London and Birmingham contractors..... were they made else where?
Those are pretty low production numbers....

 

[robinghewitt]

Well, I learn something new every day.... :haha:

So do I :thumbsup:

There was a later contract, I think it was the pattern 1823. Baker was declining and his wife took over, it's very possible the the E BAKER whose name shows on my gun was Elizabeth :grin:

 

[Mike Brooks]

I'll see if I can dig anything up on the 1823 contract. :hmm:

 

[robinghewitt]

"The last manufacture was in 1838 when some 2000 were set up by the London gunmakers, being rifled and sighted by Baker, Beckwith, Squires and Pritchett. This was done to use up materials in store, although some locks had to be made to make up the numbers. In spite of the introduction of the Brunswick percussion rifle, the Baker flintlock continued in service for some years, mainly with colonial regiments".

Howard Blackmore :thumbsup:

 

[mmahlock]

:shocked2: Are you absolutely sure about that? Might want to check your resources... We'll wait. :snore:

As sure as I can be. I have not seen any pictures or documentation of a swivel being used on any of the Pattern Infantry Rifles from 1800 to 1823. If anyone else has pictures or documentation indicating otherwise I'd like to see it. Although I can't imagine why anyone would put a swivel on an infantry rifle. Anyone have any ides? :hatsoff:

Mike, I don't know where you got your total numbers of production of Baker Rifles but Bailey indicates 32,443 by the end of 1815 with an addition 9,591 from then through the end of production in 1839. :hatsoff:

 

[Mike Brooks]

I got my production #'s from DeWitt Bailley's book too, but obviously was missing something important..... :youcrazy: I must have been looking at figures for something else entirely.... :haha:
The British 1776 rifle has a rammer swivel, I'm assuming that it was intended for infantry, but I may be wrong...(hard to admit :haha: )

 

[mmahlock]

I got my production #'s from DeWitt Bailley's book too, but obviously was missing something important..... :youcrazy: I must have been looking at figures for something else entirely.... :haha:
The British 1776 rifle has a rammer swivel, I'm assuming that it was intended for infantry, but I may be wrong...(hard to admit :haha: )

No, you're right about the 1776 Pattern Rifle. :bow: Although why it was fitted with a ramrod swivel I don't really know. It must not have proved to be overy useful since the Furgeson didn't have one and neither did the Baker except for cavalry models. Interesting.
:thumbsup: