Indian Baker Rifle first impression

[BlackPowderKeg]

Picked it up at a rural flee market really cheap. Looks like it was never fired before and contact hole was already drilled and it was throwing sparks really good. Initial impression is good. When I was thinking about Indian made flintlocks I was imagining something much more crude and ugly.
This one is 62 cal smoothbore. Shot it at 25 yards with .60 cal patched balls, 48 grains FF. Later switched to cornmeal over powder and no patch. Noticed that fist quarter of the way down the barrel I'm forcing the ball to go down but then it almost falls in but I think it's a common problem with Indian made guns

 

[BlackPowderKeg]

 

[BlackPowderKeg]

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

Nice!

Send it off to Bobby Hoyt in PA to be rifled to 62-cal if you want, as he charged me only $80 once the barrel checked out.

 

[Codgernam]

Sorta familiar with Baker rifle . Peninsular war Had no idea made
In India .Interesting .

 

[ArmorerRoy]

That is a good score. My access heritage baker was 650 delivered. Yours looks nicer than mine.

 

[RAEDWALD]

Sorta familiar with Baker rifle . Peninsular war Had no idea made
In India .Interesting .

This is a modern reproduction made in India recently. Originals were made in England and Russian army copies in Belgium.

 

[brushblind]

Good find, I would've snapped that up for sure. Not sure about rifling as one patron said. There's something to be said about a good smooth bore.

 

[BlackPowderKeg]

I paid $350, not gonna complain lol

 

[Hermit Tim]

I paid $350, not gonna complain lol

You ain't gonna find one cheaper than that. Great find.

 

[Packrat]

I have one, never thought of Bobby Hoyt rifling it to 62 caliber. I expected problems so I sent it off to Bobby to have it relined to 54 caliber, made it heaver. Eventually I had to put a touch hole liner in as I was misfiring, losing pressure from the touch hole.

 

[FlinterNick]

Nice!

Send it off to Bobby Hoyt in PA to be rifled to 62-cal if you want, as he charged me only $80 once the barrel checked out.

The Baker actually is one of the nicer one’s I’ve seen for an Indian made Arm, it still looks very chunky and oversized patchbox is a little high.

As for the barrel, I’d get that looked at, the way you described it as needing to be forced down and then it falls down the bore, sounds like a potential real issue there, this generally means that the bore is over machined in the breech end or there was an expansion at some point when it was fired. All things aside to get a barrel professional to take a look at it, and i would certainly have a rifled copy made or the original barrel liner if able.

 

[FlinterNick]

I have one, never thought of Bobby Hoyt rifling it to 62 caliber. I expected problems so I sent it off to Bobby to have it relined to 54 caliber, made it heaver. Eventually I had to put a touch hole liner in as I was misfiring, losing pressure from the touch hole.

I doubt he will rifle the existing barrel, he would probably line it down to 58 caliber then rifle it or used a pre-rifled liner.

 

[Poguetx]

The ones I've seen had very sloppy solder jobs, particularly noticeble on the front and rear sites and bayonet lug. Fit and finish on yours looks better, but your photos don't show the soldered areas. I have several Indian guns spark is good on all of them, though the trigger pull is very hard.

 

[PathfinderNC]

Congratulations on your find. Seems to be pretty accurate as a Smoothbore.
It looks like you’re getting a lot of fowling inside your lock. Check the tightness between the lock and barrel. There shouldn’t be any gap at all and you won’t be getting that crud inside your lock. It will be happier when it’s clean
Lastly, that “contact hole” is called a “vent” or a “Touch hole”.
Anyway, enjoy your new find!

 

[flconch53]

Yes my 1st reaction to the blackness in the lock mortise is that it is not seating flat against the barrel.For heat you paid it is worth tweaking

 

[Flint62Smoothie]

I doubt he will rifle the existing barrel …

@FlinterNick - Don’t be so sure … he rifled mine ($80) and says he has done MANY!

 

[Sam squanch]

You can get some beeswax or something to fill the gap between the pan and barrel. I made one from lead.