Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
The Pedersoli 1805 Baker Rifle faithfully recreates Britain’s first standard‑issue military rifle, blending historical accuracy with modern Italian craftsmanship.
Table of contents
Why the Baker Rifle Mattered
At the turn of the 19th century, European armies relied almost entirely on smoothbore muskets. Those arms emphasized rate of fire and massed volley tactics, leaving limited room for precision or selective engagement.
The Baker rifle marked a shift in that thinking. Designed by London gunsmith Ezekiel Baker and adopted by the British Army in 1800, it became the first rifled firearm issued for regular military service. The rifle equipped the Experimental Corps of Riflemen, later known as the 95th Rifles, and remained in service through much of the Napoleonic Wars.
The 1805 Pattern and Its Reputation
Pedersoli’s reproduction focuses on the 1805 pattern, which historians widely regard as the definitive version of the Baker. This configuration refined earlier designs and delivered more consistent performance in the field.
One of the most frequently cited examples of the Baker’s effectiveness comes from Rifleman Thomas Plunkett. In 1809, during the retreat to Corunna, Plunkett used his Baker rifle to strike French General Auguste‑Marie‑François Colbert at an estimated distance of 300 yards. Period accounts recorded the shot and helped cement the rifle’s reputation for accuracy.
From History to Popular Culture: Sharpe’s Rifle
For many modern readers, the Baker rifle is best known through Bernard Cornwell’s Sharpe novels and their television adaptations. Cornwell armed his protagonist, Richard Sharpe, with a Baker rifle, reflecting the weapon actually carried by riflemen of the 95th.
While fictional, Sharpe helped introduce generations of readers and viewers to the role of riflemen in the Napoleonic Wars. The series reinforced the idea of the Baker as a specialist’s weapon, distinct from the standard infantry musket and closely associated with disciplined, highly trained troops operating ahead of the line.
That cultural exposure didn’t invent the Baker’s reputation, but it kept it alive. Pedersoli’s reproduction taps into both the documented military history and the modern interest driven by Cornwell’s work.
Authentic Construction and Materials
Pedersoli builds the 1805 Baker around its PMG (Premium Match Grade) barrel, machined from solid steel. The rifle uses a .625‑caliber bore with seven grooves and a historically correct slow twist rate of 1:120 inches, optimized for round‑ball loads.
You read that right: the barrel twists one revolution in ten feet of length. Anything tighter was too difficult to pack a ball with a patch down.
The 30‑inch barrel features an adjustable rear sight and a bayonet lug, matching documented military examples. Pedersoli stocks the rifle in walnut and fits it with brass furniture patterned after original period fittings.
The flintlock mechanism is CNC‑machined from steel and finished with an “old silver” treatment. That finish recreates the visual character of period locks while benefiting from modern manufacturing consistency.
Shooting Characteristics and Modern Use
The Baker rifle was never intended to replace the standard infantry musket across the entire battlefield. Instead, it supported skirmishing, reconnaissance, and targeted fire by trained riflemen operating ahead of or alongside line infantry.
Unlike smoothbore muskets, the rifle was built for deliberate loading and precise, aimed fire instead of the speed required by the normal infantry. That philosophy carries directly into Pedersoli’s reproduction.
The slow‑twist rifling favors round‑ball projectiles and rewards careful loading and shot placement. In return, the rifle delivers stability and predictability at realistic black‑powder velocities well beyond musket expectations of the era.
A Reproduction for Enthusiasts and Historians
Pedersoli developed the 1805 Baker in response to sustained demand from collectors, reenactors, and traditional shooters. Original Baker rifles are scarce and command extremely high prices when they surface.
This reproduction offers a historically grounded alternative without turning the rifle into a display‑only piece. Pedersoli positions the 1805 Baker as a functional historical firearm that reflects how riflemen actually used the design two centuries ago.
Pedersoli 1805 Baker Rifle Specs
- Manufacturer: Davide Pedersoli
- Model: 1805 Baker Rifle (S196)
- Type: Flintlock muzzle‑loading rifle
- Caliber: .625
- Rifling: 7 grooves
- Twist Rate: 1:120 inches
- Barrel Length: 30 in (763 mm)
- Overall Length: 45.4 in (1155 mm)
- Weight: 8.4 lb (4.1 kg)
- Stock: Walnut
- Fittings: Brass
- Barrel: PMG premium steel
- Sights: Adjustable rear
- Features: Bayonet lug
- MSRP: (Not Listed)
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Levi is an avid hunter, and an increasingly avid shooter. He strives to make delicious and simple recipes from the game he kills. He makes a living as a professional photographer and writer. Check out his work.