Product Details
A GOOD .625 VOLUNTEER MATCH GRADE BAKER FLINTLOCK RIFLE SIGNED I. GILL, CIRCA 1802, serial no. T.W.W.III.,
with 30in. twist barrel stamped with Tower private Ordnance proofs at breech and rifled with seven grooves making one turn in 30in. (standard Baker 1/4 in 30in.), blade front-sight and block for bayonet on the underside of muzzle, leaf rear-sights with one fixed and two hinged, the hinged leaves with V's to top and sighting holes at a lower level, flat bevelled border-line engraved lock with stepped tail signed 'I. GILL' and with the Crown G.R. cypher to the centre, semi waterproof pan, roller to frizzen and fitted with a ring-neck cock, detented action, regulation brass-mounted figured full walnut with raised cheek rest, stocked to four inches of the muzzle, the wrist escutcheon engraved 'T. W. W. IIII', this is a superior example with fine stock, barrel professionally rebrowned at some time in the distant past and looking good
Provenance: This rifle was produced for a volunteer rifle company by John Gill of Birmingham who took over the family business from his father Thomas Gill in mid-1801. A quantity of these Baker rifles were sold at Sotheby's many years back and spread over a number of sales. There were two different grades, the superior grade such as this example had fast twist rifling, detented actions and superior sights. The standard grade had normal Baker rifling, standard sight and actions, all were marked "T. W. W" and a number. Apparently a quantity had been brought into Sotheby's by a couple who had bought a large country house and found a rack of these rifles in one of the outhouses
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Estimate £2,000-4,000