The Baker rifle was produced for the first time in 1800, and was used during all the campaigns of the Napoleonic wars in the brand new rifle regiments of the British army. These complemented the action of the voltigeurs, and were quickly nicknamed grasshoppers because of the color of their uniform. In North America, we find the Baker rifle with the 60th regiment during the invasion of Maine in 1814, and in New Orleans with the 95th regiment in 1815.
It is the first entirely British designed and manufactured rifle adopted by Her Majesty's Armed Forces. Bearing the name of its designer, Ezekiel Baker, it was nevertheless produced by a number of factories from 1800 to 1837.
With a 16mm caliber, a 76.2cm long rifled barrel designed to attach a saber bayonet, storage for cleaning accessories included in the stock, this weapon proves to be truly ahead of its time. Its much better accuracy and range than the English Browbess or French Charleville muskets give rifle units a very real superiority.