Baker flint lock pistol

[okiemoss]

I bought this gun a few days ago and am trying to learn more about it. I know it’s made by Ezekiel Baker and the guy I bought it off of showed me the tower mark but I’m such a novice with these things Im not ready to try and disassemble it again. Any info would be great, thanks

[fernando]

Welcome to the forum, okiemoss .
Certainly our members will have their considerations to offer on your pistol
And by the way, this not a flint lock pistol, but a percussion one.

[okiemoss]

Originally Posted by fernando

Welcome to the forum, okiemoss .
Certainly our members will have their considerations to offer on your pistol
And by the way, this not a flint lock pistol, but a percussion one.

Hahaha, I appreciate you clearing that at! Perhaps it’s why I’m having trouble finding anything when I’ve googled it

[rickystl]

Hi Okiemoss. Welcome to the Forum.

That is a nice London made pocket pistol. These high quality, smaller pistols were usually carried for personal protection. The back-action style of percussion lock on your pistol likely places it somewhere in the 1850-1870 period. Various gunsmiths would often build these pistol with an individual customer's preferences. Unless built as a pair, you don't see any two exactly alike. Your's appears in good condition as they likely did not see any regular usage. Again, nice example.

Here is one I own. Although a bit larger belt hook size. Seems like many of these London made pocket pistols were handled back and forth more often than actually fired.

Rick

[adrian]

I know it’s made by Ezekiel Baker and the guy I bought it off of showed me the tower mark

Ezekiel Baker died in 1836 and if this pistol is from after that, as it seems, then it will be his family who continued the business. Militarily the back action lock was applied to British longarms from 1837 for several years before they abandoned that design. The ordnance did not apply it to pistols. Commercial guns however tended to be ahead of the military & that does make dating this pistol more uncertain. Personally I would tend to see it as 1840s but I am more comfortable with British military guns of this period than those of a purely commercial nature.

[okiemoss]

Originally Posted by rickystl

Hi Okiemoss. Welcome to the Forum.

That is a nice London made pocket pistol. These high quality, smaller pistols were usually carried for personal protection. The back-action style of percussion lock on your pistol likely places it somewhere in the 1850-1870 period. Various gunsmiths would often build these pistol with an individual customer's preferences. Unless built as a pair, you don't see any two exactly alike. Your's appears in good condition as they likely did not see any regular usage. Again, nice example.

Here is one I own. Although a bit larger belt hook size. Seems like many of these London made pocket pistols were handled back and forth more often than actually fired.

Rick

Thanks! Yeah mine looks very similar besides being a bit shorter. I’m not really a gun guy but I’m really coming to like this thing