Sharpe's Rifles

[bkoenig]

Has anyone read this series by Bernard Cornwell?  I'm about halfway through the first book (which is named the same as the series).  It's about a group of British Riflemen in the Napoleonic wars.  Pretty interesting stuff - they were elite soldiers who were armed with Baker rifles instead of the standard Brown Bess muskets.  So far the author does a pretty good job of highlighting the equipment without getting overly technical.  I watched the TV miniseries years ago but just now got around to picking up the first book.

I've decided I need a Baker rifle, btw:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baker_rifle

The accuracy of the rifle in capable hands is most famously demonstrated by the action of Rifleman Thomas Plunkett (or Plunket) of the 1st Battalion, 95th Rifles, who shot French General Colbert at an unknown but long range (as much as 600 yards according to some sources) during the retreat to La Coruña during the Peninsular War. He then shot one of the General's aides, suggesting that the success of the first shot was not due to luck.

[Ronvandyn]

Finding an original might be a challenge, but there should be some reproductions out there somewhere. 

Very cool rifle though, not sure I would want to fire the original caliber though, I have a .50 Hawkin and at a full charge its a bit painful. 

Ron

[gsd]

i noticed Scheels has a trapdoor in thier "hoity-toity" case, had a rediculous price tag on it, something like 1200.

totally off topic i know, sorry brian.

[bkoenig]

Yeah...it was in decent shape but not worth what they were asking.

To be honest I'm in no position to buy any new guns right now.  Too many irons in the fire.

[gsd]

To be honest I'm in no position to buy any new guns right now.  Too many irons in the fire.

Imagine that lol...