As far as can be ascertained, the rifle was introduced into the Army in 1794 and was first issued to a battalion of the 60th and to one company in each of the other Rifle battalions. It was probably the Baker rifle, which weighed 10 lb., was sighted up to 200 yards and was, of course, a muzzle-loader. A bayonet could not be fixed, so Riflemen carried swords, and to this day the bayonets are called "swords" in Rifle regiments and are never fixed on ceremonial parades.

When, in 1808, the 5th Battalion 60th and the 2nd Battalion The Rifle Brigade went to the Peninsula, both were armed with rifles and swords and were dressed in green with black buttons and accoutrements. The rest of the Army were armed with the "Brown Bess" musket and bayonet throughout the Peninsular War.
The heaviest gun was the 9-pounder with a range up to 800 yards.

Baker Rifle and Sword