I bought this just now at auction.
It has the same patent dates as my H&A/Merwin-Hulbert 32-20.
H&A bought Bay State around or before 1895. (probably 1887, but Bay State continued under their own name till 1895
This one should be 32 rim and centerfire, with a sliding dovetail in the breechblock to convert it.
This model was called "Groundless", seems an odd name.
This model was also made in a target version in 32-40.
Aaron

Did you get that online at Cordiers in Harrisburg Pa, right? If so, had a bid on it too but you out did me and congrats. 

John

No hard feelings Rebel, there were others who overbid me too. 
I live close by in Carlisle but didn't get a chance to go over to the sale to check it out. Pleas let us know more about that rifle when it comes home.

John

Far as I know Wm. Davenport's Bay State firm was bought out in 1888, soon after it failed.  The name disappeared then.  H&A apparently hired or maybe contracted Davenport, and slightly reworked the design. It appeared under the Merwin Hulbert banner until MH went bankrupt.  I just bought one such, in .22 rimfire.  That "sliding dovetail" I know nothing about.  My .32 Colt CF  Bay State does not have it.   The forend on my Bay State does not go around the receiver like that.   

Davenport was big into designing shotguns.  Was the name Bay State maybe kept on a shotgun?   

My Bay State is marked "Bay State Arms Uxbridge Mass USA" on the barrel, just forward of the rear sight slot.  It has a tang sight, certainly original, and the slot has a filler block in it and is 7/16 wide.  Back near the receiver is marked "Pat'd June 28. & Sept 15. 1885"  There is no caliber marking, but a .32 Long Colt cartridge fits perfectly.  Hard rubber buttplate with a complex monogram on it.  It has a small screw oriented vertically alongside the trigger that looks like a sear engagement adjuster for the plain trigger.  I have never detail stripped this rifle and don't plan to.   Before I found Tenmile as a source for the correct heeled bullets, I breech seated .32 cal HBWC bullets.  Either way it doesn't set the house afire.  Maybe 3 MOA at 40 yards.   

The rifle as made by Bay State has the hammer axle internal to the receiver, whereas the H&A version has a more normal screw through both walls.  The extractor is a finely machined inverted "L" which comes in from 9 o'clock.   

My H&A .22 has that flat stamped extractor on the left side. Product cheapening department.  The H&A rifle is marked with two lines on the top flat of the barrel, "Hopkins and Allen Manfg. Co Norwich Conn, USA" and "Merwin Hulbert New York USA Sole Agents."  forward of the rear sight slot, then "Pat. June 23 85 Oct 2 88  22 R.F." back by the receiver on the top flat.  One the 2 o/clock flat is "Patent Applied For."  It has that odd tapered screw coming in from the side for sear engagement adjustment.   This rifle was lovingly worked over by a skilled 'smith not too long ago.  It has a .22 liner in the barrel, the extractor is tightly fitted and works, that sear adjustment also works.   

There are surely other internal differences, but as I said I have not dismantled the Bay State.   

I had a chance to buy another .32 CF Bay State at a gun show in Indiana, but passed it up as it was in lesser shape, and the seller wanted too much for it, I thought at the time.  It wasn't long before I started wishing I'd dickered harder with him.  Didn't realize back then how few real Bay State rifles there are.

Got the Bay State today.
Other than the forearm, the rifle is very honest with good rifling and it does have a well fitted, horizontally sliding, dovetailed insert in the breechblock that converts it from rim to centerfire.
32 Long Colt fits well, I don't have any 32 Long Rimfire to try.
I'll get some pics as soon as I get the old grease out of it.
The barrel, receiver, and buttstock are numbered 402.
Picked up a .22LR Colt Police Positive Target from the same auction, it's just like Xmas at Easter, or Hannukah at Passover.
Aaron