doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Baker Paragon or Special Order??

I would like some help identifing a Baker I purchased last weekend. After looking at the photos in the upcoming Greg Martin auction, I'm not sure what it is. The sidelocks have what I would call Paragon engraving, multiple birds and much scroll, but the frame has more linear engraving and the shoulders are plain. The trigger guard has elaborate scroll engraving with a marsh scene that has a dog holding a duck. The butt has a half round pistol grip with the checkering pattern like the A grade in the auction. The forend checkering is also like an A grade. It has an old Hawkins pad and there are no markings under the barrels, which are damascus . The only marking on the frame is the serial #2721. I have been told that the Paragon, A and B grades were stamped on the underside of the barrels with the grade designation. The barrels are 30", F & F and the gun wieghs 9 lbs. Could this have been a special order gun?
Thanks for your help


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It looks like an A grade with etched engraving to me.
Bob

I agree, the lack of engraving on the breech balls, tells me it is not a Paragon or above. The bottom barrel lug does not extend lower than the frame and every Paragon grade or above that I have seen does. Every Paragon I have seen that has a pistol grip also has a grip cap on it and not a round knob. The round knob pistol grip,no engraving on the breech balls, Damascus barrels all say A grade to me. I can't say I ever have seen on my Baker's any identity marks as to grade, on the barrels or water table. But, you will see sometimes a "T" for twist or a "D" for Damascus on the lug that holds the forearm. It appears as if the earlier the "A" or "B" grades, the more engraving they have. Others may have other opinions, I am still learing as well.

Dave is right. The gun also falls into the A and B serial number range. I have see a Paragon stamped on the water table but it was a Folsom built gun.
Bob

Those are Two Iron Crolle damascus, not Twist, barrels and look like the brls on one of the Paragons on the Greg Martin website.

I think, but, am not positive, that it falls into the R grade serial number range as well. The one catalog I have says that an R had a capped pistol grip, but an A had a half pistol grip. I bet Chris Shotz knows for sure.
Best,
Ted

Ted, per the Baker Sr# list in Vol 14, issue 4 issue of DJG, the R Sr # range is 200,000 not 2000 range. I agree that for the most part the frame engraving looks like an A grade, but the lock plates and the frame at the edge of the lock plates is very similiar to the Paragon # 1318 in the Martin auction, and also Paragon # 874 on page 63 of Vol 3, Issue 3.
All of the A grades I have seen,(not many) have one dog or bird on each lock plate and less intricate engraving on the trigger guard.
It is probably an A with a little different engraving.

Baker No.38 seems to be a blend of rolled(?) and hand cut engraving, but no grade designation...only 38, no other marks
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Note the LC Smith type shaping here, or do I have it backwards?


This one is an attempt to show the damascus

Robert: that damascus looks like a step up to 'Fine' 3 Iron Crolle.

Hmmmmmm, I don't often get to look at real early hammerless Bakers like this one. I look at where the firing pin screw is at and it is at the lower position like you see on the later Bakers made by Folsum. Gordon, for some reason Baker seemed to use the dogs, birds at will, regardless of "A" or "B" grade. It does seem as if they use the engraving pattern is blocks or in lots.