doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Baker Gun History and data where?

I have 4 Baker shotguns and cannot find any complete information on them. Both the L.C. Smith and Ithaca books talk about Baker but provide no serious amount of information. Are there still in print any books, catalogs, etc. that describes the various Bakers ?
Happy New Year,
Tom

I think Daryl has helped put together a Baker website which should have alot of info...Fairly recent..maybe someone has the address? Daryl?

Here you go Tom: http://www.bakercollectors.com/

http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/17434920

Tom, if you have any specific questions, my email address is in my Profile. Daryl

Baker/Batavia -- Baker references are --

The Double Gun Journal -- Vol 3, Iss 3&4; Vol 9, Iss 2; Vol 14, Iss 4; and Vol 19, Iss 3
American Rifleman -- June 1968
Shooting Times -- May 1962
Man at Arms -- Nov/Dec 1987
The Gun Report -- Nov 1989 and Jan 1991
Field & Stream -- April 1908
Guns Illustrated - 29th Edition, 1997

William H. Baker was dead before any of the sidelock hammerless Baker doubles built in Batavia saw the light of day. Even the trigger-plate hammer gun built first in Syracuse and then later in Batavia was designed by A.C. McFarland, Patent No. 370,966 granted Oct. 4, 1887. When the plant in Syracuse burned and they moved operations to Batavia, W.H. Baker was ill with TB and they brought in Frank A. Hollenbeck as plant superintendent. Hollenbeck had three patents granted while he was in Batavia and two are assigned to the Baker Gun & Forging Co.

The Batavia guns were the low priced or "field grade" models of the Baker Gun & Forging Co. To reduce costs the Batavia line did not have the "firing pin block safety" or the "draw block" which passes transversely through the barrel lug and mates into recesses in the frame, of the graded Baker hammerless guns and the Model 1897 hammer gun. After WW-I with the rise of repeaters Baker sold their gun business to H&D Folsom Co. a major marketer, manufacturer and importer of low priced guns. Folsom added the 20-gauge to the Baker line that they produced. Folsom-made Baker guns normally have an F before or after the serial number. In the very last Baker ads that I've found in old sporting magazines from April and May 1928, and October 1929, Folsom also offered a 410-bore Batavia Leader, though I've never seen one.

Researcher, thanks. I have seen those late ads for a 410 bore. The only example I have seen in 4 decades was a Baker marked 410, but it used the Crescent frame , locks, etc. I am wondering if those were the only Baker 410s.

Daryl,
Thanks to all for the information. Please see an email sent you. Happy New Year to all.
Tom

Lower ad 1928 with .410. Note address change to Folsom's



1929 National Sportsman without .410 and $6.25 cheaper

Hey Doc- would that series baker have the "[censored]-tensile" steel stamping on the top barrel breech area? I saw a Baker 12 recently for sale, and that was the grade stamp marking. I ask this ? with bated breath, knowing our "friend" Ho-Jo will most likely jump in with both feet on the "[censored]" part, but what will be, will be- n'ces pas???