doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Baker Batavia

I was in a pawn shop the other day and noticed a Baker Batavia on the racks for $550. It was a 12 ga w/28" fluid steel barrels. Practically no bluing or case colors remain but the action was on face and the bores were mint. Looked to be all original however there were a couple of stock cracks by the frame/lock plate. Didn't have the time to remove barrels or see if it was marked Folsom. What is the boards overall opinion of the Baker ? Most stock work I can do myself so does this price sound reasonable ? Thanks to all for the gold mine of information provided by this board.

$550 sounds pretty steep to me for a Batavia in the condition described.

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.

During the Baker Gun & Forging Co. days there were several variations of the lower priced "Batavia" line. From a 1909 copy of The Baker Gunner -- The Batavia Leader had twist barrels and listed at $25 -- The Batavia Special had steel barrels and listed at $21.75 -- The Batavia Damascus had Damascus barrels and listed at $28 -- and, finally the Batavia Brush had 26-inch twist barrels and a straight-grip stock listing at $24 and offered swivels and a sling as an option for $3. There was also a Batavia Ejector that listed at $35 with steel barrels and $37.50 with Damascus barrels. About 1915 Baker Gun & Forging Co. discontinued all these "Batavia" models and replaced them with the Black Beauty and the Black Beauty Special. In 1919 Baker sold out their gun business to H&D Folsom. H & D Folsom revived the Batavia Leader name but with steel barrels like the old Batavia Special.

The "Batavia" guns with fluid steel barrels made by Baker Gun and Forging Co. were well made guns. If it is a Batavia Special, Batavia Ejector, or the less common Batavia Leader in the 40-50000 serial range, then the gun might be a decent buy. If it is a Folsom made gun under 20000 serial range, then I would think it priced too high.

I don't mean to hijack this thread. I found your information about the Batavia guns very interesting. I have looked at some Baker Paragons in the past and haven't found out much about them. I have referenced all my issues of DGJ and still don't have a good handle on what these guns are like. Can you shed any more light on the subject of Baker guns other than the Batavia.

Thanks

Here you go; much of the infro is from Daryl and Dave
http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/17434920

canvasback: I have a Paragon listed on my web site w/ pictures if you want to see what one looks like.

Best Regards, George

George, your gun is a Folsom made gun, and while a nice gun, it is not the same quality as the Paragons by Baker Gun and Forging Co.

Drew

Thank you for providing that link. A lot to learn in there. Some great pictures of Baker guns in there as well.

George, thanks for the link. Found the gun and had a good look.

I don't hear much about Baker guns relative to what I think of as the big American names, Parker, Fox, Ithaca, LC Smith and Lefever. Forgeting collectibility if one can, what's the view of Baker quality when compared to those other makes.

Researcher, were there any notable problems or weak points concerning the design ?

Here is a thread on older Bakers.
http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbt...857ea#Post71207
http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/17434920
http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbt...3c72b04b82857ea