I once had a 12 gauge Batavia Special with those [censored]-Tensile steel barrels & now have a 16 gauge Black Beauty (not special). Nice guns, but certainly not That Nice.
Not really up on Bakers that much, maybe one of them will kick in with info, but I don't believe this is a Folsom gun, could be wrong though. "If" it was made in 1917, per the letter then that is pre-Folsom.
The cocking system. bolting nor general finish are anything like any Purdey I ever saw, don't really see anything at all identical to a Purdey. Also, Purdey's are Bar Action & not Back Action.
Sort of like saying a T-Model Ford is identical to a Rolls Royce, they both have 4 wheels while a Baker & a Purdey both have 2 barrels. Similarities end there.
