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Thanks Dave and Daryl!-these were the grades as listed on Martin's on-line catalog http://www.gmartin-auctions.com/gma/catalogs/june07_catalog.html
All the ones he labeled 'B' did have 'Damascus Twist' barrels, and the 'K's had the same Crolle pattern as the 'A's.
I'll correct the captions on the album

Drew, On page 3 of the 1909 Baker Gunner, they indicate that:

"The first model Baker Hammerless was built in two grades designated as the "A" and "B", the difference consisting chiefly in the barrels of which the "A" had fine Damascus, the "B" London twist.
These guns have given splendid satisfaction down to the present time, but for the sake of later models and higher finish, the "A" grade is being gradually closed out and the "B" grade is manufactured only in limited quantities."

As has been previously mentioned, thanks very much for all your efforts with the Paper Trail.
Gordon

Thanks Gordon, that helps indentify the date of the grade changes.

And for anyone interested, “The Baker Gunner” 1909 reprint is available from Cornell Publications
http://www.cornellpubs.com:80/Templates3/Baker%201909.htm

Resarcher, Where does the early Baker boxlock hammerless fit in the chain of events? It's outward apperance looks like a Syracuse but I was told by you and others it was a Baker.

Gunny:
I can't tell you where the Baker box-lock guns fit into a specific Baker gun manufacturing period; but there are numbers of outward cosmetic and mechanical differences between the Baker and Syracuse Arms Company box-lock models. The most obvious differences are that the Baker gun will have three exposed pins (not screws) on each side of the frame, while the Syracuse/Hollenbeck gun will have only two exposed pins on either side of the frame; the second most obvious difference is the barrel lug, 3/8" wide on the Baker and 5/8" on the Syracuse (the Baker lug is also longer). Other cosmetic differences include rib matting, safety sides, trigger plates, butt-plates, etc; etc.

My understanding is...........that the A & B grades were not engraved but etched. How was this done?

Toward the end of the PictureTrail, Ross Berck's pics of the progression of lockplate styles shows the early guns to have been etched (and with one pin); the later guns were engraved (and had 3 pins)

revdocdrew, a very nice picture trail, I really enjoyed your work, thanks!

Craig

Early A and B grades were etched. After around serial no. 3000 or so they were hand engraved. I have never found any information on how this was done, but have seen etching used by some other makers.

Thanks Daryl.

Just today I received this neat Baker ad from the Program for the Second Annual Amateur Tournament, Kendallville, Indiana Limited Gun Club, Sept 11 & 12, 1906