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

This is the earliest Baker SBT ad I've found, from the Sep. 25, 1909 issue of The American Field --

I'd guess at least two engravers at work.
One doing up the frame. Lighter cuts. Scroll background removed w/a liner. Scroll leaves occasionally roll over and are shaded to show that effect with a single point graver.

Another that fell in love with the hollow point punch did the bbl and the trigger guard. No rolled over scroll leaves in that guys scroll work. Everything much heavier cut inclu the border. Loves big simplistic oak leaves

Not that it couldn't be the same engraver, but the frame cutting is better quality IMO.
Even engravers that do cut different styles on the same project don't loose their overall degree of skill in changing from one pattern to another.

In a letter to a dealer dated Sept. 4, 1908, Baker said that they were developing a single barrel trap gun and already had advanced orders. They were having "pattern barrels" made in Europe at the time, and that they would notify the dealer when the project was more advanced. They were unsure how many grades would be made, but that the guns would cost in the $75-$150 range.

I have photos of Serial No. 2, an Elite grade. The engraving motifs are similar to #25, but not as elaborate.

The Justam Anti-Flinch recoil pad did become available late 1915 or early 1916, Patent No. 1,156,293 granted Oct. 12, 1915. The multiple ply sponge rubber pad was the Huntley, and Stephen A. Huntley's patent for it, Patent No. 1,222,291, was granted Apr. 10, 1917, and assigned to the Huntley Manufacturing Company of Omaha, Nebraska. It was originally marketed by Huntley. From a circa 1916 H & D Folsom Arms Co. catalog --



After The Great War it was added to the Jostam line.

The pad pictured on the Baker SBT in the catalog cut has five round holes through it side to side. I know I once upon a time found information on that pad, but I can't seem to lay my hands on it now.

The Huntley Shock Absorber Pad ad in "Recreation" Oct. 1915
https://books.google.com/books?id=SX07AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA153&lpg



S.A. Huntley who was from Sioux City. What could he have been thinkin' with that FE?!
Feb. 1915 "Forest & Stream"
http://books.google.com/books?id=lRMcAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA115&dq

"Field & Stream", 1916
https://books.google.com/books?id=LIblAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA502&lpg

"Outing" Nov. 1917
https://books.google.com/books?id=V4xQAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA124&lpg

At the 1917 GAH

Researcher, Have you ever found a factory date on the Baker catalog noted 1915 above ? I think we have always called that a 1915 catalog, but my several examples do not have a factory date.

On the recoil pad on the "1915" Superba , one should note that the catalog shows an illustration, not a photo. It is possible the illustrator has taken some license with the pad shown.

In my post above, I have a typo . The two ply pad should have been labeled Huntley Shock Absorber. They were offered in two and three ply at $1.25 and $1.75 delivered.

I have a price list dated January 1st, 1915, and except for the Deluxe Grade double, the prices in the catalog match those on the price list. In that catalog the Deluxe is $275 but on the Price List it is $260. The double gun prices are the same in the "GUNKRAFT CATALOG" but in it the SBTs are cheaper?!?

Interesting on the dates. Another question I had was about the Black Beauty Special in the "1915" or similar catalogs. Of course they also offer the Black Beauty and I have seen many of those, but have never seen, after viewing thousands of Bakers, a Black Beauty Special by Baker Gun and Forging. I have seen many Black Beauty Specials made by Folsom after Baker gave up gun manufacture.

Many thanks to Bob for presenting this for us. I had an opportunity to look at the gun today, Yes, I'd say multiple engravers, and those are the finest dogs, certainly of the era.
Beautiful, and thanks again Bob.