B
- Serial: 30318 Very pretty wood (a restock) on this little Ideal with nice long barrels. This grade does not feature the rising bite featured on some higher grade Ideal guns but it does have the classic double under-bite with the true trigger plate action.
- In the fall of 1928, Folsom Baker magazine ads listed a 410 bore Batavia Leader, but it is unclear if any were actually manufactured. Folsom era Bakers usually have an F before or after the serial numbers 1- about 14,000. Most guns have a reinforcing wedge between the forearm loop and the flats.
- About 1878 he, his brother (Dr. Baker) and the Smith brothers (Lyman C. And Leroy H.) established the new firm of W.H.BAKER & COMPANY for the purpose of manufacturing shotguns. The partnership lasted only two years, at which time Lyman C Smith bought out the partners shares and renamed the company L.C. SMITH, MAKER OF THE BAKER GUN.
- SYRACUSE NY, SIDELOCK PARAGON MODEL 16GA S/S SHOTGUN. BAKER GUN CO, SYRACUSE NY, SIDELOCK PARAGON MODEL 16GA S/S SHOTGUN, 1925 MFG DATE, 'ONLY A SPECIAL ORDER MFG, 28' BBLS, SCROLL WITH GAME SCENES ON CAAE COLORED ACTION, 2 1/2, CHOKED MOD/MOD.Click for more info.
Baker Shotguns Serial Numbers Chart
According to the article on Baker Guns in the Guns Illustrated 1997 by Hallquist & Hardin, the Paragon was added to the line in 1894, and serial numbers were from 1 to 1200. It seems each series of Baker hammerless doubles had their own serial number blocks - The Paragons and higher one block, A & B grades another block, R & S grades in.
Baker Shotguns Serial Numbers History
BAKER GUN & FORGING CO.
Baker Gun & Forging Company founded in early 1890, by Elias Baker, brother of William Baker. Made from drop forged parts, Baker single-/double barrel shotguns quickly gained a reputation for strength and reliability among shooters of the period. Offered in a wide variety of grades, from plain utilitarian to heavily embellished models. Baker shotguns have in recent years become highly collectible. Company was sold on December 24, 1919, to H. & D. Folsom Arms Company of Norwich, Connecticut. Folsom Company had, for almost 20 years, been Baker Company's sole New York City agent and had marketed at least one Baker model that was only made for them. From 1919 to approximately 1923, Folsom continued to assemble and make Baker shotguns. Late model Bakers were made by Crescent Firearms Company and have serial numbers with an 'F' suffix. Baker Gun & Forging Company was the first American arms manufacturer to: 1. Make a single barrel trap shotgun.2. Make a single barrel trap shotgun with ventilated rib. 3. Make arms with an intercepting firing pin block safety. 4. Make a double barrel shotgun, with hammers directly behind the firing pins. 5. Use a long swinging sear, that once adjusted, gave consistent trigger pull throughout the working life of an arm. Baker shotguns manufactured between 1913 and 1923, that were engraved by Rudolph J. Kornbrath, command substantial price premiums over values listed.
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