Baker Paragon

[Grantham Forester]

Looked at a Baker 12 gauge Paragon today- Double triggers and selective ejectors-- A few things I noted: It has a top cross bolt, like found on the Greener shotguns I have seen. It has functioning ejectors, but has a plain snap on forearm with no release mechanism, as found on my VHE 12 Parker- and although engraved on the lock plates, no markings at all on the Nitro steel barrels, and no tip insert at the front of the splinter forearm. When did Baker go out of business?

[Jawjadawg]

Daryl Hallequist on the Doublegunshop.com forum knows a lot about Baker shotguns. He's written a few articles about them. If you post a Baker question there, he will likely respond within a day. Might even be a member of this forum. Dunno. Of course, there are also some knowledgeable people to be found here.

[Drew Hause]

Lots of infro here, and pics of some beautiful Paragons.

http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/17434920

The crossbolt was introduced about 1915. Baker Gun & Forging sold their gun business to H.& D. Folsom in 1919, and it was renamed Baker Gun Co. VERY few Paragons were made after that.

Also check www.bakercollectors.com which Daryl runs

[Researcher]

Here is the Paragon from a circa 1915 Baker catalogue --

[Stepmac]

Originally Posted by Drew Hause

Lots of infro here, and pics of some beautiful Paragons.

http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/17434920

The crossbolt was introduced about 1915. Baker Gun & Forging sold their gun business to H.& D. Folsom in 1919, and it was renamed Baker Gun Co. VERY few Paragons were made after that.

Also check www.bakercollectors.com which Daryl runs

The Baker Paragon that I was looking at sold two days ago. Nice shotgun and I'm sure the new owner loves it, as he should. There is another Paragon for sale. I'm also looking at a Greener that Sherman Bell owned. I have been a fan of the late Mr. Bell for decades and I miss his writings. I saved about 20 years of copies of Double Gun magazine which is chocked full of articles written by Mr. Bell. He was a wonderful shotgun guy.

[Boltaction]

Originally Posted by Drew Hause

Lots of infro here, and pics of some beautiful Paragons.

http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/17434920

The crossbolt was introduced about 1915. Baker Gun & Forging sold their gun business to H.& D. Folsom in 1919, and it was renamed Baker Gun Co. VERY few Paragons were made after that.

Also check www.bakercollectors.com which Daryl runs

Is there a contact for Daryl? I have visited www.bakercollectors.com many times and it is excellent, but just the last couple of days it seems to automatically redirect to a .cafe website about artisan pastries, like it has been spoofed or something. It would be nice to get that link back again.

[Drew Hause]

Start here
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...k/edit?tab=t.0

Daryl's contact is listed and the other Baker docs

[Daryl Hallquist]

The serial numbers of the Paragons in this discussion would help get better understanding of the guns. Pictures would be even better.

[Stepmac]

Can someone here tell us some things about the Baker Paragon? What made or makes it great? Should I buy one? Why? I have heard about Baker shotguns for years, but to date have never heard about the Paragon.

[Daryl Hallquist]

Steve, here is a website that we put together a few years ago. Drew Hause saved it and you can read a lot about Baker guns.. If you click on the Baker Gun and Forging Company guns in the Table of Contents, and then reclick on the address that appears, you can see info on all models including the Paragon, which was a Made to Order model of high quality. Started in 1892 the Paragon was the highest grade at the time. Most later Paragons were engraved by Frank Mason, one in house very good engraver. The very latest models were engraved by Rudolph Kornbrath.

https://www.bakercollectors.com/