H & D Folsom Baker Batavia Leader

[Dave Noreen]

I see this newly listed, low serial number, H & D Folsom Batavia Leader that appears to have mono-bloc barrels.

https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/shotguns/baker-shotguns/baker-batavia-leader-12ga-sxs-shotgun.cfm?gun_id=102240039

None of the others I've ever seen have mono-bloc barrels.

[charlie cleveland]

not a bad looking old gun ...charlie

[Larry Stauch]

Could they be sleeved Dave?

[Dave Noreen]

If it wasn't built that way, I can't imagine someone springing for the cost of sleeving such a low priced gun as a Folsom Batavia Leader. It is assumed that the H & D Folsom Arms Co. Bakers were built at their Crescent Fire Arms Co. plant in Norwich, Conn. At the same time nearby in Norwich, Davis - Warner Arms Corp. was making their Davis doubles with mono-bloc barrels --

114931

Wonder if there may have been some cross-pollination?

[Rick Losey]

with those bright case colors, maybe worth a restoration to someone as a family piece??

or a gunsmith's project to learn on?

[Brian Dudley]

https://parkerguns.org/forums/album.php?albumid=1002&pictureid=13297

Today I noticed this old album showing a late paragon with a crossbolt. I had not seen this feature before. ?

[Daryl Hallquist]

Brian, as I recall the Folsom Paragons had the crossbolt and lower grades did not. Many of those Folsom Paragons had hidden crossbolts.

[Bill Murphy]

The gun in question has markings ahead of the monobloc joint "C" and "F", maybe cylinder and full. Isn't a choke marking unusual on this variation? Would the marking suggest a Lefever or maybe a European monobloc?

[Dave Noreen]

Many of the Folsom Baker/Batavia guns I've saved pictures of are marked M on the right and F on the left barrel flat.