Baker SBT gun
 

I want to share some pics of a nice straight grip Baker Sterling SBT gun that came to me via a good friend. She dates to about 1916-17. 32” tube with almost 6” of full tapered choke, 36 thou constriction. Stock dimensions at 1-3/8 by 2 by 14-5/8” over a vintage Jostam pad. She’ll be out on the trap fields once they open up this spring but meanwhile I’ll warm her up doing sporting clays single birds on call. Love to see the birds turn into diesel smoke. :)

beautiful gun

as I said on the Fox board, a gun like this makes Baker's place in the list of best American gun makers clear

Understated elegance!

as nice as they come....charlie

Wow, Frank. What grade is that gun? Are the lower grade Bakers known to be engraved by Kornbrath?

Thanks everyone. Bill, she’s a Sterling grade. Regarding Kornbrath I don't know the answer to your question. I looked over the frame engravings carefully and didn't see any obvious signature, but really, I don't know what to look for.

I found a very similar gun up in Vermont a few years ago. I had a Grieb “sponge” pad that was FUBAR. I put a silvers on it, and toasted 25 targets the first time out. 32” as well.

Baker SBT
 

Beautiful SBT`s... Conley`s book "The American Single Barrel Trap Gun" has a lot of great information on the Baker Gun Co. One Barrel Trap Gun. The Single Barrel`s were made to order and
no two were made exactly alike. Have several variations in the SBT collection.
Conley credits Roy Mason as Baker`s engraver and some of the higher grade guns were engraved by Kornbrath…

Trap3

interesting - Roy Mason was a Batavia NY artist known for his watercolors, I have seen some of his work for sale around here but have passed due to lack of wall space.

according to this, his father Frank was the engraver, but it may have run in the family

http://tfaoi.com/aa/8aa/8aa410.htm

I cannot remember who I showed the gun to, that was really knowledgeable about Baker Trap guns. They felt like Kornbrath engraved my gun. They also told me that the receiver and barrel were machined from a single piece of steel.

What I do know, is I shoot this gun at trap better than any other.

Mark... very nice Baker. Don`t believe your gun has the integral vent rib barrel (first variation) Can`t tell for sure but probably second variation vent rib...

Trap3

I don't remember...ill pull it out tonight and take a couple more pics...I "think" I remember it being a pretty early gun.

The lowest gun in the 4 gun picture looks like it has a really looong LOP

Don`t recall the LOP. Of the four in the photo, the top Baker has the longer LOP...

Trap3

When it comes to vintage trap, you can't beat Randy Davis.

He has nice stuff:bowdown:

The scalloped receivers on the bottom two guns are beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

That gun is sweet.

My gun is in the “middle” generation, with the rectangular post floating rib, single locking lug, but still with the snap on forearm.

The 100+ year old ejector spring was a bit wimpy and I replaced it with one from my parts bin, cut to length. Original spring is on the right. The Baker now throws Federal paper hulls about 8 feet and Remington Gun Clubs a little farther.

I had the her out today and did pretty well on sporting clays singles once I found out she shot almost flat versus way high as I'd anticipated. 44 ex 50 with Federal paper reloads, 1-ounce of 7-1/2's ahead of 700-X powder, about 1200 speed. Talk about diesel smoke on the closer targets. :)

One of the guys commented, the Baker looked pretty good standing next to that Perazzi.

nice gun..... charlie

Baker SBT
 

Last fall I took out one of the Bakers for my niece to give trapshooting a try for her first time. Seemed to fit her fairly well, after missing a few on her first post she finished the round with an 18. A fun day for her and uncle... :)

Pretty good form for a young lady and a big gun. Fantastic to see.

Trust me when I say that Frank’s Baker gun handles as well as it looks. It too “comes right up”. Makes you want to procure a SBT and play a bit.