Baker guns

[B. Dudley]

Originally Posted by Dave Noreen

W.H. Baker was dead well before the first Baker Gun & Forging Co. hammerless gun was produced. William H. Baker died October 10, 1889. The first Baker Hammerless Doubles came out in 1892. The Patent dates found on the watertables of a few very early Baker hammerless guns are all for Frank A. Hollenbeck patents. Frank took over as plant superintendent shortly after the move to Batavia.

The brief period of time that W.H. Baker was with the Syracuse Forging & Gun Co., the trigger plate action "New Baker" hammer gun they were making was based on Albert C. McFarland's Patent No. 370,966 granted October 4, 1887.

As I said, I am not as up to snuff on Baker guns and the timeline. I was speaking of the early hammerless guns period. Like the first few thousand guns. I was under the impression they were while Baker was still alive. But not so.

[Researcher]

Dr. Ellis Baker that owned the outfit was still alive. But, he was ousted by shareholders in 1898, and on April 7, 1898 W.T. Mylcrane, the secretary-treasurer, succeeded to the presidency. Things went well to about 1900, when he embarked on a prolonged illness and the company declined. Finally the board brought in Fredrick M. Farwell as an interim president. Then in January 1904 E.J. Mockford became president. Then he retired in January 1907 due to ill health, Fredrick M. Farwell again became president. So, certainly not the management consistency of Parker Bros.!! All this from the "Story of the Baker and Batavia Guns" in the April 1908, Field & Stream.

[double barrel]

Here is a baker Gun Co. Shotgun I bought a few years back. Still don't know what model it is. It does have some nice engraved dogs on it though. Ken

[Drew Hause]

Ken: If a 3 pin A grade it will have crolle barrels



If a 3 pin B, damascus-twist barrels



The R grade had a dog and birdie, and less engraving. The R was introduced in 1906. The A grade was discontinued in 1908.

[double barrel]

Thanks Drew here is the other side.

[james nedela]

A couple pics of my B Grade Baker 12 ga. Made 1919, first year for the Folsom guns.

[Drew Hause]

Beautiful contrast on those barrels James. Original finish?
Is the gun marked "Baker Gun & Forging" or (Folsom) "Baker Gun Co." with a "F" after the SN?

[james nedela]

All original finish, serial 4441. "Baker Gun Co." It does have an "F" after serial #.

[Drew Hause]

Are you sure it's a Folsom gun? The Bs were discontinued in 1908 and the SN would fit an about 1900 gun. I don't believe Folsom offered any pattern welded barrels. This is a c. 1921 Folsom catalog courtesy of Dave Noreen

[james nedela]

I checked the gun out today. No "F" after the serial. I go along with a 1900 gun, not a Folsom gun. I like that.

Don't know how I thought it had a Folsom serial#.