question on baker trap gun

Alligator · 08-20-2010, 02:54 PM

Bill: You are absolutely correct and what a prize one would have in the engraving alone. The only ones I have seen here in Kansas have been the bottom end stuff. Us poor dirt farmers didn't buy many high grade anything "In the day" and those that were have migrated back East it seems. Lee.

Bill Murphy · 08-20-2010, 04:13 PM

A friend has a Kornbrath Superba. It is just back from a minor freshening and he had it at the gun club this Saturday. The wood is as nice as the metal. It is beautiful. We cannot find a Kornbrath signature but there is no doubt of its origin. It has a blued receiver and it is very striking.

Drew Hause · 08-20-2010, 05:05 PM

"The Ithaca Victory grade and the (Ithaca) Lefever trap gun were about the same quality."
The Victory grade (Flues and Knick) had the same internals, just not the engraving, wood quality, and fit & finish. The Ithaca Lefever cocked with the top lever, and was pretty clunky

Lefever Arms Co., Syracuse was the first major American maker to introduce a SBT in 1905; Baker's came out in 1909.

c. 1922 catalog courtesy of Dave Noreen, having been sold to H&D Folsom

Bill Murphy · 08-21-2010, 12:45 PM

Drew, thanks for correcting the statement about the Victory Grade Ithaca. The Victory Grade is identical to higher grade Ithaca singles and is not in any way similar to the late Lefevers. My Victory Grade Knick Model was apparently restocked at Ithaca at some time because it has the Victory checkering pattern but fancy wood similar to what Ithaca would put on the 5E. It is the first Victory Knick I have seen with fancy wood. By the way, my friend's Superba Grade Baker has the entire flock of fleur de lis as pictured in Dave's catalog image.