1. Gun Value By Serial Number

My references differ somewhat from the above poster. Baker Gun Cop produced guns from about 1887 to 1919, when they were bought out by the H D Folsome Co., Folsom was the owner of the Crescent Firearms Co. Crescent continued to make the Baker till the late 20s or early 30s. These guns (made by Crescent) had an F in the serial number. The Batavia leader was a plain, unengraved model. Yours appears to be a Higher grade, engraved model. From your post, you nention 2 barrels, if that means an extra set of barrels, you gun is likely worth in excess of $500.

During that era there were several Baker Gun companies.W.H. Baker, located in Marathon New York starting in or around 1870. When they moved to Syracuse New York and remained in business until 1886.Baker gun company was also a trade name used by H&D Folsom on shotguns they retailed. Probably the guns from W.C. Baker.Baker Gun company of Batavia New York from 1903 until purchased by Crescent in 1933.

Crescent was later purchased by H&D Folsom.There was also a Baker T shotgun which was a Belgium import by Sears.As I look at the side-locks it indicates Baker Gun Company Batavia New York. The information by the previous post is somewhat confusing in that there is an indication that the W.C. Baker also made the Batavia.

The dates presented are coorisponding to the W.C. Baker Gun Company.

I can find no information that the W.C. Baker was ever located in Batavia New York or that they had the Batavia marking on the side plate.Harley. Hello all, Gene2008 I can across this post while surfing. Amazing gun in my opinion.Breach of protocal I am sure, but.I would suggest, Gene2008, that you post this on the doublegunshop.com there are some people that would be very interested in seeing and hearing about this gun. Knowing that you have a 2 barrel set with matching SN, this is a rarity. Also such a low serial number with the engraving leads me to think this a Paragon grade, but in my experience 'Paragon' is usually stamped on the water table.Oh and to give you and idea my 1909 catalog has this gun listed at $72.50 and $10 extra for ejectors, this is a high quality firearm. The Special listed at $21.75W.H Baker started in marathon, sold out to L.C.

Later open and work with the Ithaca Gun Company. He left and stared Syracuse Forging and Gun Company, Syracuse, NY (making The New Baker Gun). From here I believe he opened Baker Gun Co. And after a fire operations were moved to Batavia, NY. I am not sure how long exactly W. Baker was involved because he died in the late 1890s exact date escapes me.The Batavia, NY works were sold in 1919 to the H.D Fulsom Co, and these guns typically will have an 'F' in the serial number.Please stop by and share. This email link is to reach site administrators for assistance, if you cannot access TFL via other means.

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Gun Value By Serial Number

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Hi Tiger,Thanks for helping me place the age of my grandfather's F.T. Baker between 1881 & 1899. Can you or anyone else provide me with information concerning the proof marks on the lock and the underside of the barrels?On the lock there are 2 identical marks, a 'V' with a crown over it.Underneath the right barrel is the number 13, once again the V with the crown over it, another mark that looks like a mixture of a 'G' & a 'P' with a crown over it. I'm no expert on this subject, but the crown with a V underneath is the London Viewing mark used prior to actual proofing. The crown with G P cypher is the definitive proof mark. The 13 or 13/1 is the nominal bore size, both / either 12 or 13 denoting 12 bore. 12 over C indicates the chamber boring, C referring to chamber rather than calibre (calibre being used only for rifles).The crown with a fleur de lys underneath has me completely foxed, could it be the gun was re-proofed in France?I've saved the best 'till last: the word 'choke' is used to indicate that the barrel has a degree of choke in it, and this was used after the 1896 nitro proof rules were introduced, so your gun was post 1896!

Say 1897 to 1899!Problem solved? Although Baker's address fixed the last date to 1899, if the gun was made for stock it would have been engraved with the address they occupied at the time, but it may have been sold a year or two later! I hope it was custom-made for your grandfather! Thanks for the information, Tiger.

You've enabled me to narrow the gun's date of manufacture down to a period of about 3 years. I doubt that I'll get any closer than that.

The gun was not made for my grandfather. He bought it secondhand in about 1930 from a former Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Australia. The original oak and leather case has the initials 'C.M.B.' Stamped on the exterior of the lid. However, there has never been a Lord mayor of Melbourne with those initials. So, there were at least 2 owners of the gun before my grandfather.As soon as I work out how to use the digital camera my son gave me I'll e-mail you a photo of the original label. An interesting point is that the 'F' of F.T.

Baker stands for 'FREDERIC' with the French rather than English Spelling. This message was edited by: winnie on 2004-07-13 09:12. Winnie, Lot No. 696 in the Holt & Co auction being held today is an F T Baker 12 bore boxlock ejector engraved 'F T Baker 29 Glasshouse Street, Piccadilly Circus, London'. The serial number is 7955.Reportedly, Baker moved to Glasshouse Street in 1899, but did he really sell as many as 492 guns between 1897 and 1899? It seems to be a reasonable figure, he probably didn't sell more, so the date of your grandfather's gun is very, very likely to be 1896!

This message was edited by: Tiger on 2004-12-09 13:22.