$300 FTF in Illinois with valid FOID. Face to face in Illinois would be best. I am not an FFL or C+R, so FTF would be best.

This is a BAKER BATAVIA LEADER double-barrel shotgun. This was made between 1909 and 1919, I believe, made in Batavia, New York. Here's what I could find out: The Baker Gun & Forging Co. Had a line of double barrel shotguns, sidelocks, called Batavia guns in 1903.

They had, in 1909, 'The Baker Gunner,' the 'Batavia Leader' with twist barrels at $25, the 'Batavia Special' with steel barrels at $21.75, the 'Batavia Damascus' at $28, the 'Batavia Brush' at $24, the 'Batavia Ejector' at $35. This gun in the pics is the BATAVIA LEADER as you can see. The Batavia line did not have the 'firing pin block safety' or the 'draw block' which passes through the barrel lug and into the frame. The sidelock 'Black Beauty' replaced the Batavia Special, Leader, and Damascus guns about 1916. The Batavia Leader number series were from 75,000 to about 106,000. This one is 786XX, which puts it in the early days. Now, Baker Gun & Forging sold the business to H.& D.

Folsom in 1919 and then the guns were marked 'Baker Gun Co.' As this one is not, I assume it is earlier than that. Baker did offer a 'Batavia Leader' however.

Grades for these Folsom owned Baker Guns were the 'Batavia Leader,' 'Black Beauty Special,' 'Paragon,' 'Expert,' and 'DeLuxe.' Folsom listed the Black Beauty Special for $62 -$77 with ejectors, the Paragon $100 -$115, the Expert for $215, and the DeLuxe for $385. Folsom era Bakers usually have an F before or after the serial numbers 1- about 14,000 so again, I believe this one is before that. H & D Folsom Arms Co. 23, 25, and 31 (1929-1930) only list the Batavia Leader and Black Beauty Special. By 1932 they had no more Baker Guns.

Baker Gun Co. Was closed in 1930 and the factory started making car parts. About 150,000 Baker guns were produced prior to the Folsom ownership. So based on the above, I believe this is a 1909 - 1919 gun. This gun has plenty of wear, and a light patina, and a few little rust spots in the one photo near the forearm. It has some small chips to the wood near the trigger guard.

This has a chip to the lower portion of the buttplate and the wood (toe?) at that point of the stock. This is OLD, and and the info I have found on the internet says that you don't want to shoot a gun this old unless checked by a gunsmith first.an expert gunsmith who knows these old guns and can tell you if it is safe. Please see the pictures. If you need more photos, shoot me an email and I can send you more. Am I asking too much?

(containing serial information about: Baker DB Shotguns, Crass DB Shotguns, Lewis DB Shotguns, Manier DB Shotguns, Flues SB and DB Shotguns, NID DB Shotguns, Knick SB Trap Guns, LeFever Nitro Special DB Shotguns, LeFever 'A' Grade, Western Long Range DB Shotguns, Model 37 Standard Model Shotguns,.

Book value is a bit more than the asking price. Free Antivirus Free Trial For 90 Days. You need to list the condition of the bores, very important on this gun where condition is everything, and if I were you I'd try listing it on Doublegunshop.com Gunboards is tops for the regular run of C&Rs but for shotguns there are more folks interested in the older shotguns on that specialty* site. Standard 12 ga bores are.729 inch (cylinder bore), a full choke is.694, modified.710 and Improved Cylinder.720 inches.

If you have an inside micrometer they're easy to measure but all dimensions may vary from 'standard'. * If I wasn't a nice person I'd use the term 'gun snob'.

.I can not give you the date of your gun or the model. I can though give you a bit of History and the length of their existence. Per Gardner: The Baker Gun and Forging company of Batavia NY produced.22 caliber automatic rifles.,1911-1914. The Baker Gun company of Batavia 253 church st New York,NY. Was active from 1903 until about 1933 when it was absorbed by H&D Folsom Arms Co. Produced double -barreled shotguns,ie Batavia, Batavia leader,Black Diana,and Paragon.

Hope that Helps you. Ted, Good to hear from you. I still have the Brush, quite a rare gun with auto-ejectors. I haven't shot it in years.

I've only seen a few S 16's. Actually, you could compile a great collection of A or B grades in 16. There are many different engraving patterns. Some of the early ones are etched and have full coverage engraving/etching, while some of the hand cut ones have some really fantastic dogs. I've seen moose, turkey, grouse, ducks, rabbits, snipe and more along with dogs engraved on these guns. The other makers of the day didn't offer this variety, especially on a mid-range gun.