L.C. SMITH, ITHACA, AND BAKER.....BAKER?
At the Gun Show, I talked to a guy who was carrying around an old Baker shotgun. He didn't know anything about it, didn't know what model it was and couldn't find anybody, in his words, who "had even heard of Bakers". Time to fix that. Back in 1961, when the book "Parker - America's Finest Shotgun" was published, the author, Peter H. Johnson, listed the big six of American Shotguns: Parker, Ithaca, L.C. Smith, LeFever, Fox and, yes, Baker. Most shotgunners are pretty familiar with the first 5 names on that list, but the name of Baker is comparatively obscure except amongst diehard collectors.
Early Years: The story behind the Baker name is really about 2 brothers, William H. Baker (1835-1889) and Ellis L. Baker (1845-1899). The designer of the two was William. His gun-making career started shortly after the Civil War in Marathon, NY and Lisle, NY, where he built muzzleloaders.
Baker & L.C. Smith: In 1878, William moved to Syracuse where he formed a partnership with Lyman C. Smith and his brother, Leroy H. Smith. The company was W.H. Baker and Co. This partnership eventually became the L.C. Smith Co. when Lyman bought out the entire operation in about 1880. The same guns continued to be built, those designed by William Baker. In fact, these guns were marked "L.C. Smith and Co., Maker of the Baker Gun". Thus one of the greatest of all shotgun manufacturers was founded on William Bakers shotgun designs. L.C. Smith and Co. was sold to Hunter Arms in 1888 and then to Marlin around WWII.
Baker & Ithaca: After the sale to Hunter Arms, Baker and Smith started a new company in Ithaca, NY, beginning operations in 1883. This company went under Baker's name for a few years before being renamed the Ithaca Gun Co. So, once again, one of the great shotgun manufacturers was founded on the designs of William Baker.
Baker Gun and Forging Co.: By 1887, William was on the move, back to Syracuse. Here, in partnership with his brother Ellis, a practicing physician, he formed the Baker Gun and Forging Co. It is here where the guns marked "NEW BAKER" were first produced. In one form or another, this company produced Baker shotguns for the next 32 years. In 1889, the plant burned, and the brothers moved the operation to Batavia, NY. William died before operations could begin there and Ellis quit the practice of medicine to run the gun business full time. He remained at the head of the company until his death in 1899. The company continued in operation until 1919, when it was sold to H&D Folsom Co. in Meriden, Connecticut.
So, in just a few years, William H. Baker was instrumental in the formation of three of the country's leading shotgun manufacturers. It is somewhat ironic that the two companies which do not bear his name achieved greater recognition and fame than his own.
Most shotguns carrying the Baker name were produced under the Baker Gun and Forging Co. name with the first hammerless models coming on line at about the time of William's death. In all, more than 20 models were produced, ranging from very plain "Batavia" models to very high grade, heavily engraved doubles and single barrel trap models. At it's peak, Baker was producing more than 1000 shotguns per month.
