When Baker started making guns right after the big war(civil) he had a couple of helpers ,the Smith Bros Leroy and LC(like Darell and my other Bro Darrell)! He in my thinking developed the first American made sidelocks,thier factory burnt up and his brother died!
But Doc Baker kept makeing the Baker gun till he died but from about 1900 -1919 the guns were marked Baker Gun Co,with Homo-tensile steel barrels.
Folsum Gun Co then made them with an F in front of the ser#! The Smith bros then went into production with Smith Bros Copy of Baker Gun Co!
They then formed Ithica and then were bought out by Marlin Gun Co.
Not sure about the exact dates but the Elsees use the same three position safety that the bativia has(middle for safe,up for fire and safety returned,or back for fire and safety not returned)good for shooting tripples and not haveing safety reset throw you off!
This is not the same as Henry verses Win as to whom deserves praise here,just that I think Baker was the first American Sidelock double !
Mine is pretty much good ,except someone decided to custom fit the buttstock to fit him( gunsmith added two inches of wood to the original stock)glued and raised the comb!
I could cut it off and put it back to original (no loss of wood)but people must have been short armed back in 1900,cause it's just right for me(35 inch arms)!
I just bring this up because someone here said that LC Smith was the first American sidelock double gun made here(might be to some,but he learned everything he knows)and put it on the sideplate of his first guns!
Bob
But Doc Baker kept makeing the Baker gun till he died but from about 1900 -1919 the guns were marked Baker Gun Co,with Homo-tensile steel barrels.
Folsum Gun Co then made them with an F in front of the ser#! The Smith bros then went into production with Smith Bros Copy of Baker Gun Co!
They then formed Ithica and then were bought out by Marlin Gun Co.
Not sure about the exact dates but the Elsees use the same three position safety that the bativia has(middle for safe,up for fire and safety returned,or back for fire and safety not returned)good for shooting tripples and not haveing safety reset throw you off!
This is not the same as Henry verses Win as to whom deserves praise here,just that I think Baker was the first American Sidelock double !
Mine is pretty much good ,except someone decided to custom fit the buttstock to fit him( gunsmith added two inches of wood to the original stock)glued and raised the comb!
I could cut it off and put it back to original (no loss of wood)but people must have been short armed back in 1900,cause it's just right for me(35 inch arms)!
I just bring this up because someone here said that LC Smith was the first American sidelock double gun made here(might be to some,but he learned everything he knows)and put it on the sideplate of his first guns!
Bob
