AboutCharles Gage Expertise I can answer questions dealing with firearms and their development due to western expansion. I can answer most questions about any firearms of the world manufactured after the Civil War(1868 - present. I can offer safety warnings about these. I can offer opinions and the reasons behind these.
Experience I have been at the study of firearms and their use since my first issue of Field and Stream in 1962.At that time I was completely devoted to rifles, but over the years I have experienced the thrill of the hunt with handguns, shotguns and of course rifles. I moved from Oklahoma to New Mexico in 1972 and since I have taken numerous game and non-game animals with all firearms (cannons excluded)including blackpowder muzzleloading rifles,shotguns and handguns. My favorite handgun for large non-game animals, such as feral hogs, is my Uberti replica of a 1847 Colt Walker. Very heavy, but accurate.
Education/Credentials I am a 1973 high school graduate. Junior and senior year I developed a class on Wildlife Depredation and Conservation of our Rocky Mountain states. My specialty was the brown bear.
Awards and Honors New Mexico Hunter Safety Program Instructor 5 year award.
Question I have a New Baker DB Damascus wound shotgun, with double hammers. It is Marked as 1887 and the patten is June 1 1880. It has some checkering and the butt plate has what
appears to be the original markings. The barrel and the body both have the serial number 280 on them. Could this
be a real serial number? Oh yes the double has a rib down it for sighting. I dime will slip into the barrels but a penny will not. If this gun was produced prior to the turn of the 20th centry, it is in good shape. Any idea what I have??
Looking forward to your answer, thanks .. Jim
Answer Hello Jim. !!GUN SMITH ALERT!! Before I give you some background, I ask that you have the barrels professionally inspected for chamber length (2 3/4"or shorter)to know the proper length of black powder ammunition this gun will shoot. That being said, check the chokes to make sure the barrels haven't been shortened.If there have been changes made to the gun, it will definitely effect the value. The "New Baker" double barrel shotgun was manufactured in 10ga.and 12ga.You did not say which gauge you have, but value is about the same. The Baker brothers(William and Ellis)started making these shotguns circa 1878. It was financed by the Smith brothers(Leroy H. and Lyman C.)and the company was named "W.H.Baker & Co". Around 1880,L.C.Smith bought out the Baker brothers and continued production labeling the shotgun "L.C.Smith and Co.,Maker of the Baker Gun". In 1883, L.C.Smith decided to drop the name "Baker",but continued to manufacture this gun until 1888. At this point,the company was sold to the Hunter Brothers and this new company,renamed "Baker Gun & Forging Co.", began making both the "New Baker" shotguns and the Ithaca gun.Soon it became the "Hunter Arms Company" and the shotgun was labeled as "L.C.Smith". The company was sold to Marlin Firearms Company in the early 1940's. Baker shotguns were unusual in that the opening mechanism was operated by pushing forward on the front trigger. While a relatively rare shotgun, most do not retain much of the original finish. Priced in the $400-$850 range, assuming the finish is less than 10%. If the condition is better than 10%, guns have to be evaluated individually for accurate pricing.This information was taken, in part, from BlueBook by Fjestad. I am not sure of the Serial number being 280, since I did not find any mention of serial numbers in my research.
I hope this answers your questions and thank you for asking for me.Charles Gage
