[1776J]

Came across a local shop that has a decent Baker Batavia in 12 ga. for $300.

Has a little pitting towards the rear of both barrels. Locks up real solid, wood in good condition, no cracks. Barrels have some light freckling of rust beginning, and two small shallow dents,... one in each barrel.

What is the going price for a good shooter? Is it worth $300 or should I just pass on it?

[Dave McCracken]

Baker was a class act, the shotguns were well made and towards the top of the scale.

Low production numbers have kept them not as up priced as Parkers, Elsies, etc.

The Batavia was a lower grade gun, but the differences between this and the top grade were cosmetic.

Almost all of them have short chambers, and some have Damascus barrels.

Pull the forearm, see if the metal under cover these decades shows a pattern. If so, I'd skip it.

If I ran across a Batavia with steel barrels in decent shape for that price, I'd be very tempted.....

As with all guns of that period, the stock will run a bit short and have serious drop at heel. Chokes will run tight, too.

[1776J]

Dave-
Thank you. I'm unfamiliar with the Bakers so I needed to ask and find out. Looks like a nice gun.

One thing, I didn't understand what you meant when you wrote,
"Pull the forearm, see if the metal under cover these decades shows a pattern. If so, I'd skip it."

Was that a typo? What exactly am I looking for when I pull the forearm? I pulled it when I was there,...just want to make sure I wasn't missing something??

[lipadj46]

One thing, I didn't understand what you meant when you wrote,
"Pull the forearm, see if the metal under cover these decades shows a pattern. If so, I'd skip it."

You are looking to see if it is damascus steel.

[1776J]

Ah ha!
In other words its easily seen there,... that's what I was suspecting.
thanks

[Dave McCracken]

Exactly......

[Yo Mama]

Why can't there be a good Damascus finish that is strong? I love just love the look of it, and always see the same warnings.

[Larry Ashcraft]

The problem with damascus is that rust can creep into the welds over the years and weaken the steel, without changing the appearance.

DON'T fire a shotgun with damascus steel, even with the lightest loads. Your parts aren't replaceable.

[Dave McCracken]

Damascus can be pretty. I recall one Colt shotgun made in Belgium that had COLT worked into the pattern, over and over.

The expertise to make that happen boggles what's left of my mind.

However, Damascus is to admire, not shoot. Every now and then even a reproofed high end Damascus gun lets go with what should be a low pressure round in it.

I now have exactly the number of fingers and eyes I want.

Shunning shooting twisted iron/steel barrels helps that continue.