Mystery double

[murdoc rose]

10ga older sxs. Barrels look Damascus. Buttplate looks like it says tbc & CO

 

[Jim Watson]

Ithaca and Stevens made what Flayderman calls "semi box lock" hammer shotguns.
Yours looks like the Ithaca but the lack of a big name brand like that on the gun and the monogram buttplate indicate it is Something Else.

 

[rcmodel]

I'd expect to find Belgian proof-marks under the forearm I think.

rc

 

[StrawHat]

Not sure about the buttplate, it appears to me to read TBG Co, for The Baker Gun Company. The action is identical to the New Baker Shotgun make by several companies, Ithaca, Syracuse Gun & Forge, Baker Gun & Forge, and Batavia Gun & Forge. It was designed by William H Baker who was a prolific designer. He partnered with several others to found Ithace, had a dispute and left. Joined with others and founded L. C. Smith, had a dispute and left. Founded Syracuse G&F, moved the company to Batavia New York as the Baker Gun & Forge. Baker died about a year later. The company was run by his brother made very well constructed and respected shotguns. Eventually the company was sold to Folsom Arms where the shotguns were allowed to diminish in quality until they were discontinued. The early guns were high quality and technically top of the line.

What marks are on the watertable or on the barels?

Some photos are here, including the buttplate.

http://www.gundersonmilitaria.com/shotguncartnewbakerGmG.html

 

[murdoc rose]

I couldn't get the forearm off. Looks like it should just pull off. I was leaning towards baker but wasn't sure easily could just be the wrong buttplate on the gun.

 

[Jim K]

FWIW, it looks like there are four letters there, T, B, F and C. I think the latter is a C, not a G. And the C doesn't mean Company since there is also an ampersand and a Co. So it is T B F C "and company", with anyone's guess as to the order of the letters. But if the & goes with Co., the F doesn't mean Firearms.

Jim

 

[StrawHat]

Last night after signing off the computer, I dragged a couoke of my Bakers out to look at them. The buttplate on mine is BGF Co for the Baker Gun & Forge Co or the Batavia Gun & Forge Co.