Baker Paragon Grade
Baker Gun & Forging Company · Shotgun · Discontinued · 1892
Also known as: Baker Paragon, Paragon Grade, Baker Gun Co. Paragon
Overview
The Baker Paragon Grade is a hammerless sidelock side-by-side double-barrel shotgun produced by the Baker Gun & Forging Company of Batavia and Syracuse, New York. Added to the line in the early 1890s, the Paragon was the firm's highest grade, built to individual customer order on a case-hardened sidelock action with double triggers, automatic ejectors, an automatic safety, and a matted rib with a bead front sight. Guns were fitted with the finest Krupp fluid-steel or Damascus barrels, best-quality figured walnut, hand-cut checkering, and fine scroll and game-scene engraving, placing Baker's top grade alongside American greats like Parker, L.C. Smith, and A.H. Fox.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3629 g (128.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1194 mm (47.01") |
| Barrel Length | 762 mm (30.00") |
| Action Type | Break Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Internal Hammer |
| Trigger Type | Double Trigger |
| Magazine Capacity | 2 rounds |
| Effective Range | 40 m (44 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Smoothbore |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Case Hardened |
Calibers
- 12 Gauge · primary — also known as 12 ga, 12 bore
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Break Open Double Barrel
- Safety mechanisms: Automatic Safety
- Features: Side By Side Barrels, Sidelock Action, Hammerless Action, Double Triggers, Automatic Ejectors, Krupp Fluid Steel Barrels, Bead Front Sight, Matted Rib, Fine Scroll And Game Scene Engraving, Figured Walnut Stock, Hand Cut Checkering, Top Lever Break Open
Production
Estimated total produced: 1,200 · Production years: 1892-1919
The Paragon grade was added to the Baker line in the early 1890s with serial numbers running from about 1 to 1200. Baker Gun & Forging Co. operated 1887-1919 before H.D. Folsom Company acquired the firm.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: William H. Baker
Discontinued: 1919
Notes
The Paragon was special-order only, so almost no two examples are identical; barrel length (commonly 28 to 30 inches), chokes, engraving, and wood were specified by the buyer. Krupp fluid-steel barrels with 2 3/4-inch chambers were typical on later guns; earlier examples used fine Damascus. Dimensions and weight (about 8 lb with 30-inch barrels) are representative of a 12-gauge Paragon and varied by order. Paragon serial numbers ran from roughly 1 to 1200.
Background
The Paragon was Baker's flagship, the gun the company built when a customer wanted the very best it could make. Because each was assembled to order with the buyer's choice of barrels, chokes, engraving, and wood, surviving Paragons are among the most individual American doubles of the era, prized by collectors who rank fine Bakers with Parker, L.C. Smith, and Fox.