My serial number -year made tables for the Baker Gun Company Batavia Special only go up to serial number 153,200 which was made in 1915. Are you sure you have the model name and serial number correct? The serial number should be stamped on the main frame water table (the flat part where the barrels close up).

 

I HAVE A BLACK BEAUTY WITH A SERIAL NUMBER 8012 ON ALL PARTS, WHAT YEAR WOULD THAT BE . AND BAKER GUN CO IS ON THE FRONT SIDE A OF LOCK WITH AN ENGRAVED DOG ON BACK OF LOCK ON BOTH SIDES OF GUN.

 

The Hardin and Hallquist dates in "Guns Illustrated" 1997 show the Batavia Special 1906-1916 SN 75,000-161,000.
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Drew
In my reference book, "The Breech Loading Shotgun In America 1865 To 1940" written by Joseph T. Vorisek under the section on Baker Gun And Forging Company, Serial Number Ranges For Baker Shotguns, page 104, it list the Batavia Special production starting in 1908 with serial number 150,000 and continuing until 1915 and ending with serial number 153,200. The Batavia Leader Model production starts in 1896 with serial number 75,000 and continues until 1915 ending with serial number154,000. I suppose you pays your money and takes your choice. I think I'll stick with Joe.

 

MY BLACK BEAUTY HAS A SERIAL NUMBER 8012 ON EVERYTHING ,WHAT YEAR WOULD THAT BE ?

 

these are the pictures i could get. i couldn't get a pic of the serial on the water table but it is 155212 just like on the pic of the foregrip.. thank you for the replies. I gotta say its pretty interesting.

 

Why would you stick with the serial number range Joe postulated when you have a gun right in front of you that proves the range was wider than Joe postulated?

 

i realized that the range was wider i'm just wondering what year the gun could have been manufactured. from what it seems i'm guessing the 1920s

 

i realized that the range was wider i'm just wondering what year the gun could have been manufactured. from what it seems i'm guessing the 1920s

More likely before WWI - 1915 or 1916.

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I just picked up a fairly nice all original Batavia Special. It too only has the serial number marked on the forearm wood, nothing on the watertable or barrels. It is serial # 1513xx. Would this be about a 1914 production gun? And would this gun from that era have 2 3/4" chambers?

 

It would seen incorrect to have marked a serial number on a wooden part where it could be sanded off or the wood replaced. It is more likely that the serial number is stamped on the watertable (the flat part of the frame (the main part of the gun) where the barrel closes up. According to the serial number chart in my copy of "The Breech Loading Shotgun In America 1865 to 1940" compiled by Joseph T. Vorisek, Batavia Special serial number 1513XX would have been produced in 1911. Also according to information I have compiled, 2 1/2 inch shotgun shells were adopted in 1880, 2 9/16 inch shells were adopted in 1920 and 2 3/4 inch shells were adopted in 1931.

 

Yes, I found it different that the serial number is only on the wood. I have many other SxS's and most also have it stamped on the watertable. However, I have looked over the rest of the gun and cannot find the number anywhere else. I even scrubbed the watertable with a brass brush and hopes--no number. The chambers also measure 2 3/4" so I wondered if maybe the Batavia Special came out that way from factory.

 

My baker special is 150,653 marked on for arm wood and metal. Along with stock.

 

Well, I don't know how to answer you. Back in those days when shotguns were all hand fitted by the maker, all the major parts, both metal and wood had the serial number or at least the last three digits stamped on them. One other place to look (and I'm sure you know this, is on the bottom of the barrels. I have a Batavia Leader made in 1904 in my collection, serial number 1027XX in my collection which is in storage right now but I have to assume that the serial number is marked on the frame. Otherwise I would have noted that in my inventory.

 

I HAVE A BLACK BEAUTY SERIAL NUMBER 8012, ABOUT WHAT DATE WAS IT MADE ?

 

The Black Beauty (which replaced the Batavia Leader) was manufactured 1915-1919

There is a new Baker Collectors site with lots of information

Baker Collectors

Baker Collectors The Guns of William H. & Dr. Ellis Baker A.C. McFarland & Frank A. Hollenbeck Syracuse and Batavia, New York About There is no formal Baker Collectors Association. This site was constructed by Dr. Bob Decker as a favor to Baker enthusiasts in 2011 to provide an easily acces...

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Is there an F after the serial number? That would make it an H & D Folsom era gun 1919 to 1929.

 

I just found this post - I just bought a Batavia Special serial number 165XXX (water table) - marked Batavia Special and Baker Gun Co on right side of receiver - 26" 12 gauge - 2 3/4 or 2 15/16" shells only - has the original 'plastic' butt plate - prob bakelite. No F after the serial... so I'd say that the serials ran past 153XXX - before Folsom bought them. Seller listed manuf. date as 1917. Barrels are marked '****-tensile steel' and '-choke-bored'.

 

Oh and just out of curiosity, what would a fair price range be for this shotgun in NRA good condition?