Baker Batavia Special 12 Gauge Side-by-Side Shotgun | 30" Homo-Tensile Steel Barrels, Case-Hardened Frame
Produced between 1906 and 1930, the Baker Batavia Special represents a pivotal moment in American shotgun making—transitioning from Damascus to modern fluid steel with its Homo-Tensile barrels. This full-size, hammerless field gun combines double triggers, a manual tang safety, and extractor-only operation in a sturdy sidelock design. Limited Baker production numbers add collectible appeal, while the 30-inch choke-bored barrels and classic walnut furniture deliver traditional handling.
Condition
Overall Condition: Fair – Extensive signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Fair – Generally clean, some residue or smudges, slight corrosion.
Specific Condition Notes: The shotgun remains functionally solid. Scratches and blemishes are visible on the blued barrels and case-hardened frame, with pitting in several areas. The walnut stock has a crack behind the action.
What’s Included
- Baker Batavia Special 12 Gauge side-by-side shotgun (serial number 168643)
This Batavia Special wears 30-inch Homo-Tensile Steel barrels—marked “choke bored”—signifying Baker’s move to stronger fluid steel while retaining the balance and feel of classic Damascus guns. The barrels are paired with a case-hardened steel frame that houses the hammerless sidelock mechanism.
Double triggers allow independent control of the right and left barrels. An extractor-only action lifts shells for manual removal, preserving the simple, reliable break-action design favored by many field shooters of the era.
Walnut furniture features a semi-pistol-grip stock with checkered wrist and a splinter forend, offering secure purchase without adding bulk. Length of pull measures 14.25 inches, accommodating most adult shooters.
A manual tang slide safety sits instinctively under the thumb, and a single brass bead tops the rib for straightforward sighting. Overall, this Batavia Special blends early-20th-century craftsmanship with fluid-steel durability, making it a noteworthy piece for collectors who appreciate transitional American shotguns.