After four years, Baker decided to withdraw from the partnership and went back to Syracuse to work with his brother, Ellis.Įllis Baker had formed the Syracuse Forging Company to produce forged wagon wheel components and other parts used for different types of manufacturing. This new venture became the Ithaca Gun Company. That same year, Baker agreed to partner with three other investors to start producing firearms in Ithaca, New York. Baker decided to move on to something else and sold the business to Lyman. There, his two sons joined him in learning the firearms industry. In 1874, Baker moved the company to Lisle, New York under the name W.H. He partnered with Lewis Smith and began building his guns in Marathon, New York. Throughout the 1860s and 1870s, Baker received several patents for his shotgun designs. At the age of 24, Baker decided to go into the gunsmithing business himself. Each town had someone producing firearms or their parts. At the time of his birth, all of New England's population wasn't as significant as the population of New York City is today. A hard to find high condition big bore with an unusual Winchester connection.William Baker was born on Christmas day of 1835 in upstate New York. Bores are good to fine, with scattered pitting. Stock has broken through at wrist, and been repaired, and presently does not flex. Stocks retain nearly all of their orig finish with raised grain and are quite dark. Action and locks retain 80 – 90% orig case hardening color and have been re-lacquered. Bbls retain approx 80% orig Damascus finish with a number of light marks and rubs, and some pinprick oxidation. Another friend has a W & C Scott 10 ga that long ago, an appraiser called “Winchester”.” This ten ga has been discussed on the internet. It was used to test factory loaded ammunition. Stadt, the author states that “a friend possesses a W & C Scott 14 ga with WRA on top rib”. of WINCHESTER SHOTGUNS AND SHOT SHELLS by Ronald W. Scott in 10 ga with similar markings, is known. A copy of the ledger is attached and reads “Feb 12 / 98, adapting normal powder to 8 ga 3-1/4″ Repeater, velocity to be attained 1030 FS.” “Scott double gun – 32″ BBL 8-3-1/4 leader – reg # 4 PX? 50 GRS Normal powder”. Publications certifies that this gun is listed in orig Winchester ballistic ledger no. PROVENANCE: Consignor states this gun was purchased in 1977 from Richard Morgan, who was the head of experimental at WRA. Matching splinter forend has inset horn tip, and attaches to bbls with side nail through engraved steel oval escutcheons. Point pattern checkering with mullered borders is at grip. Relatively plain dark European walnut pistol grip buttstock measures 13-3/4″ over steel buttplate. Trigger guard has SN on tang which extends to horn grip cap. Scott castle logos are on water table and top of breech. Action and locks are engraved with about 50% coverage well cut scroll and with makers name on each lockplate. Robust Jones underlever action is fitted with bar rebounding locks with round bodied serpentine hammers. Bottoms of bbls are stamped with Birmingham black powder proofs for 9 ga. This engraving and marking is undoubtedly quite old, done after this gun was made, as there is no factory brown in lettering. Breech area of left bbl is stamped “3-1/2”. 32″ Twist steel bbls are engraved with makers name and “London” as well as “W.