Many sportsmen desire a strong and well made gun which will compare favor ably with the fancy-priced imported guns. In deference to this class of sportsmen the Baker Gun and Forging Company brought out, some years ago, the Paragon grade gun. Before starting to construct this gun, the company concluded it must conform to the following specifications : 1st—It should be built of best material and so accurately fitted in all parts, that it would stand continuous use, with any reasonable charge of either nitro or black powder. 2d—It should have good pene tration and make just the pattern, whether open, medium, or very close, that the customer desired. 3d—The engraving and checquering should be as near perfect as skilled workmen could make it, and the general finish should be such as to com pare favorably with any gun which costs twice as much ; and last but not by any means least, it should be a safe hammerless gun.
The Baker hammer gun of model 1897, was built especially for the use of nitro powder. It has all of the latest improvements, including lock plates, for ward action locks, bridle on lock, low circular rebounding hammers, cross-bolted extension rib, top snap action, best English twist or Damascus barrels, solid plun gers, compensating fore-end, and is a hammer gun in which it is safe to use nitro powder as well as black. It cannot be excelled for close, hard, long-range shoot
ing in the field or at the trap. This gun is made in to.- 12- and 16-gauge and of the following dimensions: 16-gauge, 28-inch barrels, weighing from 6:54 to pounds; 16-gauge, 3o-inch barrels, weighing from to 7y.; pounds; 12-gauge, 28-inch barrels, weighing from 7% to 8 pounds; 12-gauge, 3o-inch barrels, weigh ing from to 9 pounds ; 12-gauge, 32-inch barrels, weighing from to 9,V, pounds; 10-gauge, 3o-inch barrels, weighing from 8% to to pounds ; to-gauge, 32-inch barrels, weighing from 8% to ti pounds.
To relieve the tension on the main springs, the hammers should be let down without snapping. This can be done most easily on the Baker by simply pressing the triggers when the gun is open and holding them back while closing the gun.
Loaded shells should be removed during, this operation to prevent any accidental dischargre through not handling, the gun properly.