RARE & HISTORICALLY INTERESTING CHAMBERLESS 12 GAUGE SIDE LEVER BOXLOCK EJECTOR HEAVY GAME GUN BY FREDERICK T. BAKER.

inv# 21-1401

Chamberless guns go back to the early days of all breech loading shotguns. However; in the early 1900s Dr. C. J. Heath, a keen waterfowler, designed a chamberless gun of relatively light weight which would accomodate lg. charges of shot. This is one such gun. An old auction listing for this gun states “The gun is believed to have been built for Dr. Charles J. Heath”. It has 27″ chopper lump bbls. w/ full length flat matted rib. Bbl. flats are stamped w/ London Nitro Proofs for 12 ga. long chambers & 1 5/8 ounce of shot. It is a nominal 10 bore w/ stamp “10” / “2”. There is no maker’s name on the bbls, but S# is on bottom of each. Robust boxlock action is operated by side lever on right side & features bushed strikers, non automatic safety (safe & inlaid in gold) & dbl. triggers. Action engraved w/ full coverage, sm. size shaded scroll w/ in line & geometric borders. “FREDERIcK T. BAKER” is in scrolled Rivand on each side. Bottom of action engraved w/ Baker’s registered trademark & trigger guard has matching scroll on bow & S# on tang. Dark & dense, lightly fiddle figured European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14 1/2″ over checkered wood butt on 1 3/4″ lengthening piece, which is fitted to the original curve. Closely spaced point pattern checkering w/ mullered borders is at grip & a vacant silver oval is on toeline. Matching splinter ejector forend has forward pivoting lever release as is often found on dbl. rifles & heavy guns. MEASUREMENTS: Bore diameter: left .797, right .795. Bore restrictions: left 0.044 (Full), right .036 (mod). Minimum wall thickness: left .032, right 0.34. DAH: 2 3/8″. DAC: 1 1/2″+. Cast: 0. WEIGHT: 9 lbs. 3 oz..