WH Baker Co. ‘Three Barrel Gun’ 12ga/.44-40 Drilling Rifle/Shotgun, Antique

SOLD FOR: $1,475.00

LSB#: WY250417JB163

Make: W.H. Baker & Co. / L.C. Smith

Model: Three Barrel Gun

Serial Number: 316

Year of Manufacture: Circa, late 1870s

Gauge: 12ga 2 ½” / .44-40

Action Type: Trigger Lever Break Opening Hammer Sidelock w/ Lifter, Double Trigger Drilling.

Markings: The top of the barrel is marked, “L.C. SMITH MAKER OF BAKER GUN SYRACUSE, NY DAMASCUS STEEL.” The barrel lump is marked, “316”.  The frame is marked, “BAKER PAT”. And the inside of the water table is marked, “PAT’D DEC. 18, 1877”. All parts are serial matched. 

Barrel Length: 24”

Choke: Both barrels are fixed Cylinder.

Sights / Optics: There is a bead fixed to the front of the barrel rib.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two piece checkered walnut with a wedge pin forend, Prince of Wales semi-pistol grip, straight comb with, and steel buttplate. There is moderate handling wear throughout. The checkering is smooth. The wrist has cracks forming. The stock has a right handed cast. The LOP measures 14? from the front of the forward trigger to the back of the buttplate. Overall, the stocks are in about Good condition as refinished.

Type of Finish: Oil Dipped Crolle Pattern Damascus & Case Color

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The shotgun bores are gray. The rifle barrel is gray and the rifling is pronounced. There is moderate erosion in the shotgun bores with spots of pitting. The rifle bore has moderate erosion and light pitting. In this writer’s opinion, the shotgun bores rate 6/10 and the rifle bore rates at a 7/10 as Antique.

Overall Condition: This drilling retains about None of its metal finish. All remaining finish has turned to patina. There is no remaining case color on the frame. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are generally clear, some of the proofs are worn. Overall, this gun is in Fair condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The barrels lock up with no play. We have not fired this drilling. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards. The barrels do not ring and have several signs of separation.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: This WH Baker & Co. “Three Barrel Gun” is a rare and historically significant example of early American firearm innovation. Manufactured in the late 1870s—shortly after William H. Baker left Remington and established his own gunmaking firm—this drilling (three-barrel firearm) combines two side-by-side 12-gauge Damascus shotgun barrels with a single rifled barrel in .44-40 Winchester, located underneath. This unique combination made it an ideal all-in-one firearm for frontier use, offering both short-range firepower and longer-range precision in a single, portable platform. Marked “L.C. SMITH MAKER OF BAKER GUN SYRACUSE, NY DAMASCUS STEEL,” the top of the barrels reflects the collaboration between Baker and L.C. Smith prior to their split in the early 1880s. The “BAKER PAT” on the frame and the “PAT’D DEC. 18, 1877” on the water table confirm this as one of the earliest examples of American-made combination guns. All serial numbers are matched. This example shows honest age and use with all remaining finish turned to patina and Damascus pattern faintly visible under oxidation. The bores are gray with moderate erosion and scattered pitting, with the rifled barrel in better shape than the shotgun tubes. The barrels do not ring and show signs of separation—an important note for any future restoration or display considerations. The walnut stocks show moderate handling wear and a few age-related cracks at the wrist. The checkering is worn smooth, and the wood appears to have been refinished at some point. The steel buttplate and hardware are intact, and the barrels lock up securely, with the action functioning correctly.

This WH Baker drilling stands out not only for its rare American origin and .44-40 rifle barrel but also as a direct piece of early L.C. Smith and Baker history. It is a compelling collectible for American arms historians, fans of 19th-century sporting firearms, or those who specialize in early multi-barrel guns. While it shows age and condition issues, it remains a unique and valuable artifact from the dawn of American sporting gun innovation—and as an antique, it’s accessible and unrestricted for most collectors. -R.E.