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Febiger & Batavia 22s
cowpoke 75
Member Posts: 3 ✭✭
Looking for some one who has Febiger or Batavia 22s? I have been collecting them, would like to find some one who allso has some of the same. Thanks.
Comments
As far as I know, the relationship between these 4 manufacturers is unknown.
There is a excellent article in the old "Gun Collectors Digest", 5th Edition regarding these guns.
The author of the above article contends that the first .22 Cal. semi-auto pistol made was a Batavia, not a Colt. And has pictures of it in the article.
Pact
I collect the Febiger/Batavia rifles. Henry and John C. Febiger produced this rifle around 1909 to 1913ish. Febiger had all of the patents. I have copies of all of these patents. Baker Gun and Forge (Batavia)produced the rifle for Febiger. Also an engineer from Baker (Tomlinson) designed the semi auto trigger. It was initially produced in semi auto, then in pump action only. Most of the articles writen about them are incorrect. Some marked Model #1. All early guns were chambered in 22 short,sometime in mid production they started making .22 long rifle. Some not marked at all. the only way I can tell the unmarked guns apart is that Bactavia's had a different slide release, or none at all. All had smooth forearms. I have never seen a factory checkered rifle, although I have seen some that were checkered. In my collection I have the earlest(5X)and latest(7XXX)serial number I have seen. You can email me to talk about them.
Pact
How does the Schmeisser, fit into the picture? Is the Batavia pistol shown in the Gun Collectors Digest article, the first .22 semi-auto pistol made?
I don't think there is a connection between the Schmeisser any any of these rifles. If you look closely at the Schmeisser you can tell that mechanically it is a totally different rifle. The take down screw is in a different palce and the trigger mechanism is different. I believe as I do in the case of the Febiger that they used the Savage 1903 as the platform to develope their semi auto rifle. I believe Febiger used the Savage design WAAAY too much and that is why the rifle was short lived. I feel Savage sued Febiger/Baker for patent infringments. On the pistol it is my thought that this gun was made after the production run stopped. I have found no patents concerning this pistol. The reason I believe this is the barrel markings on the pistol is Gun Collector's Digest were altered and the serial number was very low. I do not feel a production gun would have left the factory that way.
Pact
I have one just like yours, 7xxx serial number. I feel that these late guns are just generic. I believe Baker/Batavia produced all of the guns. As drsck stated the late guns were "scrubbed" or had no markings, in an effort to liquidate their stock of guns and parts. The magazine for the .22lr and the Savage 1903 were similar but not the same. Heres a picture of some of mine. The bottom rifle is a Savage 1903.
Pact