Now Ive learned something new. I always thought as Dean has that the Kf was Charles King, because I never saw it on later guns with the W.K. or J.G. inspector marks. Now I see it along with the later marks, so it suggests something else as Dave says. Interesting.

Charles Alonzo King, (K) Parker Bros Plant Superintendant, was employed by Parker Brothers from 1874-1914 and was plant Superintendant beginning sometime in 1874 following his employment with Smith & Wesson from about 1867 as plant superintendant there until he joined Parker Bros. in 1874. He remained in that position with Parker Brothers until late in 1908 when his son Walter (WK) took over the position of Plant Superintendant.
His son Walter also served Parker Bros. from 1898 - 1906 as a barrel-making congtractor (WK) prior to his stint as Parker Gun Works superintendant....
So I see no valid reason at all why the stamps of both Charles A. King (K) and Walter King (WK) might not appear together on barrel flats during this period of overlapping positions of responsibility...





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See the thread started by "Gunner" on 10-13-2016 on this topic for further info and speculation.

I'd have to agree with Dave that it's a stretch to speculate that K is an inspector's mark, Charles King or otherwise. If a superintendent was also serving as an inspector, wouldn't his mark also appear on all grades higher than V grade, and wouldn't he also inspect guns with damascus barrels? I also think it's a stretch to suggest 'f' represented 'finished' as I would presume it wouldn't be inspected until it was finished, making it redundant. If W.K., and J.G., then, why not C.K.?

Deleted - not kind - sorry.





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"Possibly valid Edgar, so what is the solution according to your line of thinking?"

Nothing unkind taken. Solution? Get out the Ouija board. None of us were there, and in the absence of some heretofore unknown document, it comes down to what you want to believe.

We have argued this many times in the past.

https://parkerguns.org/forums/showth...rel+steel+mark

My arguments are --

1. That we only see the Kf on barrels marked on the rib Vulcan Steel and the K on barrels marked on the rib Titanic Steel or Acme Steel.

2. The marks are in the same general area where the D, L and T of composite barrels were found.

3. The K and Kf are not found on composite barrels.

4. The K and Kf marks are not seen on barrels with the V, P, P.S., T or A, usually in a circle, barrel steel marks.