Charles King's 1895 patented reinforcing rod was used for guns with questionable grain flow as to strengthen the wrist of the stock. Guns equipt were marked as such with the patent date on the toe line of the stock just behind the grip. Possibly guns with the rod were also not marked.
I have in the shop now a BHE that was made in 1904 and was stocked by Parker's Pierson Bannister. It is stamped on the stock as having the rod. When removing the action, I was able to see evidence of the rod in the upper tang area where the inletting just starts to cut into it. And I was surprised to find that the rod went all the way up into the safety jacket area. The rod appears to be about 3/4" in diameter.
I took the opportunity to photograph this to share below.
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