Page 591 in TPS shows a photo of a forend stamped with the same parking that you say yours has. It is H.S. Foster and they say that it was most likely a marking for the stocker that made the part.
I also checked the listing of early employees, but Foster is not listed.
Other observed Forend wood markings. were E., J. Phoenix and C. Beecher.
Also, J.B. is noted as a common water table marking from 1869 - 1875.
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B. Dudley
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