1902 VH Parker Barrel markings

[Patrick Canavan]

I am new to owning a Parker and recently purchased a 1902 VH with 30in barrels. The markings indicate a “K” “f” with what looks to be a L (with a dash) and a “2” squared. Any information as to what this represents would be very much appreciated.

[Dean Romig]

That’s a poorly struck 4 with a superscript 2 meaning the pre-struck barrel weight was 4 lbs., 2 oz.






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[Dean Romig]

The Kf stamp is the inspector’s stamp, believed to have been King and the common consensus is that the f means finished or final.





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[Patrick Canavan]

Thank you very much. Very helpful.

[Researcher]

I totally disagree with what Dean said. The Kf was the barrel steel mark. On the early steel barrel hammerless guns those with rib markings of Vulcan Steel have the Kf on the barrel flat --

111056 01 16-gauge, 28-inch, Kf barrel steel.jpg

and those with Titanic Steel and a few Acme Steel barrels have a K.

105974 02 K in barrel steel location.jpg

In the 130xxx range we begin seeing the V, T or A in a circle barrel steel marking.

[Patrick Canavan]

The serial number is 1098xx so seems to line up with what you noted above.

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Dave Noreen

I totally disagree with what Dean said. The Kf was the barrel steel mark. On the early steel barrel hammerless guns those with rib markings of Vulcan Steel have the Kf on the barrel flat --

Attachment 103979

and those with Titanic Steel and a few Acme Steel barrels have a K.

Attachment 103980

In the 130xxx range we begin seeing the V, T or A in a circle barrel steel marking.

So, essentially what you're saying Dave, is that there is no barrel steel marking at all on those with the K because we know that K is not the mark for any of the barrel steels in use at the time... ?

I say this because we know that earlier guns were stamped in that location with the barrel steel, e.g., D, T, B, L, indicating the barrel steel. And we know that fluid-pressed steel barrels of Vulcan, Whitworth, Titanic, Parker Steel etc. were not all the same steel so why would they all (except Whitworth) be stamped with the same barrel steel stamp?

I think what you're proposing is simply one more clue in the "Kf" mystery.

And not to belabor the point, but we know that Parker Brothers didn’t manufacture their own barrels, except in 1877, ‘78 and ‘79 when they delved into producing their own Laminated Steel barrels, everything else was imported up until WW I when the supply of European manufactured goods was effectively shut off. But up to that point do we really know who made the fluid steel barrels for Parker?

Could it have been Krupp? That might explain the K…


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[Researcher]

My take is that the K and the Kf are the barrel steel marks. But no one left alive knows what they signified other than what we can observe which is that the Kf is found on barrels marked Vulcan Steel on the rib and that the K is found on barrels marked Titanic Steel and Acme Steel. I can't imagine that if Parker Bros. was springing for Krupp tubes they wouldn't have marketed them as such.

The highest serial number gun I've recorded with the K in the barrel steel location is a 10-gauge DHE 146730 that also has the WK in an oval stamp on the left barrel flat.

http://parkerguns.org/forums/showthr...=146730&page=2

Another thread on this topic --

http://parkerguns.org/forums/showthr...ghlight=146730

[Dean Romig]

Thanks Dave, I remember those discussions.

I’m not trying to prove you wrong but I’m going to continue to search for the meaning of the K and the f. There’s got to be more to it.





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