Parker Bros. Patented Hickory Reinforcing Rod

[Dean Romig]

Invented and patented by Charles Alonzo King under the name of Parker Bros.

This is the real deal, from an 1897 publication of patents.

The stock was bored with precision from a position near the toe of the butt forward through the wrist or grip. Some Parkers have this feature but not many do. Often a Parker displays a plug in the butt closer to the heel of the but however, this is not the reinforcing rod but is a hole bored to remove wood to reduce weight or in the case of a stock being too light - to add weight such as lead and then to insert a wooden plug.