re: knockoffs
The Sept. 26 1889 issue of
Forest and Stream reported a test of H & D Folsom's cheapest doubles and observed... “W. Richards” that nonentity in the gun trade, was stamped on the plate, but they were really only those cheap bits of ordnance which come through our custom houses, pay a duty of 40 per cent., and yet may be placed on the counters of the gun shop at $5 a piece.
Forest and Stream has already in past times expressed its opinion about these pestiferous products of the penurious population clustered on Belgian soil.
This explains the "Laminated Steel, Belgium" rib marking
“Synopsis of decisions of the Treasury Department and Board of U.S. General Appraisers on the construction of tariff, immigration, and other laws, for year ending 1891”
http://books.google.com/books?id=L_x...J&pg=PA1207&dq
It has been the custom of manufacturers to stamp fictitious names of individuals and other trade words, such as “Richards”, “Western”, “U.S. Armes Co.”, etc., upon the lock plates or on the ribs connecting double-barrel guns imported at your port from Belgium; that in a number of recent importations of guns from Belgium there is a conspicuous absence of any words to indicate the country of origin, but on the contrary words have been found which represent to consumers that the guns are either of English or American manufacture, thus nullifying the object and intent of section 6 above referred to, and under these circumstances you request further instructions from the Department as to the marking of guns imported not only by Boker & Co., but by all others, whether in store or en route.
As it appears that it is practicable to stamp the name of the country of origin on the guns, you are hereby authorized, under and in pursuance of Department's decision of March 18. 1891 (Synopsis 10832) to deliver the guns covered by this and subsequent importations only upon such stamping, the language of said decision being that “where articles of foreign manufacture required to be marked under the provisions above referred to were ordinarily stamped at the time of the passage of said act, the name of the country of origin should be stamped thereon.”
Another creative name was "Sam Holt".
Some Thomas Parkers were made by Pieper, and Simonis, Janessen, Dumoulin and Co. made a Thomas Parker The Invincible Gun. Some T. Barkers were by Janssen Fils & Cie.
Another Belgian "Parker" with a not quite the Parker dog's head butt
If the OP would removed the barrels and post full size in focus close ups of every mark on the barrel and action flats we might be able to ID the maker.
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