1902 VH Parker Barrel markings

[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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