Fred C. Borst stamp on forend

[Cyril Bodnar]

I've been searching for information on the name/marking on the underside of the forend on lifter #5045. There doesn't seem to be any mention of Mr. Borst in any of the major works on Parker guns, and I haven't seen any mention of his name in forums on the web either. So, I did some investigation on my own, and have found some small amount of information on Borst that may be of interest to others who have seen this marking on their guns. If anyone has additional or alternate information, I would love to hear about it!

First, here is the marking:
Forend Stamp.jpg


It appears that Mr Borst may have been involved with Parker Brothers in some capacity for a period of time. A limited timeline of events connected with the name are as follows:

Fred C. Borst (1841? - 1883?)

1841: Born in Ogden, NY?
1850: Federal Census - Listed as age 9 with parents in Ogden, NY.
1860: Federal Census - Listed as age 19 with parents in Ogden, NY.
1870: Federal Census - Already married (Lucy - spouse, Sons John & Frederick), and listed as 'Clerk in Drugstore' in Ogden, NY.
1870 - 1873: Changed Occupations / moved to Meriden, CT.
1873: Meriden City Directory - Home on Crown (corner of Grant), occupation listed as 'Gunsmith'.
1874: Meriden City Directory - Home on South Crown, occupation listed as 'Mechanic'.
1875: Parker #5045 manufactured.
1878: Meriden City Directory - Home at 31 Olive, occupation listed as 'Mechanic'.
1879: Meriden City Directory - Home at 31 Olive, occupation listed as 'Mechanic'.
1880: Federal Census - Living with family (Lucy (spouse), John, Frederick, Alice & Ada) at 31 Olive St. Occupation listed as 'Work in Gunshop.' He lives in the same dwelling (a double/rowhouse?) as Oscar Parker (who's occupation is listed as 'machinist', and may be the same person listed as Machine Shop Foreman and pictured in "The Parker Story", Vol. II, Pg.487)
1881: Meriden City Directory - Home at 31 Olive, listed as 'Mechanic'.
1882: Meriden City Directory - Home at 31 Olive, listed as 'Mechanic'.
1883: Meriden City Directory - Home at 31 Olive, listed as 'Mechanic'.
1883: Meriden City Directory (another publisher?) - Shows Mrs. Lucy Borst (and not her husband).
1883: Presumed deceased during the year?
1884: Meriden City Directory - Lists wife Lucy as 'Widow', with home at 31 Olive St.

It is curious that over his time in Meriden, he has had his occupation listed variously as 'mechanic' and 'gunsmith'. One can make an assertion based on all the above that the records I've listed relate to the man who stamped the forend on #5045. However, at no point have I been able to find a specific tie-in to the Parker Brothers gun company by name.

How long did he work at/for Parker? What job(s) did he hold? Hopefully, someone has additional information to add to this story. I'd love to learn more about the people who played a part in the making of this gun.