DETROIT, July 31-- (INS)-- A Revolutionary war message written on birch bark and hidden in a rifle was found, finally, yesterday.

Faded and rust stained, the message read:

"For report on enemy pos... K 2nd Aug."

The nameplate initials "SK" led historians to believe it was the rifle of Simon KENTON, famed revolutionary Indian scout who later rose to the rank of brigadier general in the war of 1812.

Stamping on the rifle gave positive proof that it was made by I. P. BECK, noted rifle maker of colonial and Revolutionary days.

The parchment was found by Gun Collector William CARR in a rifle he recently purchased from a Pennsylvania auctioneer.  The parchment was hiden between the stock and the barrel.

CARR and T. V. HOLTEN, local ballistics experts, were unable to decipher the full message, but the initials and the date gave historians sufficient clues to identify the message as one written by KENTON.

The Burton Historical Society said KENTON was the busiest of the frontier scouts of the American army.  During August of 1778, the society reported, KENTON was captured by Indians and turned over to renegade Simon GIRTY, who in turn gave KENTON to the British.  He escaped from the garrison at Detroit on June 5, 1779.

CARR and HOLTEN said they believe KENTON, facinf capture, left the warning in the rifle in the hope that fellow scouts would find it.

KENTON was scouting on the little Miami river, 50 miles north of the Ohio river, when he was captured.