Common or rare ?
 

My 12 ga. 2 frame CHE with skeleton butt plate has a circular Plug cut out and replaced in butt of the stock. This plug is located in the bottom third of the stock toward the toe. I have read that this was sometimes done to balance or to reduce the weight of the gun. How common or rare was this ? Since the plug in my gun was cut toward the toe of the stock was this done for balance or weight reduction ? Thanks in advance.

The one in the bottom third of the butt was for the patented hickory rod reinforcement through the wrist or grip of the stock.
It was usually used on the more figured wood found on higher grade Parkers and it is not especially uncommon.

Any plugs above that one were used to remove or add weight for balance.

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It is not that uncommon.


I have seen some guns with two plugs.

I have a DH with two plugs for balance and none for the patented reinforcing rod.





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If it has the reinforcing rod installed, the patent date should be stamped in the wood just behind the pistol grip assuming the stock hasn't been messed with.

Dean Thanks so much. I have wondering about that plug ever since I purchased the gun.

Some even still have the patent stamp just behind the grip cap on the toe line.

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There is no patent date that I could see behind the pistol grip but this is a 1902 gun and the stock was refreshed or messed with before my purchase.

There no number behind the grip cap.

The vast majority of Parkers with the reinforcing rod either were never stamped or the stamp was obliterated in refinishing.





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