DHBP Questions

[Reggie B]

VH 28 gauge w/round knob stock and flat DHBP (no widow's peak). Letter supports 28" barrel length, chokes & LOP. Letter states "pistol grip" stock configuration. 1904 mfg. date.

VHE 20 gauge. Letter supports 26" barrel, chokes, LOP and capped pistol grip. It has a widow's peak DHBP. 1923 mfg. date.

GHE 20 gauge. Letter supports 28" barrels, LOP, capped pistol grip. Flat DHBP.
1930 mfg. date.

I know the GHE date and flat DHBP are correct. The VHE would be near the time-frame that widow's peak plates were ended.

Is the flat DHBP ok for a 1904 production gun? Everything about the gun seems correct and supported by the letter. Were flat butt plates used on some earlier guns too? And are the round pistol grip stocks uncommon? Most I see are capped. All 3 stocks have a shield in the stock.

Thanks for entertaining my questions as I am far from an expert!

[B. Dudley]

That early gun was likely restocked by patker later on. That rxplains the varience in grip style and the later buttplate. The mid 1920s was when the spur was eliminated and the buttplate screw style changed.

[Reggie B]

So how would a round knob stock gun be referred to in the letter if not pistol grip? How are they described? Thanks for the reply!

[B. Dudley]

Well, technically i suppose a round knob is a “pistol grip” and the capped grip is a “capped pistol grip”. So, there may not be a discrepancy in the grip style.