Under my lifter buttplate

[Angel Cruz Ortiz]

I just realized that that piece of paper was there when the bottom hole was drilled. The hole on the paper matches the hole in the wood perfect. I wonder why the piece of paper??

[Coach]

I found something similar under the steel butt plate on a hammergun. It was a dollop of something like window glazing compound. I am guessing that these steel plates were slightly domed and some kind of filler would help keep them from moving or rocking. I have also seen the last 3 sn digits in chalk.

Carl.

[OH Osthaus]

a buttplate needs to be well supported and if you've not done one, it is not the easiest inletting job. my guess is, as others have thought, is that the paper is a shim to shore up an area where just a little too much wood came off.

[Roundsworth]

I removed the buttplate from my 1898 vintage Marlin repeater and found a neatly folded 1934 small game license. I have heard of this being done in the past, but have wondered why. The only reason I could come up with is for identification in case the gun was stolen. I could imagine the game warden's chagrin when he asks for a license and the hunter asks for a screwdriver!