A Huntley Pad? That's a new one on me.

Yes I had never heard of a Huntley pad until I read the research letter. It seems that prior to WWl they made a sponge rubber pad. After the war I believe Jostam made the pad.

I went yesterday to look at the pad and take a few pictures. The buttstock sports a Fray-Merchon inc. white line red pad marked SKEET STYLE. Thanks to Chuck I now know they only info on this VHE 20 is on the IBM card and type of butt end not noted.
Gun was made in 1935 the same year that I believe Mershon offered the pad. The fit and aged look could lead one to believe it is original to the gun.

phil could you show us a picture of the huntley pad...i too have never heard of this pad...charlie

Unfortunately the friend I bought my DH 28 gauge from replaced the pad prior to my purchase. Letter documents the Huntley pad. I have attached a link to a drawing on the patent. I am currently debating about either a leather covered pad or installing a Jostam sponge rubber pad.
My gun was ordered in 1916 by the Charles Parker co NYC for E H Hotchkiss ( Stapler company) cost of the pad was $4.00

https://patentimages.storage.googlea...S1222291-0.png

Phil, I also have a VHE 20, Remington era, with a Mershon pad that appears to be original to the gun. It was displayed as a benchmark gun at the 2014 PGCA Annual Meeting. The Joan Bennet DHE 20 also has a Mershon style pad that has been on there at least since I was about 11 years old when I first saw it. There was a time when Hawkins pads were not available to the trade and Remington bought what they could get. There is also a prewar Model 32 in the Remington museum that has a Mershon pad. I doubt that gun has ever been out of the building since it was built.

Anyone have a good picture of the face of the Fray-Mershon pad on the Joan Bennett gun? Baer states "the gun probably originally had a skeleton butt plate."

I wonder if it might not look like this --

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...frecoilpad.jpg