No Russ, I don't shoot it at all and Kathy's 28 is a Repro.






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My CHE letters with a lop of 14" and that what it measures with the pad. The drops also conform to the records. There is no mention of the pad, nothing in the price to indicate there was an extra charge. I would expect to see screw holes if a skeleton butt plate was removed. I seems records were not always complete and accurate. Thanks for everyones input. Craig

I agree with you Craig - somehow the addition of the pad slipped by in the record keeping. It all looks original to me.






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Those are unfitted Parker buttplate screws. The same screws that would have been used for a DHBP or the top screw on an SSBP. They just would have had their heads filed in those applications.
Every silvers pad that i have had to remove that was factory installed had those same unfitted screws holding it on. That, combined with the fact that there is no additional screw holes in the wood suggests it is factory installed.

Nothing sadder than a D Grade 28 not being fired!

Craig, figuring the length of skeleton buttplate screws and adding that measurement to the remaining wood of the stock and assuming the original stock with a skeleton would be 14" would give you the answer. However, I never go that far in calculating the originality of a very original looking gun. I have a very late high condition VHE 20 with a pad. I would like to examine the butt for signs of original buttplate screws, but I have decided to leave well enough alone and assume it is an original pad.

I know what you mean. I'm always a bit restrained when someone disassembled all or part of a gun to inspect it for originality. I don't touch a screw on my guns unless there is a pressing need.

I am of the same mind set with respect to messing with a gun that is original. The new pad will use the old screws and no new holes will be needed. Shooting the gun with the hardened pad would eventually destroy it. So I will be kept the original pad with the gun and it could easily be put back on as it was not destroyed when removed. Thanks everyone again for your input. Craig

Craig, were you able to remove the plugs unharmed?





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Dean: Yes amazing they just popped out, even though they are as hard as rock. The rubber plugs must shrink under-size as they ages.