Judging by the positions of the screw holes I believe that steel butt plate is original to the gun (if the stock is original to the gun.)





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There is no blued frame out there that will have original case colors remaining if removed. Since the colors would have been removed during prep for bluing. It was all gone before the debauchery was committed. Period. The actual case hardening is likely still present, but no color.

Confirmation
 

Here you go. Seems Dean was right.

Well there you go.

We must be careful to never say never!!

I have a VHE with a skeleton steel butt plate and it’s sister had one as well according to its prior owner.

Remington era?





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Everything about the buttplate on the subject gun looked to be correct and I am not surprised that the letter supports that. It is good that there is record of the return.

I wonder if damage to the original stock was suffered in a way the the owner felt a steel plate on the new one would be better. ?

Yes

Remington was known to stray somewhat (sometimes) from the standards set in Meriden.





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