J.B

What does SSBP stand for? The gun has 14.375 to the wood with the 1 inch pad. 1 7/16" at the comb and 2 1/8 at the heal

My friend Mike likes recoil pads to color coordinate with his outfit:

SSBP - Skeletal Steel Butt Plate

I would be hard pressed to ever cut a stock that has one to adjust the LOP to my shooting dimensions, once a gun has a recoil pad things can be adjusted without further harm.

2-1/8" drop at heel. That is high. Can you say... trap?

A full Del Grego restoration with pad should not be messed with. It is the pad that belongs on this gun.

I actually wore white shoes and a white belt to my Senior prom in 1973.

Mike, you had the total look. Why go with less? White shoes, white belt, white line recoil pad, the whole package.

The art of looking fabulous doesn't just happen.

The gun appears to have been restocked in American Black Walnut by Del Grego. Probably had a skeleton steel butt plate when Parker Bros. made it - a letter might tell - but Del Grego made it his way.

A Del Grego restock, probably, but Juglans Nigra, I'm not sure about that.

Re stockers during the 50's through the 80's purchased machine inletted blanks from Fajen Gunstocks in Warsaw, Missouri. The rough formed stocks were from regional black walnut and then the re stockers would finish the forming, final inletting, checkering and finish. The practice continues today, except re stockers buy blanks from Show-Me Gunstocks in Warsaw, MO or from Wenigs in Lincoln , Mo. I probably should not reveal the secret finish applied to these , but I will if nobody tells. Its often hardware store spray can lacquer.