Silvers Pad Color for English best gun?
 

Im trying to decide between a red vs orange silvers pad for an English best gun. I’ve read that silvers calls the orange color “English best color orange” so I’m assuming that’s the right choice.. interested in others thoughts. I plan to age it with true oil ect also.

Like the orange for all replacement.

If you truly have a Best Gun, then its features are traditionally selected/tailored by and for the client at hand. Use the colour you like. It'll be "best" for you.

Personally, I like red...

I don’t really have a personal preference, just interested in what’s period correct.

You may want to do what I did, when putting a pad on my GH Parker. I called Silvers in England and ordered an Orange and a Red. The lady I talked to was very nice and helpful. Even with postage (it was 15 yrs. ago) the total cost was about the same as I would have paid a dealer here.
When I put each pad next to the wood of the butt stock, the gun told me the Orange pad looked best. I did know that Parker Bros. most often used the Orange, so i was pleased.
However. on an English 'Best' I think you might find ether color. A very dark walnut stock might call for a red pad.
Best of luck and as always we'd like to see photos when it's on.

I have been using the Griffin and Howe Silver knockoffs for going on forty years. For some reason, all they offered were red Silver pads.

Whatever color you select, consider covering it with leather. To me that’s what is most appropriate on a fine English gun.

Where to send a gun for a leather covered pad these days? A leather faced pad is a good alternative and you can do it at home with little skill and a bit of care.

Leather Pad
 

These leather pads were done by Craig Libhart of Susquehanna Stockworks. He has done a number of them for me and all have been very nicely done.

That is beautiful work. What pad did he start with and cover?

I am not sure. I know it is not a Silver’s. Craig and I both like the smaller plugs on a leather pad. He does modify the pad to ensure it has a good shape for the leather to wrap around.

Leather on this 1895 Stephen Grant.

You might consider what size the plugs are on the pad you choose, and whether or not the gun is a big bore or a small bore. To me, pads with very large plugs look bad on a small bore.

Use the solid Winchester pad with small plugs. When it's ground to shape grind off the Winchester lettering.
https://connecticutshotgun.co/winche...le-recoil-pad/

The noshoc pads are also good for doing what mr. Porter mentions above. They have closer screw spacing, and are 7/8” thick. They are good for small bore guns.

For leather pads, (Dewey) Vicknair Restorations in Lititz, PA