buttplate
 

I recently got my first Parker shotgun. I believe it a grade 2 mfd. 1882.
My question is that it has a flat steel buttplate, not a skeleton. Would that
have been an option. Everything else looks correct, beautiful design
damascus barrels, all engraved with birds on it.

Thanks John

Skeleton Steel butt plates were standard on Grade-3 and higher. There are a few known Grade-2 Parkers with them but those were by special order.





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By that time hammer guns were getting into using the original dogs head buttplates. But a solid steel plate would have been standard on them before that. The gun likely is right and original. But without seeing it, nobody can tell for sure. The proper steel plate would be curved and have some shape to it and have a spur on the top. And for a grade 2, the screws should be engraved. And usually the spur of the plate engraved too.

Thanks for the info, yes it does have a spur and looks like a
factory fit. The right hammer screw is flat and engraved. The
left is rounded with no engraving, probably the only thing not
original.

John