While DHE guns were stocked in English/French walnut as a rule, they could still split out at the stockhead. And... in this weak area. Apparently, the stocker knew this and -- especially if the gun was going to be used with heavy loads -- chose to reinforce the weak spot in the stockhead.
I've done this reinforcement/repair often for black walnut Parker stocks which have already split in this spot... but use steel instead of hardwood.
You have an interesting legacy of a smart stocker... and a hint that Parker knew where its weak spots were.
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