This gun did not letter with a Silvers Pad.

[Craig Larter]

I thought I would post some pictures of a CHE that does not letter with a Silvers Pad. The gun has a very old Silvers and I decided to replace it but keep the old pad. Anyhow, I have posted a few pictures below which show the butt end of the stock. As you can see no screw holes are evident from a skeleton butt (which would have been standard on a CHE). I believe the Silvers pad was factory installed but for what ever reason was never documented. I have also included a picture of a DH that was made during the same time period that letters with a Silvers pad and shows the same inletting----looks like the same fitting as the CHE. So what say you could this be an undocumented item or aftermarket?

[Wild Skies]

What does the letter say in terms of LOP and what does it measure now with the pad? What does the letter say about the original price of the gun? That, too; may provide a clue as pads were a $5 option.

[Double Lab]

Looks factory to me Craig. I have a number of D grades, some with skeletal and some with a Silvers and a spur like yours. From your picture there seems to be a slight curve on the butt, a good sign that it was'nt cut.

[Brush Buster]

Craig ,I would say original ,I just purchased a PH that was sent back to the factory for a Silvers Pad documented by a letter and it is pretty much identical to yours ,I don't have pictures yet as I just received the gun yesterday but will take a few this evening and post them !

[Dean Romig]

That's a tough one Craig... The position of the silver oval would seem to indicate a longer "belly" of the stock - but not a fast and hard rule.

Those screws are certainly period correct and factory correct.

In contrast, here is a DHE with a factory Silvers pad and attested to in the PGCA research letter I have on it.



.

[winplumber]

Strange no Widows Peak or was that common ?

[Brush Buster]

This is a PH Grade that letters that it was sent back for a Silvers Pad and all seems correct including the LOP .

[Richard Flanders]

My late VHE20 has a Silvers or maybe a similar noshock? pad but has two sets of screw holes in the wood, indicating it's not original.

[Dean Romig]

Strange?.... It's original.

But, in all honesty, the gun sat in inventory for four years. Apparently the twenty-eight gauge wasn't so popular in 1908, or '09 or '10 or '11. Finally, in 1912 an order came in for a ladies gun with a stock length of 13 1/2" over a Silvers pad. So, the lack of a spurred butt is explained in the shortened stock wood. But take note of the slight curve of the butt despite the shortened stock.






.

[Brush Buster]

Dean ,she's a beauty ,do you shoot it with the short LOP or is it the Boss's 28 Gauge ! I wish my Boss would shoot but she just never got interested !