Anyone seen this before?

[Mills]

Another head scratcher for me. Just acquired this GH. In pretty good shape with a few issues, one of which is this oval shield or something embedded in the side of the stock. My first thought when seeing it was it was hiding a pin, but no pin or evidence of anything on the opposite side. Appears someone just put this in to an otherwise good stock.

Has anyone ever seen something like this? Maybe a name plate, but I don't see any engraving. Any idea what it might be?

[Randy Roberts]

Is there a shield/plate on the opposite panel ?

[Mills]

There is not. There is nothing on the opposite side

[Randy Roberts]

As you alluded to earlier any alterations in that area make a person suspect of a stock repair. Take the stock off and see what's inside the head. If there are
signs of a repair that is most likely the answer. I suppose the owner could have damaged/gouged the side panel and this was an attempt to hide that. If there are no signs of repairs anywhere just call it custom and charge a little extra when and if you sell it.

[Mills]

I am not curious enough to remove the stock. Externally, I cannot see any damage. My best guess is a name plate, but that is an odd place for one.

[Randy Roberts]

You would think that if the owner went to that much trouble installing a name plate they would have followed through with the name or initials.

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by Mills Morrison

I am not curious enough to remove the stock. Externally, I cannot see any damage. My best guess is a name plate, but that is an odd place for one.

It is odd but not unheard of to see an engraving plate in that location since it is a nice flat surface that would be mostly likely observable to a right handed shooter. It is hard to know the history about some of these old guns. Maybe it was engraved on other side and plate is flipped? The only way to really know is break it down and like you don't think I want to go messing with it that much. At least if stick gun in a rack with similar guns, you will know which one is yours. It could even be as simple as that from a previous owner. I think Mark might right though. Maybe it was a gift with intention of engraving it but they just never got around to it. I think it makes it a unique quality. BTW I sometimes like having a nickname for some of the guns that I am fond of. "Plate Gun" or "Patch"comes to mind. Personally I like Patch referring to places I like to take a gun to hunt with, but obviously it could have a double meaning.

The pictures don't reveal any damage and obviously you have handled it and looked at very closely. If it was a repair it must be doing a heck of a job so I would be inclined as well to leave it alone. What is the saying "Never look a gifted horse in the mouth" I think applies here.

[High Brass]

I have a gh with a wooden plug on one cheek panel. When I removed the stock it was of course cracked, and a large brass screw had been run into that panel. I left it since the plug was well done and repaired the stock internally. So maybe it is just hiding a wood screw.

[Mills]

Could be, but wouldn't there be a screw or something on the opposite side of the stock?

The initials could have worn off some time ago

[OH Osthaus]

Originally Posted by Mills Morrison

Could be, but wouldn't there be a screw or something on the opposite side of the stock?

The initials could have worn off some time ago

maybe not

if the repairer thought he got enough bite with the screw into the opposite wood without breaking through the other panel

OR - there is some anchor piece embedded inside -

- then there would only be one side to cover

never underestimate the ingenuity of the handymen and local smiths that worked back in the day of repairing things not tossing them out