The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

I had a BSA Model 12 come in to day for some work and spotted this butt plate, certainly not what I expected to see. It will have to come off and be replaced with an original however I have no idea where it originally came from to end up in Lincolnshire, or what will happen to it.

There's a massive collectors market for that sort of thing.

I've got a colleague from work, you couldn't meet a nicer chap, one of his favourite hobbies is collecting wartime memorabilia.

I did a course in a German military base a number of years ago. In the Sgts mess there were display cabinets with trophies etc inside, if you looked carefully you could sometimes see a bit of electrical tape at the bottom of an ornament. The guys seemed to be under pretty strict instructions not to speak about the war years.

A mate of mine is something of an authority on WW2 German weapons and militaria.
If you like I will send him this photo to see what he can make of it.
I try to get him on here as he is a boffin on Mausers.

mag41uk - Yes please, I am intrigued by it. My guess is a 1930s small bore target rifle period accesory however it would be good to hear the opinion of someone who knows about such things.

Unless I'm mistaken it is from a 1930's Mauser MM410 .22lr rifle and would have been an "aftermarket" period item popular with Party members.I remember seeing one with the same buttplate, or one very similar, some years ago.

Is it metal or rubber?

Metal, it looks to be cast brass or bronze.

So my friend has scoured his book collection and cant find an image that resembles that design.
He thinks its an artisan piece.

mag41uk, thank you for asking. I have one last thing to do and that is drop it off the rifle and see if it is marked on the underside. It has to come off anyway as I have to replace it with something more fitting.

Interesting that the diamond pattern at the bottom is similar in design to the grips on a Hitler Youth Knife.