Heavy Duck butt pad black spacer?|Winchester Shotguns|Forum|Winchester Collector

Rick, 

Brownell’s used to carry the spacers in several thicknesses. You might try MidwayUSA as well and, possibly, Galazan/Connecticut Shotgun Company.

Rick,  Bert beat me to the reply.  I think every shotgun manufacturer ground the pads and any spacers to fit as the stock was finished.  A factory job looks as if the pieces grew together.  Should you even find a “factory” ground spacer for sale, it will not fit flawlessly to your stock.  A GOOD gunsmith can grind to fit about as well as factory, but maybe not as tight.  Tim

Rick, a couple of Decades ago I walked into a small town gunshop owned and run by a good gunsmith of my acquaintance. On his consignment rack was a virtually new Browning “BPS” 20 gauge in the “Sporting” version – English straight grip stock and 25″ ventilated rib barrel milled for choke tubes. Factory box, papers, 3 tubes.  It had excellent balance and great condition. What’s more, it was made on JMB’s bottom-loading and ejecting action so no side port.  Really pretty and at a ridiculously low price, around $300.  

The reason why was it had been cut down for a kid. The LOP was about 12″ including a black Pachmayr “Old English” pad.  I thought about it for maybe two seconds, consulted the gunsmith/owner about the cost to install a flat black spacer to bring the LOP to 14 3/4″ , and bought the gun. About 3 weeks later I picked it up and I wish I had pix to show because it was a beautiful job. My son-in-law is holding it for my grandson. 

I don’t own a Purdey or a Boss or a Holland sidelock bird gun and never will but I have seen a fair number of them with black spacers,  added as a lucky young sportsman grew up or as an adult inherited a gun built for a shorter ancestor.  Some of these things were built between World Wars and stay in families that probably couldn’t afford a new one, now priced like a Porsche 911. Throwing away exhibition grade Circassian Walnut is a non-starter,  so spacers and pads get added. 

A good gunsmith can put a pad and spacer on your Heavy Duck and it will replicate a factory job so closely you can’t see the difference. I would get him to install a removable pin in the pad so you can stand the gun im the safe without the pad collapsing. 

Ricklin said
If the safe is not too full, storing guns muzzle down is better IMO, takes up more space. 
  

I’ve heard that and don’t doubt you. A good precaution against gun oil getting into the Walnut stock wrist. Unfortunately, although my safe is very thick and heavy, the interior space wouldn’t let me hang things upside down. 

I have to be extra careful when I clean a gun and put it away not to leave the barrel wet.  These days I wipe the bore with Ballistol, unless the piece is going into long storage. In that case, I wipe the bore with R.I.G., which seems pretty temperature insensitive — that is, is disinclined to liquid and run.

You can buy or better yet build some rods that allow you to place your rifle anywhere you wish.  The plastic rods do not work the best with heavy rifles.  You may find them cheaper on Ebay.

https://www.westcoastgunsafes.com/products/accessory-storage-rifle-rod-series?variant=44385628946738

Bert H. said

oldcrankyyankee said
I made it easy on my self, I went out and got more safes. 
  

My problem is that another safe is going to be Damn hard to sneak in past the wife!
  

Disguise it as “a cooler for aging game” and install it in the garage with a Goldenrod. Warn her it doesn’t smell good inside and best not to open door.🥿