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October 20, 2022
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I bought a winchester model 50 in 12 ga that has a added rubber recoil pad, I would like to buy a original buttplate for this gun as the stock was not shortened. I have seen the repros for sale with the round logo but I am pretty sure that is not correct for this gun serial number 80,267, does anyone know what it should look like and if they have one for sale..
Thanks
Ken
January 20, 2023
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Good afternoon, Ken. I own a Model 50 and the next time I get into the back of my safe I’ll verify what I’m showing you here.
I think the buttplate you are looking for has the single word “Winchester” in the usual italicized type, set in a horizontal stippled rectangle from toe to heel. In much smaller type below it the words “Trade Mark” appear in the rectangle. The stippled rectangle is set into a much larger oval of coarse checkering that occupies most of the buttplate.
I found a photo of one on the Web:
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
April 30, 2023
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I can confirm when I get home as well if someone reminds me!
January 20, 2023
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A trying day at the cop shop?
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
March 9, 2005
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Here is sn 47473
April 30, 2023
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Zebulon said
A trying day at the cop shop?
Every day is one of those.
April 30, 2023
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Here is BP from sn 129029
October 20, 2022
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Thanks guys I saw one near the 100,000 serial range and it was as Bill had a link to so hopefully someone has a gun closer to the 80,000 number to see what I need to look for. I really appreciate you guys checking your shotguns.
Ken
January 20, 2023
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Ken, I don’t think the buttplate changed on the Model 50 during its production. The Model 59, which was nothing more than the 50 Lightweight except for the Dupont barrel, had the same buttplate.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
May 22, 2024
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I still have my dads Mod 50, which he got from a friend in 1980. I always figured the buttplate had been changed, these pics confirm it. All us old squirrel hunters used our guns as climbing-walking sticks, thus plastic gets broken! I refinished the wood and my brother had it reblued for him not long after he got it, cause it was beat up badly. It still today looks as good as it did after total refinishing, almost. It turned out his overall favorite Winchester 12ga, which he used many since the 40s squirrel hunting! He would only own Winchester Shotguns, but was understanding of us owning a few Browning n Remingtons! He never did! I remember his old Mod 11, (i think is the correct mod#?) The one you worked the action by pushing in on the barrel? But I hunted it few times myself in 80’s. His Strong 2nd favorite was his Mod 1400, which I still remember the box when he brought it home, i believe 1966+- a year. He eventually would laugh at it. When we camped, he’d leave it outside the tent, which we always questioned? He’d laugh and say, Ah I could lay it in the creek overnight it wouldn’t hurt it! Believe he was right, but that gun served him 100% faithfully until he got the Mod 50. He never picked up another gun, to go into the woods after the Mod 50 thru his last hunts in mid 80’s! My youngest boy killed his first squirrel with it aprox 2000, probably first shot fired since dad. I killed a turkey with it 2005. Bedt my memory its last hunt!
It’s Sr # 105248, made 1957 if I remember correctly?
He lived Mod 12’s but didn’t like pumps. He had one early made, a 20ga, Nickel Steel 26″ Mod Barrel that i swear was 97% condition! Like an idiot, he let me trade it to a Mod 25 12ga 30″ Full, yes better for squirrels! I slayed lotta squirrels with it up until in early 80’s when I traded it to a Belgian Browning A5 Light 12, my all time favorite, other than my Mod 37’s, just better in mountains hunting squirrels!
April 30, 2023
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M64lvr said
I remember his old Mod 11, (i think is the correct mod#?) The one you worked the action by pushing in on the barrel?
You are correct!
October 20, 2022
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47473 has a buttplate that is different with the round logo, it doesn’t appear to be a repo plate. If someone has a model 50 between 47,473 and 80,267 I would appreciate a picture.
Thanks,
Ken
January 20, 2023
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Ken, the serial of my M50 is 66520 with a DOM of 1956. The buttplate is of the same style as Jeremy’s 129029.
Because 47473 is 20,000 serials lower than mine, even though guns were not assembled in serial number order amd Winchester was known for never throwing any useable part away, I would conclude the more elaborate round logo style seen on 47473 was either;
1. An anomaly or parts cleanup.
Or
2. Earlier standard for the Model 50, superseded by the one-line style seen by serial 66520 and continued through serial 129029.
Because your 80267 falls well between both Jeremy’s and mine, I think.any factory buttplate originally on your gun except the one-line style would be anomalous.
If you cannot find one and if the butt of your stock is still radiused for a plate and not squared off for the existingj pad, perhaps you should consider installing a round logo reproduction as an interim step while continuing to search for the one-liner.
My views on Winchester shotguns are different than some.of our more obsessive collectors. I think anyone who owns and actually shoots a 12 gauge shotgun with express loads and doesn’t fit it with a pad is likely not the sharpest knife in the drawer, having lost more than a few points of IQ from being battered repeatedly.
The Model 50 was not a popular product because it weighed more than a fairy’s wings and its short recoil system was doomed to lose against the emerging gas guns.
If mine is any measure of their market value, they are still unpopular because It’s a 95-97% modified choke 1956 gun I knocked down on GB for an embarrassingly low $349.
Unless your Model 50 is a 99.9% gun in the original box complete with hangtags and papers, I don’t think its value is going to be degraded materially because it has the “wrong” buttplate for its date of manufacture, particularly if its a reproduction.
At a guess, nobody makes a reproduction of the “right” buttplate because it isn’t very attractive. The earlier one is more stylish and lots of reproductions of it are available.
If you persist and can find a used “right” plate, the odds of it being undersized and ill fitting are good because final shaping of the stock was done with oversize buttplate installed.
Just my perspective. I am more concerned about appearance and utility because I shoot what I own. I appreciate that many others disagree.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
October 20, 2022
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Thanks Bill for checking your model 50 and confirming its buttplate as the straight winchester logo as that is what I will look for.
My gun is no where near collector grade it is a shooter and the recoil pad installed on it was clearly installed by someone that does not do this for a living.
If anyone happens to have a pad for sale please let me know.
Thanks and good shooting!
Ken
October 20, 2022
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Not a pad but a correct buttplate.
Thanks,
Ken
January 20, 2023
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If I were going to shoot it regularly, speaking only for myself, I would pay my gunsmith to install a Winchester solid red reproduction pad. In which event I would cheerfully give you the original buttplate. The thing that discourages me from.doing that is 1. I don’t shoot the gun and 2. The pad and the gunsmith would cost far more than I want to put into the gun!
Your best bet for finding an original buttplate will probably be at gunshows where somebody is trying to sell the takeoffs from gunsmiths who installed pads.
I do suggest you call Lee’s Gun Parts, in Irving, Texas. I’m constantly amazed at what he has in his store. Boxes of things.
Lee’s Gun Parts
3401 W Pioneer DR STE 2
Irving, Tx 75061
Ph 972-790-0773
Fax 972-313
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
April 30, 2023
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I know I have one spare, just need to look at what style it is tonight. Please quote me here to remind if I don’t answer back.
November 7, 2015
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Zebulon said
A trying day at the cop shop?
Probably trying to stay awake. 
Mike
January 20, 2023
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TXGunNut said
Zebulon said
A trying day at the cop shop?
Probably trying to stay awake.
Mike
I have that problem and I am not working (at least, not getting paid for it. )
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
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