Exactly, and carbine collectors look carefully at that area before purchasing. I do the same thing checking the left side of stocks to see if rebuild stamps have been removed. I've seen several where you can clearly tell someone sanded the snot out of the area enough it's noticeably lowered and has a dip when you run your hand across it.

I don't know if it's true, but beside being a little immoral in my opinion, I've been told removing import marks is illegal because it is a federal law why they had to be there in the first place.