Lithgow buttstock? "PAGE"

[Garandrew]

Its not noticable..but I wondered if it hurt value?

[Brian Dick]

I never could understand collectors doing this stuff. All you need is a register of your serial numbers. I've seen many military firearms done this way from collectors. At least it's under the buttplate and not signed on the barrel with an engraving pencil. Yes, I've seen that too. I've seen social security numbers engraved and scratched in too. People are paranoid I guess.

[Garandrew]

Its sort of neat how we have followed his collection after Joe Salter is selling it..He was a WW2 veteran

[Hawgeye]

Given the number of firearms thefts in recent years, I can understand the paranoia. I've always kept a registry of my firearms serial numbers, both safe queens and shooters. I wish the same could be said of the law enforcement community. I purchased two parts rifles from a gunshop in Oregon a while back. They had obviously aquired them from a police auction as each had case numbers, date and officers name in charge of the case engraved into the metal on the receiver. I purchased a no1 rifle from a man who was detained by the RCMP in Canada while in transit to Alaska and had his enfield seized for investigation of a possible theft. Once he was released from custody and sent on his way, the RCMP kept the rifle another two years before releasing back it to him. He had to pay for storage fees, import and transfer fees and when the rifle arrived in Washington state it had case numbers, dates and government assigned serial numbers stamped into the metal of the receiver. The buttstock had the same information stamped into the wood in 1/2 " tall lettering. Hard to understand what frame of mind could generate this kind of butchery.

[Garandrew]

Weapon hating liberals...even in law enforcement

[Sht_LE]

To echo Brian, working in the trade I have seen any number of horrific things done to firearms. I am currently refinishing a nice old double shotgun for a customer that had the previous owners name engraved on the top of the tang, and his initials engraved on the bottom of the trigger guard. The work appears to have been done by a drunk with a dull bit in a dremel tool. On breaking it down, his name was also carved into the wood on the inside of the forearm. Why God!?!? I don't do any of that. I have a list of my serial numbers with a description of any unique features and several good quality pics of the firearms in my collection, it is that easy and does not hurt anything.

[Peter Laidler]

I am also the worlds biggest pessimists when it comes to markings, unless there is absolute provenance. As the great man John sookey always says, buy the rifle and not the story............. I have mentioned this before, but I have slid a bit of paper in a barrel channel or elsewhere before with my number, name and date, especially something that is rare and not liable to be stripped for many many years......, like the Faulkner Bren. I remember an old jeep that was the unit hack at the old RAF base at Watchfield near to where I lived as a young lad. When the base was closed, the jeep was disposed of to the local garage, still in its RAF blue/grey paint and 'GUARD ROOM' painted across the front screen bottom where they used it as a run-around and recovery truck for the next 10 or so years. It was then sold off and many years later, I saw it again. Thius time resplendent in US military colours and a potted history of its life.............. Where this little jeep hadn't been wasn't worth going. It was the first vehicle ashore at DDay, carried Monty and his mate Eisenhower to Berlin................ well, that's egging the cake a bit but you get my drift! But I bet after a few more summer classic military vehicle shows, it will have done all of those things and more.......

Nope, the eternal pessimist says buy the rifle and not the story unless it's documented. A good example would be the No8 rifles fitted up with telescope pads. We KNOW this and it's documented fact. We know where one of the donor L42's probably went too

[Garandrew]

Peter, its not really a story..an older US WW2 veteran..Fred L Page, evidentally had a massive collection of military weapons, probably started when he was overseas..Upon his death, Joe Salter in NH bought some, or all. Now hes selling them..myself, and 2 others found the name "PAGE" under the buttplates of our rifles.
Brian Dick suggested I ask Salter about "PAGE", and lo and behold the name of the former owner was Page.
Now, myself and those 2 others, customers of Salter, are connecting the dots..Page put his name under the butt plates...

[Garandrew]

I love the jeep story...its like Schicklegrubers Walther PP, he must have owned 50 of them...

[Demo]

Sounds legitimate enough if he wanted to identify his collection. Certainly doesn't add any provenance, but I don't think the PAGE stamp has devalued this gun. It's under the butt plate and can't be seen and it's still a beautiful rifle. I get more concerned when butt plate's get removed and the seal between butt and plate is broken.