1903 (A-what?)

[Calfed]

Say, is that a National Match butt plate?

[RDG]

I wouldn't know what a NM butt plate looked like, but off the cuff I would wonder why a match plate might have a cleaning compartment cover.

[Calfed]

I wouldn't know what a NM butt plate looked like, but off the cuff I would wonder why a match plate might have a cleaning compartment cover.

For cleaning gear.

Here is the butt plate on my 1903 NM rifle

[ssgross]

USMC match rifles used the "meat tenderizer" buttplate...looks like Calfed has one of those with wider and deeper checkering than the one in the OP.
I think the story was in Canfield's book? - USMC recommended the whole Corps adopt these based on performance by the marksmanship team, and because there were not enough to go around armorers/individuals started to stipple the buttplates. I've read too much. Can't keep it all straight anymore. Correct me if I'm wrong on the source.

[browningautorifle]

match rifles used the "meat tenderizer" buttplate

Yep, deeeep checkering on those. I always wanted one of those butt plates on mine.

[Daan Kemp]

Must be a reason few military rifles have such a rough surface. Catches on clothing, slow to change position, extra cost to manufacture. Target shooting doesn't necessarily translate to combat shooting - close up, fast, quick to the shoulder, interspersed with long periods of carry.

[RDG]

The photo of the NM butt plate shows rhe faintest outline of the cleaning tube hole, but it does not appear complete with the hinge section. Is there really anything there?

[browningautorifle]

. Is there really anything there?

Yes, there's a complete butt trap there... Just hard to see because of the huge checkering, the line is in it.

[cplstevennorton]

Even though they are called the NM buttplate, they were just a design change by SA in the 20's. They were just the updated design that could have been used on any rifle. It's just SA didn't build new service rifles after 1927 and didn't use the buttplates that often other than the new NM rifles.