Thank you Jim! Yes that is a leather pad and I did install it. I still need to have the feathers redone on the eagle. My local engraver pointed out that the shield with the eagle was done in green gold and whoever engraved these guns was really good. I know that the birds are not of the quality of the top engravers now but at least they aren't flying turnips. The scroll and the carved breach balls are really nice.

Doug Mann