I’ve got a Marlin 1895 45-70 that is from 1972 in their first year of production. It appears to be a well used but not abused rifle. It has some bluing worn at the natural carry point on the receiver and the wood was a little rough, but I’ve refinished it with True Oil and it looks good. I know that there really isn’t any collectors value to it, but still, it is pretty much unchanged and almost as old as I am. I want a pad because as many of you know, hot loads hurt without one. I have a leather slip on but I just can’t warm up to it. Plus, I would like an LOP somewhere between the slip on and the hard butt plate. So, should I cut the original stock or buy another and put a pad on it, keeping the original as is? What is the consensus?
