Is the plastic butt plate original to a red letter 37 or did they all have recoil pads ? Or could both be original. Im looking at a red letter 12 gauge, gun looks good other than the butt plate. Thanks for any replies

I've never seen an original M37 Steelbuilt Winchester with a rubber recoil pad.

Ditto

Solid. No recoil pad, except there were youth models with a recoil pad. Not sure when that was introduced

I *think* the Youth Model came about in the 37A series and 370 model. The original M37 Steelbilt didn't have a youth model that I'm aware of and no factory rubber buttpad.

Nor have I... Mine (1958 model) has no recoil pad..

Ok thanks for the replies

I believe the only 37 with a factory recoil pad was the 37Y Youth model in 20 guage produced fairly late in the history of the 37. And "late" means well after the "Red Letter" 37s were done.

I still have, and hunt with, my first shotgun, a .410 37 made in 1950 and purchased new in 1951. It's stuck with me thru college and grad school and job losses and recessions and moving across the country multiple times. Still kills bunnies and quail as well as it ever did. Mine has a 28" factory barrel (now with an IC choke which patterns much better than the original fuller-than-full one it came with). When I got it at age 8, it was a mighty big, powerful gun!