Thank you. I may do this in the next few months, by sending the stock to CPA and asking them to fit a plate nicely without altering the wood. It looks like the no 2 (one left, i assume) would be fitting the curve and size of the stock. I can do the finishing myself, browning, rusting, and polishing, as a new case hardened plate would look out of place.
The rifle is so authentic otherwise, it just bugs me that someone did a poor job on that brass plate. However, it will do just fine for now.

Adrian,
The one on the left, is the #3.

Phil,
It maybe the Model 47 was like the Model 45 and that the larger #3 butt plate was a option to both of them.

I wish A C Gould (Leon) would chime in, he probalaly has or has had all the models in the 44.

Frank

uscra112 wrote on May 4^th, 2015 at 8:22pm:


Then that would hold true. I know for a fact that the #3 BP is a option on a 45.

I got my 45 in '86 and research it since then and bought a CPA #3 butt plate and butt stock for it. A C Gould confirmed it for me, too.

Frank

That old brass hook plate has been on that rifle a long time.  I wouldn't replace it but I would finish removing the top prong so it would be more like a Schoyen single prong plate.  I would also put a old style dovetail slot filler and remove the rear sight.  It will probably bring a good price on Ebay.
That windguage Lyman globe sight is nice as well.  Enjoy.

I personally would not do anything to the buttplate, nor would I replace it. Yes, it's not what Stevens would offer, but it does appear to have been on it forever. If I had anything done, it would be to just make sure it fit the stock well. If it's a poor fit, I'd fix that, but not alter or change the buttplate. It would be tough to carve on that buttplate, and get it returned to the same patina it has presently.
As for Stevens rifles, and buttplates in general. There are buttplates that are most commonly found on certain models, but there are numerous examples of Stevens rifles with factory buttplates (and other options!) that defy the norm. Yes, we can say this or that was standard, but considering how accommodating Stevens was with options, I'm never surprised by something that doesn't fall into "factory standard" for the model.
Sometimes it's hard for me to determine what model a Stevens single shot rifle is, because of the options someone chose, which make it tough to categorize.

There is something to be said for period modifications. In some respects I like them better than a totally original gun. I have been known to add period modifications on my own guns when I felt it was appropriate. I have a much modified 44 that I need to take some pictures of and post here for discussion as to just what it actually is. Neat stuff. Love it.

From my experience I have owned model 45's and 47's with both size butt stocks. The entire stock was bigger when they used the #3 plate.