Trigger plate

[Pete G.]

I have a build going that is using a somewhat ornate single trigger so I decided to go with a longer guard to accentuate it. It looks best about 2/3 of the way back in the guard but the trigger plate itself does not go far enough forward to align with the front post of the guard. Is it OK to have some wood showing here or should I fabricate a longer plate that will span the whole bow of the guard?

[David Rase]

"Wood is Good". 
David

[JTR]

Depends if you want it to look complete, and not have to explain why the trigger plate is too short every time you show the gun to someone!

John 

[omark]

Might try welding a piece on the front of the plate.     Mark

[D. Taylor Sapergia]

I'd make another plate if it were my build.  But I have built rifles where the trigger plate did not go all the way to the guard...the A. Verner is like that.

[Don Getz]

The trigger plate and guard are two separate items.   They don't have to connect.
Don

[Lucky R A]

   Many originals were built with the trigger guard coming short of the guard.  Most of these plates were terminated with a point or some termination similar to Taylor's photo above.  There is no structural reason to have the trigger plate terminate at or under  the guard. 

Ron

[E.vonAschwege]

Depends on the style of rifle you're trying to emulate.  The only rifles I've built yet that had the triggerplate meet the triggerguard have used double set triggers.  All of my single trigger guns have a boat shape triggerplate or variant common to Southeast Pennsylvania.  Beck, Bonewitz, Schuler, Kuntz, Moll, and Rupp off the top of my head used triggerplates that were well-spaced back from the triggerguard post.  Don't sweat it unless you're copying a rifle that has the triggerplate connecting to the guard. 

[Pete G.]

Thanks for all the replies. I must have thousands of photos on CDs and in books, and in not a single one could I find a definitive shot this little detail.