Building a Southern Mtn rifle, thoughts on butt plates, etc? Thoughts?

[koger]

I have seen several original poor boys, Tennessee rifles with bare wood, or just top and bottom toe with metal, or even ' deer antler made in my neck of the woods, Tenn./KY line area, right in to Alvin York country. I have a big ole chunk of a shed antler, thinking of making a toe and top plate with antler and hammer out a chunk of sheet steel for the middle, brown to match the rest of the furniture. Will be all browned steel, 3 plain ferrules, trigger guard, lock bolt eye and maybe the butt plate. I have a curly maple stock, will be a dark brown or redroot stain, all replies welcome.

[gunmaker]

Sounds like a good plan, I used a chunk of black horn for the top return on my TN. rifle.  And have used antler for nose caps and inlays in past.  Polished antler looks like ivory.     Tom    Sequatchie, Tennessee 1943....