Lehigh style butt plate question.

[Chris in SE PA]

I'm in the process of my 1st Lehigh build. It will be a youth rifle. I was able to get a butt plate and was starting to file the casting marks out of it.

WY question involves the top of the plate where it transition from horizontal to vertical. Should the horizontal part start even with the vertical side? Or should I file a few thousands of an inch off so that the horizontal portion is indented?

For lack of the technical terms, should I file away some metal where I have the black sharpie marks in the picture?

[TommyG]

This is one of the trickiest parts of a Lehigh build, sheathed buttplate.  Looking at your photos, I say no.  The return is inlet into the top of the butt.  The wood on the sides and the top alongside the return, is gradually filed away toward the end of the return where it meets the vertical plate.  It will be almost paper thin at the end, so you need to pay attention to how you are removing it and go slow.

[Daryl]

VERY nice, Tommy.

[Chris in SE PA]

Beautiful rifle.  I hope that mine turns out half that nice.

[TommyG]

Thanks Daryl. 
Chris, after looking at the photos, I think you might have too much draft filed on the return, or maybe it's the photo angle.  Below is another example of what the return looks like when inlet.  You can see the exposed brass for the vertical plate beginning at the return radius.  You might want to touch yours up with a file and try to create a smooth transition from the return draft to almost vertical at or just before the radius.  I'll stop here, I'm starting to confuse myself, let alone others.  

[smallpatch]

Chris, there are the best Lehigh builders in your area.
Lehigh rifles are some of the most difficult to get right.
I’ll post an original to show what you’re asking, but it sounds like you need a mentor.
The last one is one I built for a grandson.

[Daryl]

J. Kuntz by Taylor

[oldtravler61]

   Chris study the work of Allen Martin. He specializes in Lehigh rifles.

[rmnc3r]

I met Mike McHugh at a CLA event some years ago and commissioned him to finish one of my 'Lehigh-esque'  builds since I want a different maker's style of carving and egraving.

I am more than pleased with the result and apparently Mike was too, because he seems to have built another one similar to mine.

FTR, this is not my gun, but it looks very much like it.
https://contemporarymakers.blogspot.com/2012/06/mike-mchugh-rifle.html

[ed lundquist]

WOW!

[smoke and flames]

Here’s a photo of my original John Moll rifle butt if that helps

[ed lundquist]

WOW AGAIN!

[Chris in SE PA]

Dane, I do have a mentor helping/teaching me things. But, I don't want to over utilize the resource. He is older and doesn't text, goes to bed @ 2030, etc... I.E. I don't want to be a bothersome pest and wear out that welcome. This was a relatively small question that I knew someone on here would be able to answer for me.

Thanks again to everyone who shared pics and gave advice.

[whetrock]

Hey Chris,
Here's a butt plate similar to the one on the "JR"-marked rifle that Smallpatch posted. All I have is the butt plate. The toe plate was pinned to the butt plate, and is still pinned to it now.

[whetrock]

Here are a few more, showing the inside and the toe plate. If any of you guys recognize the maker from the toe plate engraving, I'd sure like to know who it was.