:hmm: Yes there were those "hook" buttplates being used with regular BP. Prior to the advent of the cartridge case many matches were shot, in Europe, using percussion rifles designed for target shooting that used the hook for offhand matches. While we were conquering this country, the Europeans were a bit more sophisticated in their target matches and Schuetzen fests. Here in America we were forging a new country---European countries were in existence man years before the colonization of America. However ca. 1880's---1900's with the advent of black powder cartridge rifles and the beginnings of modern Hi power & long range rifle shooting (i.e. Schuetzen & Creedmore matches ) became the period where these types of equipped rifles were built. The true Schuetzen Rifles used this type of buttplate for the off-hand matches---along with palm rests and set triggers. The long range match rifles used for the Creedmore style matches, did not use the hook buttplate or palm rests, as these matches were essentially prone matches. For other styles of long range matches the development of the cross-sticks in the prone or sitting positions. We could converse on this wonderful field of shooting for hours on end. :hatsoff: