Many thanks for the photos. Also near the bottom is a photo of the butt of a gun by McCulloch and finally I can see one with a seam joining the side of the butt to the top and bottom. The ramshorn is silver soldered to the butt but on the only gun I have ever had in my hands, I could not see any seam to join the sides to the top and bottom strap. I have been wondering for a long time just how the curved butt was made.
I increasingly think that the front of the metal stock was forged into a U shape and that the butt or handle portion was silver soldered on to permit the curve. There are several tiny screws which hold the barrel into the stock.
cheers mooncoon