guns show score

[Scibaer]

today was the first gun show in my area..
i found a marlin model 60,  in like new condition,  that an older gent had for sale.
he was asking $125. it has the 22 inch barrel, 18 shot tube with last round hold open bolt.
a check of the serial number says its a 1985 version.
 my gun book says in part ..  For a few years in the mid 80s the Model 60 rifles had both the "last shot hold open" feature and also held 18 rounds in the tube magazine. Those rifles with those two features are among the most sought after Model 60s.
i checked the bore and its clean and crisp.. i got out my wallet and the marlin came home with me !
as i walked around the other tables, many other guys at the show asked me if i wanted to sell my gun, or said i wish i had beat you to that vender ...
my lucky day 

[Scibaer]

well this evening my new .22 got a good cleaning and inspection. this rifle was just not shot that much, if at all.
 but there is a screw in the stock that has no purpose that i can think of.
its a match to the screws in the butt stock, but its located behind the trigger housing into the pistol grip area..
it is counter sunk, and looks factory but i dunno.. it dont seem right

does anyone have any ideas ?
 

[jpshaw]

Could it be a spare?  The fact you said it was a match for the butt stock I assume you meant the two that hold the butt plate on.  Is it a wood screw (pointed) or a metal screw?

[Scibaer]

Yes i meant to say the butt plate. and yeah its pointed wood screw. i did a bit of reading, and according to a take down diagram i saw, its called a stock re enforcement screw... i guess marlin uses a screw there to support the stock from splitting ? or if it splits the screw is already in place to hold things together ? its seems odd they'd do that , but who knows ?