Need advice on this 1904 (I believe) A5

Thank you for this information. I did not expect an answer from the A5 guru. I've been considering buying your book now that I have a couple in my collection. I'm going to assume you are correct, and this is an aftermarket stock and it's just part of the German/European style of the day. I'll know for sure when I can remove the stock. I guess the real question is - What do I do with a gun like this? Learn as much as I can and keep it in the family for other generations? I assume this is not a gun to be restored or sold.

I would, however, like to send the 12GA off to be restored by more qualified hands than my own and put it back into service, mostly for sentimental reasons.

Just curious what the experts say here.

Just to be clear, I am not the author of the A5 book. I just own a revised edition. I assume most other members on here are now on the 3rd edition.

There's a lot of opinion regarding the restoration of older and historic guns.
Personally I'm all for the restoration of guns to make them usable. Keeping originality where possible. I believe that John Browning invented guns to be used, not looked at.
I'm not a fan of "patina" or the preservation of historic damage.
Early guns are obviously rarer, and I'd say that very low serial guns (<1000) should be restored with more sympathy.

I own a superposed with a serial number very close to your A5 and I will be restoring it for use.

My misunderstanding, thanks for the clarification.

I tend to agree with you; these are tools meant to be used. I'll have to decide what to do with these at some point. In the meantime, I'm enjoying a bit of a history lesson.