Why is M1895’s Trigger Guard Plate a factory-only install?

[Naphtali]

I have put Wanted To Trade and Wanted to Buy advertisements for parts to convert my stainless steel M1895 Guide Gun from its straight grip to pistol grip. My first thought was to buy the parts from Marlin. I discovered that the Trigger Guard Plate is a factory-only installation. Why? Assuming I can acquire the parts needed in trade or private purchase, what difficulties should I anticipate when converting?

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[Jim D]

I don't have a newer 1895, but the old ones have the serial number stamped on the trigger plate. I suspect that is the main reason.

-jim

[Naphtali]

I don't have a newer 1895, but the old ones have the serial number stamped on the trigger plate. I suspect that is the main reason.

-jim

Jim:

I just looked. Tang has the serial number. Unless there is a number on an interior surface of trigger plate, trigger plate on [my] one-year-old rifle is not numbered.

[Jim D]

Well, I don't know then. I wouldn't think there would be much work, or take much skill to fitting a new one.

-jim

[marlinman93]

Lower tang/triggerplates are fitted to the receivers when final polishing is don, so if a new one is sold outright it wont work without some final fitting. That's an easy job, but I'd guess Marlin doesn't want to see guns out there improperly fitted with lower tangs, so they want to fit them.

[Naphtali]

Lower tang/triggerplates are fitted to the receivers when final polishing is don, so if a new one is sold outright it wont work without some final fitting. That's an easy job, but I'd guess Marlin doesn't want to see guns out there improperly fitted with lower tangs, so they want to fit them.

AHA!

I just assumed that any of the 336 basis actions in stainless steel with pistol grip would contain parts that would function acceptably as substitutes for my M1895 GS parts -- Trigger Guard Plates and Levers. I received a reply from a Marlin Owner's Forum Moderator as follows:
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Quote
Can you -- anyone?? -- confirm that 336SS Trigger Guard Plate and lever are the same part numbers for the M1895 XLR?

The trigger plates will swap but the levers are different. Your lever might work in a 336 but a 336 lever wont work in a 45/70. The 45/70 levers are thinned where the lever interacts with the lifter so the fat 45/70 rim can go by it.
***
From this information, my M1895 GS parts fit 336SS rifles. But 336SS levers will not function correctly in my M1895 GS?

[marlinman93]

I guess they think we can't thin a lever ourselves?