Yes, Mickey, I once bought an old winchester Mod 92 trapper rifle cahmbered for 25-20 Win, out of a hockshop, for $50. It had no finish on the steel, and it was obvious it had been many miles along somebody's trap line, before it got to me. The stock was a little oils soaked around the tangs, so I decided to take it off, and degrease it. When I took the butt plate off, there was a hollowed out compartment under it! There was a 20 ft length of fish line with two hooks, a small compass, and four rounds of ammo, in that hollow. I assume it was a survival kit of sorts!

I always remove the but plate on any old rifle I buy today, and on other occasions, I have found the things you mentioned, like spare sight blades, fireing pins, and holes drilled in the stock with two or three rounds of ammo warpped in candle waxed paper! But no love letters to Holland & Holland, or anyone else!