Hey gang

Grabbed this mitre plane off FB, intrigued by the low angle, but puzzled by
the hole. Do you think this was a knot that someone opened the mouth to get
rid of ( have my doubts), or an attempted modification that failed?  The
bottom looks fairly vintage, and has a chamfer around it's perimeter, so I
don't think it's that worn.  There is a shim to help close the mouth up for
the (non-existent) blade. There are glue marks on the shim that match the
hole in the body.  Was someone mounting a gouge in there at some point?

https://kirkhmb.smugmug.com/Woodworking/Woodworking-Tools/i-RDgDtD2

https://kirkhmb.smugmug.com/Woodworking/Woodworking-Tools/i-4gDh6WM

I'm tempted to replace the shim w something a bit beefier, the current one
seems to be vintage light-weight pine or something similar.

Only mark is M. S. Ward on both ends, guessing the owner. There is a stain
on the back of the wedge that looks like a keyhole slotted iron was in it.
Have to poke around for a 1-3/4" blade in the stash.

Any input on ideas welcome.