I see a fair number of these around. I am wondering if removing a little from the small end of the saw creates any sort of problem? I think this may get done for a couple reasons 1) dings/cracks or other damage to the small end of the saw is fairly common 2) as the saw gets older and the plate gets thinner, maybe removing a little from the end results in a shorter but better plate.
Since many saw plates have some taper top to bottom, wouldn't thinner plates start to loose that taper? I am not sure if the taper is typically the same for the length of the saw, but might removing a little off the end result in a saw tip with more taper? I imagine any attempt to remove a piece from the tip of a saw should proceed slowly so as not to change the temper of the steel.