Great suggestion for next year’s show. The rear sight is a 1902... has a swing up apperature. I have read these replaced many earlier carbine sights because they did not require protection in the scabbard. This stock does not have a carbine swivel, nor a hump protecting the rear sight. I have read the DCM and bannerman cutdowns used a 1903 style sight with a band. I have had this for about 4 years and every once in a while i get obssessed with finding out what it is or was.
Good morning. A fine day after all the rain. Yes, this has a barrel spring, no screws. It has the 99 or later band because it has the 02 sight, set further back and not needing scabbard protection. This could have been a refurb at the arsenal. Many were refurbed by the arsenal for improved sights, new barrels, etc. no saddle ring, as the 98 never had one...army had gone to scabbards, and the rear sight, on the 98s, needed protection from damage, ina and out. This the band on the original 98. If it is a intentional fake, it is somewhat recent, because he cmp and bannermans, a majority of the converters, an dothers wanting a woods rifle, used the 03front sight with a barrel band. Ths one has the proper siht, but neither rear or front are carbine sights, deepening the mystery. This barrel is exactly 22”, and it is crowned. The stock is carbine, but i believe a replacement..maybe the gun was rearsenaled. I am not arguing for or against originality, to be clear. I have learned a bit posting this here an on another forum and reading, again, the poyer book, althouh that book leaves unaswered as many questions as it answers. Just saying what i think ( even as opposed to what i know). Someone suggested taking it to the antique show next march.
