Yes, these things are perplexing. The sights and barrel band were an anathema to me also, especially contrasted with such nice wood. I have been searching for the right aperture sight for this rifle but other things have been more pressing.
This action and barrel is not original nor do I have any idea if the action that was in the stock when I got it was itself original. I will take another look at that action but I do not recall any markings anywhere.
Two years ago a friend of mine was surprised with a divorce and put in a bad spot. I bought all his guns from him and this was the lone keeper. He had bought it some time ago from an old man who had two Krags. I wonder now what the other one looked like and if their actions had been switched.
The "original" barrel's rifling was pretty bad with pits like bead blasting. Although the original stock work was nice someone had refinished it. The but plate and grip cap were left proud and the checkering was somewhat obscured. The finish had drips in it.
The checkering (original?) was decidely amateurish in its layout with wandering borders etc. I trued it up quite a bit and re-cut it and I brought the metal back down to the wood surface. Though as you can see I haven't done anything to finish them yet.
The action that was on the rifle when I got it has a turned down bolt (no idea why this seemed to be a good idea)with a flat-bottom knob. Somebody attempted to check the flat with a bastard file. The cocking knob was nixed and the bolt was polished.
So, absent any other knowledge I am left to conclude that the rifle is a product of two citizens, one of limited skill, who knew his limitations and a later "butcher" who really messed things up. I think that the stock must have been purchased because it does not match the skill of the "gunsmiths". And as you point out the quality of sights does not match the quality of the wood.
None of the rifle's attributes makes much sense. That said, the current action has a perfect bore and if I can catch Rollie Frasier on a good day I will have the right period sight for it.
- Will
