Found 1899 carbine to shoot

[Levallois]

Thanks to a couple kind folks here I was guided to look for an 1899 carbine for shooting. I got one with a great bore that looks pretty straight. It’s serial number 350104 and has a 1900 cartouche on left side of stock wrist and stylized “P” just behind the trigger guard. It does not have a bar and saddle ring. The handguard looks to be one used with the 1901 sight per Brophy’s book. Indeed, it has a 1901, three “c” carbine sight. The barrel is exactly 22 inches with (what looks to me like) an original muzzle and genuine front sight even though there is no “c” visible on the blade. The blade looks like it’s been filed thinner on both sides. Even though I bought this carbine for shooting, I’d still like to know if you guys think it’s been refurbished at the factory or not. Everything looks like it’s been together a long time and the screw heads all look pretty good. Thank you for looking.
John

[Levallois]

More photos

[Whig]

Welcome to KCA! Glad you made it to get some more opinions on your nice Model 1899 carbine.

[Levallois]

Thanks for the welcome Whig! I have been reading and learning a lot on this site since I posted a few days ago trying to answer my questions about originality. Something I probably should have done first before posting. I’d like to ask you all to please check my conclusions.
The serial number indicates it was made sometime in late? 1901. The stock cartouche is 1900 and the humped handguard appears to date to 1902 - if that is true then these are both additions and not original. The rear sight and the front sight might be original, however. I now believe my 1899 carbine was refurbished by Springfield in 1902 or after. In your opinion, could any of the above conclusions be correct? Thank you for your time.
John

[Dick Hosmer]

Welcome indeed, and if I may chime in:

The likelihood of finding a totally original firearm of that, and earlier, eras - when showing significant use - is very, VERY low. IMHO, one should not agonize too much over a completely understandable example such as the arm presented. They were tools, and NO one gave a tinker's dam about a collector (the term alone was then basically unknown) 100+ years in the future. Stocks broke, and no one cared if the replacement's cartouche matched.

Improvements, such as the humped guard were routinely added with official sanction. I'd replace that front sight blade, and probably that sight screw (which, oddly enough, bothers me more than the date mismatch or the up-graded hand guard) and call it good, as a nice example of a legitimate carbine which saw service..

The matching of dates vs. serial numbers can (especially near the annual turn) be a very inaccurate process, based on how the arms were assembled, though it is fair to say that, if not "matching", it would be preferable to have the cartouche later than the number.

[Levallois]

Thank you for your reply, Dick. Puts everything into perspective. I’ll start looking for a carbine front sight blade and correct screw for rear sight.
Best,
John