"Does your rifling extend all the way to the muzzle or is there an area of 'free-bore' at the muzzle?" - The rifling very clearly extends all the way to the muzzle. Measuring from the face of the receiver, my barrel is 21 7/8" long. "What is the exact length of your 'carbine' barrel measured with a cleaning rod from the closed bolt face to the muzzle?" - 22 5/8", using a 1/4" wooden dowel inserted all the way to the bolt face. (That option is selected, but I guess its not working.) I certainly appreciate any advice you folks offer. I was away from the forum and thought I'd get an email if there were any replies to this thread. It's a cheap way to fill the holes and has "play value". I put one on my 1898 Carbine, that someone drilled and ruined. I would also check to see if the scope mount holes are for a Weaver side-mount. This will give you a nice fuctional Carbine similar to the "NRA" sporters that Springfield modified for civilian sales in the 1920s. hand-guard (about $65.00) to match the preferred rear sight. I would put an 1896, 1901 or 1902 Rifle rear sight on it (whichever you prefer and a lot cheaper than a Carbine sight which will cost $200-500). If it was mine, I would put a 1905 front sight back on it. Somewhere along the way a 1905 (1903 Springfield) front sight was fitted to your barrel. There is a good possibility your barreled action is a rifle cut down to carbine length. The Carbine stock is nice, but, even that is a "long for-end" arsenal replacement intended to bring the 1896 Carbine more in line with the 1899 Carbine. Bob Anderson: Well it looks like you bought a nice shooter with little collector value.