Have wanted a carbine for quite awhile, but can't quite part with the money to buy the genuine article.  So, I shopped around for a fake.  My requirements were that it had to have good wood and cartrouches and metal could be worn, but not pitted and bore must be good  Found one that met my critereia, only problems were that it had been drilled and tapped for a scope and a receiver sight (6 holes), handguard was missing, aftermarket rear sight was installed, and a bead sight was installed in the '03 style front sight.  Wood would need some TLC and I would have to plug the holes, refinish the metal, replace handguard, and sights.  I got to work about six weeks ago and here are the results:
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Like most of you, I am not a fan of a shiney finish on the receiver of these rifles.  But, my rules are that I do all the work myself and all I can do is hot-water bluing and parkerizing.  After the tapped holes were plugged and filed it had to be refinished.  I got a repro handguard and stained it to match, found a 1901 rear sight and replaced the front bead with a homemade 03 style blade. 

The bore looks great and being that this rifle was produced in '03 I doubt that it has been fired much.  Can't wait to get it to the range.

daveboy