I cringe every time I see someone refer to "03A3" parts.  Cody recognized the hack job done by the bozo who shortened the rifle and put on the aluminum scope mount.  But in advising the use of 03A3 parts, are we not encouraging more of the same?

Yes, there are still a lot of 03A3 parts available and they are cheap.  But we should all remember that the reason for the 03A3 and all its parts was 1942-1945 mass production, with almost no attempt at quality control of any part except bolts and receivers and a lot of slop in tolerances for everything else. 

One of the reasons I love my Krags is that they are precision-made pieces of machinery, tangible pieces from a time long gone when men could be justifiably proud of their work and their products.  When we put 03A3 parts on a Krag or on a "real" 1903, it makes me think we have lost sight of that.

There are parts available for the original 1903, both Springfield and some Rock Island production, made to the same tolerances used for the Krag, probably made with the same machinery and probably made by some of the same men.  There are also good quality aftermarket or salvage front sight bands.  It does not take too much searching to come up with one.

If someone marketed a precision-moulded composite (plastic) stock and hand-guard for a Krag carbine, guaranteed to fit and with simulated wood grain and inspector's marks, would you buy one?