remington:  You have to remove the stock to slide your Krag's hand-guard forward.  There are relief areas cut into the stock for-end to clear the springs riveted onto the hand-guard.  The rest of the fore-stock barrel channel is in contact with the barrel and would prevent the hand-guard sliding forward.  Also, it is advisable to rotate the hand-guard 180 degrees on the barrel.  As you slide it down the barrel, the gaps  in the "C" shaped handguard springs will allow it to clear the front sight stud.