So also following that line of reasoning, My gun should be as good as it gets in finding an original 1898C----- or it is in some way a put together gun some years after the fact and not so good. There are tell tale signs always when putting things together as to age, patina on parts, blueing where there should not be, sanding etc. If done perfectly there should be no way to tell with out full history. I believe this gun is at least original to the period. I think if you hold it in your hands you would say the same thing always on a presumptive basis. David