a friend of mine called me today he works a a gun store. a guy sold them a 1896 carbine that he got from his grandfather. I went in to look at it. the cartouch was worn off and most of the finish was gone. It looked like a gun that has been knocked around for 100 + years. Everything is correct by the books except the rear sight is a 1896 rifle sight it goes out to 18. I measured the barrel with the hand guard on it and it appears correct.  The front sight does not look messed with. the gun looks right. But I do not want to end up with a cut down rifle! He wants 1200 which I think is a good price for i.t Would a rifle sight on a carbine very uncommon and a big red flag? I wish I would have asked to take pics