butlersrangers wrote on Mar 3^rd, 2014 at 6:51pm:

The Italian walnut blanks (33,000 of them) were purchased in June & July, 1899, per Mallory.  Most of the ones I've seen have 1899 and 1900 'Cartouche' dates.  It is likely the hand guard on the rifle you are interested in is for an 1896 rifle sight which is easy to find.

Yes, the answer may be a simple as that the arm is A-OK, meant for an 1896 sight (also correct at certain times) but upon which someone "put" an 1892 sight because they "liked it"! All is not lost. But, if the hand-guard does not fit the rifle AND the sight like a glove, you have a huge red flag.