Your skepticism is well founded. I noticed a scratch on another photo which I have since deleted. I am almost positive it is only a small scratch but unfortunately I am not home so I can not look at it until next week. I have looked at it many, many times and never noticed anything unusual. I bought this carbine over 20 years ago from an nice old gentleman who said he had been collecting krags for over 40 years. I had no clue it  was unusual I just wanted a nice carbine. He sent me a nice letter after I bought it detailing the unusual features.