The 1931 "American Rifleman" photograph is a bit of a riddle.

What is Known:
1. The Pacific K1 & K2 (one pictured) sights required the removal of the magazine cut-off lever to mount them. These sights use the Receiver hole and machining for attachment.

2. A removed cut-off lever is lying loose on the Krag stock in the AR photo. (It no longer serves any function on the Krag).

3. There is an odd piece of metal (attached or loose) almost hidden under removed lever.

4. Pacific Gunsight Co. literature mentions that a "screw-driver" comes with the K1 & K2 receiver-sights for the Krag.

5. A tool of some nature (usually a small screw-driver) was necessary to  remove the cut-off lever and to tighten the mounting screw of the Pacific sight.

I do not know for sure and can only guess why the photographer showed the loose item(s) in the photograph? Possibly, there was some instructional intent? (Where and how he placed the items was unfortunate).

Few people are alive, now, who got to open a 'new' Pacific K1 or K2 sight, in its factory box, with all the original contents!

My WAG is that this piece of metal is loose. Maybe, it is the 'tool/scewdriver' that the Pacific Gunsight Co. included with their Krag sights ... or ... maybe it is an old gun-smith trick of making a small wedge to assist in removing the cut-off lever?

illustration showing cut-off removal:

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