I read through a lot of pages of "Chief of Ordnance Annual Reports" and found only one mention of a pending 'cocking-piece' change, circa 1898-1899, that is possibly referring to the 'headless cocking-piece'.

I found no later mention of the change back to the 'knob' version.

FWIW - In the attached report, the time frame seems proper, the tooling is not yet done, the change is approved, the part will be "interchangeable" with existing version, and is not mentioned as 'carbine specific'.

The report is from the year June 30, 1898 to June 30, 1899:

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