I don't have a pic of it, but the front sight band slides several inches down the barrel.  And, there is a small indent in the barrel, where the sight was, as if someone had used your method.  I thought about using JB Weld.  Maybe this is easier than I thought.
I finally spent some time hand fitting the handguard, and it's looking...decent.
I'll be picking up my "new" 1896 carbine soon - the one that has the Lyman 34 sight base attached to it.  I have a new side plate and screw on the way, and I'll find a rear sight and handguard soon.