The serial number is OK, the sight, handguard, and missing ring can be fixed with money (on that gun I'd recommend NOT trying to get the correct sight for $600; a rifle one would look fine from 5 feet away) but the buttplate issue could be a deal-breaker - if the wood has been so much as touched as to contour, its' not fixable.

Not having seen any pictures, I have to assume (since you said there was a plate on the side) that you have the earlier stock which is 30" long. Is that correct?

The proper rear sight would be the 1896C. They are very rare, and usually run around $600 or so. They have also been widely faked, so I do not recommend purchase by a novice. A much better choice would be the common 1896R (rifle) sight which looks identical - only the graduations are different. A special barrel band, with hump, is required. All of those parts are available, though the handguard will have to be a repro.

Without more knowledge (you say the buttplate has been changed) that may be the biggest issue. If anything at all has been done to the stock which would prevent reinstallation of a proper buttplate, it will have to be replaced, and that will not be cheap.

I think the first thing you should do is get Poyer's book on the Krag, for $20. It will answer a lot of your questions. Google "North Cape Publications". All of the parts you need are available - Google "Krag parts", or check out gunbroker.com - and they are not all expensive. The barrel band, sling swivel, rifle sight, and buttplate are common. Assuming your stock is OK at the butt, I'd think you should be able to make the gun LOOK right for around $200-$300.

That picture doesn't tell much, and it's 5X too big. I don't know if a Krag sight will cover that dovetail, but the handguard should. Let's have an overall picture from the left - I'm beginning to not feel good about the "plate" you mentioned. Were you referring to the magazine? Also, how long is the stock?

here are some more detail /over all pictures of my Krag.

Thanks for the input. I do still plan to restore it even if I have to get repeoduction parts, the hard part is the stock. I have yet to find anyone with a stock other than Boyds and they have not replyed to my request and have heard of a nother member of this fourm that has had a big issue with them so I am still on the hunt for a Model 1896 carbine stock with a butt plate if possible. Any help from any member would be great. I also plane to get one of the 1901/02 site which allow for windage adjustments so if I get the chance to shoot in compatition sometime.