Thanks, Butlersrangers. That's really good info! In answer to your question about the bore, I actually don't fully know the condition yet. It may sound ridiculous to some here, but I looked in the bore with a bore light, saw that it was rather dirty with an accumulation of dust and grease, and just haven't cleaned it yet.
Yeah ... I know ... how hard is it to run a couple of patches down the bore? Not hard. I just haven't done it yet, because I want to be able to do some more detailed cleaning at the same time, and "it is what it is". From what I could see through the crud, the lands appear to be at least reasonably strong, but I'm expecting some frosting. Won't know until it's been properly cleaned, though.
Great info on the rear sight. I wasn't aware that the 1898 rear sight could be replaced by the 1902 without modifying the handguard. The wood on this one has such a beautifully matching patina that I'm inclined to believe that the stock and handguard have been together for a very long time ... perhaps from the beginning.
Based upon the condition of this one, I was wondering if it had perhaps been an ANG weapon. I know that my grandmother's step-brother was in the National Guard in the Washington DC area in the early 1900s, and he was involved in a lot of competitive shooting. It wouldn't surprise me if this one was "babied" over the years because it was someone's favored shooter.
P.S. - I should know how it shoot before too long, and I
will be sure to get around to cleaning the bore first. I don't see anything that leads me to expect bad surprises. It doesn't look corroded--just accumulated dust. Not expecting to find shiny metal, though.