I have had this 1896 for 22 years or so, dad gave it to me when I was 16. It is quite the bubba sporter. Old bub cut up a remington stock, cut and brazed the bolt, and cut a dovetail at the base of the barrel to add a bolt to attach the fore end of the stock to the barrel. Someone also removed the military sight and put on a dovetailed buckhorn, although I don't think old bub did this as it was half decent as I recall.
This old 30-40 always shot low, no matter what. So dad found a peep sight for it and had it installed. Still shot low, front sight is too high. I started filing the front sight down to get it dialed in and the wrist cracked on the old bubba stock. Into the closet it went and I did not touch it for many years, other than to.give it the occasional lube job.
I finally started fiddling with it last may during dirty rona lockdown. This 1st set of pics is what it was when I started.
Here you can see old Bob's handiwork and the horizontal crack in the stock.