[Unclenick]

I just assumed it was either an A3, because he only notice the cocked sight when he put the new blade in, or that it was sporterized to the point of the ladder being gone and some kind of aftermarket receiver sight having been put on the rear. If the barrel has a wrench hole or notch, maybe it was set up as a take-down gun for travel in the first place? Remembering my own granddad's old 16 mm B&W home movies of western trips with Indian guides and the whole nine yards, the mule pack-out came to mind first, but of course the train travel to get out west would have been a factor too.