If it was mine I would put a good scope and mount on it and leave the wood alone. I would hunt with it. I've got a grandson with one I bought cheap because of a recoil pad. He's pretty proud of it and the nice bucks he's shot with it.  T/R

WAnewbie said
Thank you all for the detective work! Now it’s on me to debate whether to fix the wood or add this mount…
  

Tough choices, could also leave it as is. What are your plans for this rifle? How are those receiver sights working for you? Could also get lucky and find a decent replacement stock. 

Mike

WAnewbie said
Thank you all for the detective work! Now it’s on me to debate whether to fix the wood or add this mount…
  

I vote you “fix the wood”!

The pre64 Model 70 action does not handle escaping gas well at all - it is not a Remington 700, much less a Weatherby Mark V. The Weatherby cartridge operates at near redline breech pressure and if the case fails inside that slightly modified Mauser action you risk losing fingers and part of your face, not just destruction of the rifle. 

Consider the possibility the chamber was poorly cut giving excessive headspace and then abandoned into the market as a bad job. Or was cut without any freebore, which the Weatherby cartridges demand.  A badly cut chamber may only stretch cases 5 times out of 6 and let one rupture on the 7th. 

Lighting off a 65,000 PSI pressure vessel that cannot withstand the forces without backup from a properly shaped chamber, inches in front of your head, is something that should give a man pause. 

Using a live round as a headspace gauge doesn't work. A chamber that gives a factory round excessive headspace or other lack of support can easily allow the bolt to close over a factory round. 

A chamber cast shouldn't cost more than about $75 to $80 USD - at least here in Texas. A good gunsmith won't scratch your rifle. Ask for referrals for your area from other WACA members. 

That is my sincere advice, for whatever it may be worth. 

Adam

Your gun isn't a carbine, it's a sporting rifle and the rubber butt pad has been added. It is a standard sporting rifle and most likely came with a crescent butt plate. Those numbers may be some owners ID, a ranch or PD, hard to say

My hope is to fit a military stock and forend and military ladder sights.  I'm curious if anyone knows where I might find these, and whether they are unique to the M1895 or if they could be sourced from another rifle.

Also, I don't understand what this 4 digit number is.  I know it's not the serial number.  Does anyone have an idea?  I put two images on http://www.imgur.com, and I'm providing a link.  I'm not familiar with this forum's programming; I cannot insert a photo. 

M1895 pictures

Bert

triggerhappy said
You probably are right about their return policy, I don't know, but if I have to pay a gunsmith to do a chamber cast, I doubt they do those free either. Selling the Weatherby ammo at a slight discount shouldn't be difficult, and who knows maybe I need it. At the end of the day I think I'd save money, and I don't have somebody handling my rifle, and telling me "that scratch was already there". I had that happen with my truck.
  

Respectfully, your math is good but reasoning is flawed. Chambering a round does not necessarily tell you all you need to know about a rechambered rifle with vague markings. It won't tell you if the chamber is cut correctly or eliminate the possibility of a wildcat chambering larger than the chambered round. 

Mike

Pat

TR said
 I bought it 60 years ago and it was a used 760. It was replaced by a model 70 that I still use. T/R
  

I always wanted a 760 BDL in 257 Roberts. Collectors items now.