Help with Arisaka Type 99

I added another rifle to my ever growing milsurp collection today! For $125 there's no way I could pass it up!

I picked up this Arisaka Type 99 Izawa Jyuko 4th series the other day for $125 and I think I got a pretty good deal on it. The mum is still pretty much intact and overall it's in pretty good shape with a real nice shiny bore. The number on the bolt doesn't match the receiver but from what I understand that's not uncommon, the number on the front barrel band is correct however.

One thing I can't figure out are these two little holed prongs sticking out of the front barrel band, anyone know what these are for?
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...13e29056-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...b0bf49eb-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...2459ec52-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...e95c13f2-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...bb3aa369-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...a6fad1c0-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...40cfda23-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...03c04af2-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...84ba56ec-1.jpg

The two prongs of the forend cap go into the stock and are held in place by the screws.

Walter

Not sure if we're talking about the same thing, the prongs I'm referring to are the ones sticking out towards the end of the barrel.

Good find!

I think he`s right. Did you take the bayonet band off at all for cleaning or identifying numbers? If not whoever had the rifle before you put that part on backwards. Those prongs sticking out should be going into the stock and held by the first set of screws closest to the rod hole. It`s a common mistake for people to do and that could lead to the part being damaged accidentally and you having to replace it at your cost.

That was the problem. I took the front barrel band off and it was obvious what had happened. Makes total sense now.