The shapes can be determined without removing the barrels. Taking a picture from an acute angle captures the view and that can be blown up given a good macro setting on the camera.

It wasn't just a pointless observation - it has some minor significance regards the first 1892s altered. They were altered at different times and the alteration changed over time.

The last 3000 odd 1892s are mighty 1896 looking. Brophy was aware of that. It's pot luck but I think I can pin that serial range. I'm understating that I think. I can pin it. Pretty well in fact.

The fracture thing is a logical assumption on my part. They encountered fractures in 90' angles repeatedly. Not just on the Krags. The early extractors on the Krags have a 90' angle which received a fillet. The early strikers ditto. The magazine gate pin head also. Half a century later they encountered that on the operating rods on the M1icon Garands. "Race track cut" to round it. Strange how they'd run into something like that yet repeat the mistake again. Early 1873 trapdoors had thin wrist stocks. Snap. Early Krags had thin wrist stocks. Snap. I think early M1903s too. In all 3 cases they ended up going thicker later.

It's going to take some time but I'm going to dig out the altered 1892s and photo that joint on them. It'll be interesting to see what I find.

I think that it can be deduced on why they added the fillet. Regardless of whether it's right or wrong, that it exists has wider ramifications regards carbines.

Congrats on your shooting. I've been rather remiss in doing that this year. I didn't neglect to buy cartridges, just didn't turn them into brass.