You might want to contact Jack Brooks. He built a NW gun for me with a charcoal blued barrel. It's been awhile since I had the barrel out of the stock, so I don't remember about the lugs. The steel front sight was insert much like a barrel inlay. A shallow slot was cut, the edge raised, the sight set in, and the metal peened back in place. My understanding is that's how the originals were made. He copied this NW gun from an original he restored.