The scope in the rifle picture comes back to a point before the end of the tang, I don't see the tang in the guy shooting picture, so I'm not so sure that can be determined.

If it doesn't have a scope on it why in the world would he be looking several inches over the line of sight of the bore?

It's a small point really not worth arguing.

My point is anybody that has ever shot more that 10 rounds out of a rifle barrel can see that is a very unnatural position for a rifleman.

"You cannot invade mainland America. There would be a rifle behind every blade of grass"
~Admiral Yamamoto~

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. ~Thomas Jefferson~