One of the points you made several years ago still governs everything:

Nobody KNOWS everything, for 100% sure, about the components of ANY given gun. Your hypotheses about the 1898 Carbine is clever, entertaining, AND quite plausible. Sorta like your truly masterful 1,000 word reply to the guy who wanted to know when his gun was made.

But, I think most of us try to follow some sort of "hierarchy of probability" which means that MOST out-of-range M1898Cs are that way because they actually are FUBAR, the good company commander, and his friends in similar circumstances, notwithstanding.

I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!