It is certainly possible that a "genuine carbine barrel" could have been installed in a "rifle" receiver. We cannot know everything that transpired 100+ years ago. There are doubtless a few combinations which look wrong, but, if we had the gift of sight could be 100% genuine. There is some overlap in all of the production blocks, so, what constitutes a "rifle" receiver anyhow? Thank goodness for the "1899", which gets rid of 99.99% of the trouble!

Having said that - we collectors (a pure milsurp shooter probably would not care too much) try and invest our money in accordance with certain general conventions - in other words, obtaining those items which we feel that most people will perceive as being genuine, and have recoverable value. No one in their right mind pays big bucks for an 1898 "carbine" with a receiver in the 340000 range. The one in 489000 chance that the arm is as assembled by SA just isn't worth the gamble.

Further to this case, I've no ideas why the barrel in question mikes .648 - is it a Krag barrel?