Knute1, if I might beg a favor? You seem to be deeply into document research. I have searched long and hard for any "nitty-gritty" info on the 100 BoOF 26" rifles, and have found VERY little, beyond simply that they were assembled and tested in June 1902. I'm assuming there are detailed testing reports somewhere to support the annual summary report of the BoOF.

As noted here previously, I am fortunate enough to have two of the rifles. One, 389182, which has the correct (1901 x 2100) sights, had the stock whacked which I still need to stretch. The other, 388786, resides in a very lightly worn carbine stock without cartouches, and has a 1902C sight.

My theory is that, during the testing at Plattsburgh, someone said "Hey, let's see how this thing would look/handle with a carbine stock." They could easily have 'phoned SA and gotten the parts. Needless to say, I would REALLY like to find that verified in the testing logs, if such still exist.

So, IF you ever trip over anything like that, I'd surely like to know about it. Many thanks in advance, and also, thank you for all of which you have dug up already!

As to how it handles in a short stock, the answer is, wonderfully, at least for sporting purposes. It'd be a tad long for the woods, but seems just right for open country.