Be careful when reloading for the Model 1888, 1891 Commission rifles. The "S" on your receiver indicates that it was throated for the .323" slug. The bore diameter could still be .320-.321" . I shoot .322" cast bullets in mine. Your rifle will take standard 8x57 Mauser cartridges as far as chambering is concerned. But the bore is not correct unless somewhere along the way it has had the rifling deepened to .323" groove diameter. Slug the bore to get a measure. It will last longer and stay sharper with cast slugs anyway.
Also, the 1909 Engineers carbine talked about way at the beginning of this thread has been reblued along the way. Surprisingly, the price for the Engineer's carbine is pretty fair as is. You might get it a bit cheaper as the numbers are not matched, but don't bet on it. Check the condition of the bore as many of these look nice on the outside but are shot out. The stocks are not full length Mannlicher style stocks, but these are definately short rifles and are and have always been quite rare. Also called Mountain Carbines. See Mr. Webster's book. The Model 1891 Argentine Engineers carbine is a modification of the standard Model 1891 Cavalry Carbine. The Engineer's carbine was a modification of an 1891 Cavalry Carbine made by adding bayonet lugs to the barrel and a cut-down version of the Remington 1879 Remington Rolling block bayonet was fit. I have two of these carbines in excellent shape and just had to have a bayonet to fit. If you want sticker shock, pay $400 for one of those....
All for now,
Thors
