[mrfarb]

I'm pretty sure the Germans considered a rifle a carbine when it had a turned down bolt and side mounted sling, like the Kar98a of WW1 vintage. They did in fact name the Karabiner98b because of the turned down bolt and side mount sling, although it was the same length at the Gew98. Those rascally Germans.

 

[mrfarb]

This thread proves what WaPruf2 says, decide for yourself what the definition is and go with it, as the classification changed as history/authority decided it to.