Always liked the original version of carbine. Our C8 started like that with a 14.5" length 1 in 7" twist barrel and was perfect. Then they had to mess with it, now it weighs the same as the rifles did. About the same length too...

I did up a few of the large hole uppers by machining a tight plug for the front hinge pin and using sleeve locker and a tight fit to bond. Then using the lower for a guide would drill for the hinge pin so it fit tight. We couldn't get some things here and had to make do a few times.