Unusual WWII photo

[BRK]

A paratrooper from the American 17th Airborne Division gets a light from a Churchill tank crewman of 6th Guards Armoured Brigade near Dorsten in North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany, on March 29, 1945

Am I missing something or is this a stock\handguard that I have not seen before.

Could it be the colourised photo process that has removed the operating rod cut between the stock and handguard?

Information

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[Daan Kemp]

Picked up a new belt too.

[painter777]

Nice picture,
I believe very early WRA and INLAND (early 42) had the Prototype and first issue Hand guards that had no cut for the Op Slide arm.
But I'd feel better about this answer after checking War Baby, but to late and no books here.

Charlie-Painter777

---------- Post added at 11:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:53 PM ----------

on March 29, 1945

Sure seems odd to see such a early, very limited Hand Guard this late: 1945 ??
Carbine has the early BB and Flip sight, Maybe ? angle of picture not showing the notch ?
Carbines..... JEEEZZZEEE Drive a guy nuts !!

[firstflabn]

Must be the model with the optional wood grain band spring. Don't see the cup holder that came with this option package, but I'm sure it's there.

[Bruce McAskill]

Well he sure didn't spring for the optional cigarette lighter mounted on the bottom. Are we sure this photo was real and not from a movie being made? That carbine appears to have more wrong with it then right. I could see it being a prop maybe?

[browningautorifle]

Are we sure this photo was real and not from a movie being made?

That's what it looks like to me...this could be a resin casting.

[Gil Boyd]

BRK,
The picture is not that unusual actually old chap, as the Yanks do love a cuppa of English tea around 2 pm in the afternoon in exchange for a Lucky Strike
Could be a shot from the Longest Day or A Bridge To Far

[Bruce McAskill]

There is nothing wrong with a bit of good tea especially if fortified with a wee touch of Brandy eh.

[painter777]

Look how clean all the uniforms are, all, including boots look brand new (?)

As a side,
When did the Army authorize the wearing of a reversed American flag patch on uniforms, meaning moving forward?

Thx

PS I've come across this picture a number of times now by using a google search of: 17th Airborne Division
ran across a number of negative opinions about the old black and white photos being colorized.

[AD-4NA]

PS I've come across this picture a number of times now by using a google search of: 17th Airborne Division
ran across a number of negative opinions about the old black and white photos being colorized.[/QUOTE]

Well, in this case this one is tinted wrong on literally basically everything.

Stars forward was definitely at least a post WWII thing, still looks strange to me personally IMHO