Mystery hand guard marking

Mystery Hand Guard Slideshow by carwashchris1 | Photobucket

Any Thoughts ??

Thanks Chris

Definitely an ordnance bomb there. Perhaps the other part is an OI marked that's distorted.

Thanks John ! That's the best guess I have gotten. Here's a few more pictures, it is a 2 rivet deep groove and in very nice shape. Maybe tooo nice ???

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First set of pictures: Milling doesn't look right and stamps look "new" - OI is messed up (individual stamps?) Second set of pictures: odd looking rivet and milling of the wood. What does the bottom of the metal liner look like, and the "setting" of the rivets? I'm afraid it's not original. - Bob

Bob your probably right, but here's some pict's. Chris

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Chris: To me, the rivets and liner don't look right - also the cuts in the wood. Nice pictures! - Bob

Yep, I agree. The stamps are really not correct.The whole thing just doesn't look right. The metal also looks wrong. Hard to put a finger on it. It is too good of condition.

Many early hand guards were stamped with individual letters. I think the bomb and I were stamped and the O was stamp sideways, then re-stamped correctly. Or some one tried to fake the IO stamp. The location is not of an early handguard. And as late as it is, It would not have a bomb. Or just early and hand stamped in an unusual location.