What years for Long Branch grooved lower handguards?

What years did Long Branch rifles have the grooved rear upper handguards on? I have a 44 with birch and smooth handguard and a 44 in walnut with grooved. Anyone know the definitive year cutoff?

It's not linear. virtually all 1941 LB's had grooved HG's. In 1942, some subcontractors began making them smooth, while others made them grooved. On any LB made 1942 or later, you can have either type HG. Same goes for the other makers.

The assemblers just used whichever HG was next in the bin. I find the grooved HG's look better though.

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Originally Posted by Claven2

It's not linear. virtually all 1941 LB's had grooved HG's. In 1942, some subcontractors began making them smooth, while others made them grooved. On any LB made 1942 or later, you can have either type HG. Same goes for the other makers.

The assemblers just used whichever HG was next in the bin. I find the grooved HG's look better though.

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Thanks Claven. I agree, the grooved ones are quite beautiful...so it could go either way for most of the war production? Thus putting a grooved HG on any LB 41-45 wouldn't be wrong?

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Originally Posted by Cantom

Thanks Claven. I agree, the grooved ones are quite beautiful...so it could go either way for most of the war production? Thus putting a grooved HG on any LB 41-45 wouldn't be wrong?

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That's right.

I am particulary smitten by the look of the grooved handguards.

I put them on any longbranch that I have the oppertunity to restore.

this is the latest work, $45 bubba came with a No1 mag its comming. Needs to have the but de-shined stupid polylacker crap.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../lb4full-1.jpg

I just picked up an early #4 Fazakerly by all accounts pretty early and it has a nice grooved hand guard, I'm in your court, I love the look, don't know why, it just makes it look different-SDH