Handguard too fat

[DaveHH]

I have a really nice 5.4 Inland that appears to be in original configuration. It has matching HI wood. The handguard is too fat and partially obscures the front sight. I hate to just start sanding away on an original carbine. I'm wondering if anyone else has had a similar problem? My concern is that if I sand it down for clearance will it stick out like a sore thumb? It is annoying to look down the sights and see only the top 2/3 of the front sight. Thanks in advance
Dave

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[DaveHH]

is too high. At the point just above the slide bar. It causes the guard to tilt up on the right side which obscures about 2/3 of the front sight. I see just the top part. The handguard also isn't loose at all, which I would assume is detrimental to good accuracy. I suppose just sanding some material off that edge would let it lower down and expose most of the front sight. I've shot this one a lot but I think I'd do better by seeing the entire front sight.

[WarPig1976]

I'm wondering if anyone else has had a similar problem?

Why, yes I have.
In recent years my belly has gotten so fat when I look down all I see is 2/3 of my,,,Errr,,Ummm.....Shoe!!

Sorry Dave I couldn't resist...

[DaveHH]

One gets bigger, the other shrinks. Wow! must be going around.

Looking further, the right side of the guard (thankfully not the side with the HI) has a section about 2" long at the very end of the cut out for the slide. It is slightly higher than the rest of the wood. It also has what appears to be a tiny tool made triangle pointing down at the exact point of this wowie. Possible an inspectors mark for a rejected wood part? There is no knot or anything in the wood at that point so it appears that by sanding down that area the guard will come down and be as normal. I'd love to hear from Frank or Charlie about that triangle mark and get their thoughts.

[phillydude]

Pictures are worth a thousand words

[kosmolinekid]

I've had Carbines that have done that in the past and I've had many . It is just nature of the beast . What ever you do don't sand it down if it is a matching handguard / stock set ! Just buy a repro handguard from Sarco and sand and stain that . I think they still have them in stock . I bought one and they're not too bad . The edge on the groove was a little too sharp for me but I could sand it down. The Sarco handguard I believe are from the same company that does the M1-A1 repro stock .

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

If you are going to sub another handguard and save the thick one, why not just get another OI hanguard. Only about $15.

[USGI]

Why not just get another OI hanguard. Only about $15.

Five years ago?

[kosmolinekid]

For me personally it's hard for me to modify any original item whether it's a gun part or web gear . Once an item has been modified it is no longer valuable. It's like shining a rare coin once it been messed with no collector really wants it . Many of you remember when these Hand Guards were a dime a dozen . In fact my friend returned from the last show and bought me a gift. He found a deal he couldn't pass up A-1 Triangular Hand Guards for only 20.00 ! Now these are going anywhere from 40.00 to 60.00 a set . The last set I bought were 10.00 back when the A-2 H-Bar craze started. The craze now is the Tactical Railed Hand Guard . There will in the future be a movie or a series on Desert Storm or Grenada and every body is going to do A-2 builds. The round A-2 Hand Guards will probably be going for a 100.00 a set !

[DaveHH]

and after BLO was applied it hardly is noticeable and when assembled not at all. I now see about half of the front sight which will have to do. I don't want to be swapping parts for any reason. It is still the original Louisville Slugger wood for this example Inland. A bonus was that it freed up the handguard to move a bit which will improve accuracy.
Thanks for the help.