Saw Cut Bump???

[TheLongshot00]

I have owned a Garand for several years now, but have just recently gotten serious about researching what I have. I noticed that one of the Diagonal Saw cut gas cylinders I have has a small bump along the saw cut on both sides of the cylinder and the other does not. Whats the difference? Thanks in advance.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Rick Cummelin]

I have owned a Garand for several years now, but have just recently gotten serious about researching what I have. I noticed that one of the Diagonal Saw cut gas cylinders I have has a small bump along the saw cut on both sides of the cylinder and the other does not. Whats the difference? Thanks in advance.

The saw cuts on gas cylinders were done in early WWII to facilitate tightening loose gas cylinders due to a production run of undersized barrels. At least that's the "story" I have heard repeated for years. The cut allowed the cylinder to be tightened by using the front sight screw to "pinch" the cylinder on the barrel. Two types of cuts can be found: straight across, and at an angle. Apparently the angle cuts worked better than the straight across cuts.

Some time after the war, a decision was made (by someone) to recover/restore the cut cylinders by welding the cut. The bump/blob on the left cylinder is a blob of welding material. Over the years I have seen quite a few of these welded cylinders. They all look like yours, and are actually more prevalent than the cut cylinders.

[Bob Seijas]

Good answer, Rick. IIRC, the slant cut type was considered salvagable, hence the drop of weld, the straight was scrapped.

[TheLongshot00]

Awesome, thanks for the help guys