"Early" Saginaw handguard

[Rick the Librarian]

In the same group of parts I got with the Inland trigger housing discussed in the other post, I got some handguards. Two of them had the "wide" sighting groove and had RSG (Saginaw) stamps. I consulted my (admittedly 3rd edition) Reitsch book and I got the impression that Sagninaw only made the later type with the narrower sighting groove.

These parts came from an old-time gunsmith so I don't suspect a fake.

The picture below shows the two Saginaw handguards surrounding another "narrow" handguard.

Is Reitsch or my interpretation at fault, here?

P.S. I did measure the width and the two RSGs were appreciably wider than the other handguard.

Information

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[Rick the Librarian]

Oops! Slight error -- I meant I measure the width of the SIGHTING GROOVES, not the handguards! Sorry about that!!

[ScottR]

Saginaw did use Type1 handguards for a short while, nice find.

Scott

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Hey Rick,

Did you get a carbine?

[Rick the Librarian]

Nope -- all I have is the carbine I bought in 2002. An Inland mixmaster. A gentleman made me a deal on these parts and some others. They'll probably go on what passes as the Shopper on this forum and others in the next couple of weeks.

[TheHunter]

Rick,
Approximately how wide was the sighting grove? I have a RSG hand guard on my IBM carbine and it looks a lot like the outer ones. By the way are the rivet holes filled or left open? I couldn't tell by the picture.

TDHindman

[Rick the Librarian]

The sighting groove on the RSGs measure about 5/8"; the other handguard (an IBM with the "narrow" sighting groove, about a 1/2".

The rivet holes are "open" on both of them.

[TheHunter]

Thanks Rick,

Mine measures the same. I still haven't figured out why the rivets are filled on mine. Could have been done by the previous owner.

TDHindman