Un-modified rear handguard, what does it mean?

[Beginner]

Hello gentlemen.

I am kind of new here and to Garands in general, so please excuse me if this is stupid but:

I recently purchased a M1 made by Winchester, serial 23508XX. I have some books on the M1 (Scott Duff's red book + Reisch&Poyers book), but I cannot get an answer on the rear handguard. It seems it does not have the relief cut to prevent binding of the oprod. I attached a pic, maybe you can tell me something about it? Also, the rifle has mostly older parts (older, single slot gasplug, uncut op-rod, follower etc), but I suspect it is a put-together rifle. But most (all but the safety, an early SA) parts are WRA stamped, so I guess that is good.
Could this indicate the rifle was never "updated", or is it possibly a repro? Sorry for the blurry pic, I should learn to take better pics

Thank you!

Information

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[DaveN]

I think your pic is fine. you could have posted a few more from different angles and more of the rifle, more is always better. For me to take pics better I need a better lens ($$$$) and better lighting ($$$) and I would rather spend my ($$$$$) on my collection, you know I could buy a M1 for the price I paid for this or that. I suppose this is what a drug user thinks all the time? M1's are the prescription for Garanditis, and I say doctor up my dose cause I got it real bbbaaddd!

[RCS]

Both SA and Winchester used this type of rear handguard, if you really want to know who manufactured your rear handguard, you would have to post additional photos. This would mean that you would have to remove it from the rifle, take photos of the rear, the inside and the rear handguard clip. Your rifle could have been a rebuild or restoration, additional photos would help to determine any originality

[Bob Seijas]

To answer your question directly, the handguard without relief is early, and prized by collectors restoring pre-war rifles.

[latigo 1]

Your picture does not show the area where the relief cut was made. Here is a pic of a Winchester early handguard. Notice the shape of the right rear corner where the lug on the op rod contacts the wood. The op rod has actually pounded the wood down to the exact shape of the op rod (the rod has been pulled back slightly to show a better view). Somewhere in the 2.4 mil series WRA started putting a relief cut on that corner to prevent contact by the op rod. SA had started relieving the handguards much earlier than that.

[latigo 1]

Here is a pic of the receiver end of a WRA handguard. WRA handguards were rough on the end and the top edge was rounded. SA handguards were sanded smooth.

[Beginner]

Wow, thank you for all these responses!
I would remove the handguards but I am not able to get the gas tube off; it is really stuck and I do not want to use to much force.
I snapped a pic with the Winchester next to my mix-master SA, there is a clear difference between the two I think.

Please let me know if there is anything else I can photo for more info.

[.45s r best]

Hello Beginner: Good luck with your new Garand, they are great rifles. You say your operating rod is uncut? . I would research a little more about your operating rod. It is my understanding that firing a rifle with an uncut operating rod can be dangerous. And also, these early uncut rods can be valuable and are prized by collectors. It may be a good idea to get a new rod from somebody such as Fulton Armory. There are a number of other reputable dealers who sell M1 operating rods. They are listed on the internet and many of the books on Garands have a list of outlets who deal in Garands.

[Beginner]

Hello Beginner: Good luck with your new Garand, they are great rifles. You say your operating rod is uncut? . I would research a little more about your operating rod. It is my understanding that firing a rifle with an uncut operating rod can be dangerous. And also, these early uncut rods can be valuable and are prized by collectors. It may be a good idea to get a new rod from somebody such as Fulton Armory. There are a number of other reputable dealers who sell M1 operating rods. They are listed on the internet and many of the books on Garands have a list of outlets who deal in Garands.

Thank you! This is actually my third Garand; like I mentioned I have a SA of mixed parts, and also an M1-D made by SA. I have read about the oprod issues, and I do not intend to shoot the WRA Garand. Also, I am not in the US, so I guess ordering anything besides books from the US would be a PITA with all the restrictions and permits needed for importing gun-parts anyways.

edit: And yes, the oprod is un-modified (see attatchment)

[.45s r best]

Sounds like you got a nice rifle! Shame that parts ordering is an issue. You mentioned a few books, a great one is "The U.S. .30 Cal Gas Operated Service Rifles, A Shop Manual" by Jerry Kuhnhausen. It covers the M1 and military and commercial versions of the M14. It is geared towards gunsmithing. If your are a gunsmith or a machinist it is packed with technical data.