Thread: Smle rear handguard
Retrieved: 06/20/2014

Can anyone tell me why the used rear handguard I have has four small brass pins in the top?

desporterizer
04-01-2014

The pins secure the retainer spring to the handguard.

yes man
04-01-2014

Yes I see the two in the center that hold the spring, these four are on the sides of those two seems like pics I've seen some have and some don't. The other one I have dosen't have them just curious what there for, as they don't look like they hold anything...

dr1953
04-02-2014

I checked my SMLE rear hand guard and out of my 4, only the 2 Australian Lithgows have these pins. I always thought they were a way to prevent cracks and to repair cracks in the hand guard and stock.

mkrnel
04-02-2014

That's exactly what they are for! Some have them and some don't.

yes man
04-02-2014

So this is just a Lithgow thing?

mkrnel
04-02-2014

No, others did it as well.

the11
04-02-2014

Mine has them in both the front and rear handguards. In my front handguard you can see that the brass rod actually has wood-screw threading on it. I assume they were driven in, cut flush, and then perhaps lightly peened.

This picture was of the rear sight, but it shows the pin in the front handguard, and one of the pins in the rear one.

yes man
04-02-2014

Yup that's the ones, interesting how that would stop fatigue of the wood.

the11
04-02-2014

It will inhibit the splitting of the piece when it is put under pressure. I have also seen rear handguards that had two hardwood inserts glued into a saw kerf across the grain. I am thinking that this would have been the best solution. But a bit more labour intensive. Here is a pic I found of what I am talking about.

infideleggwelder
04-02-2014

^ that looks like a Numrich job. Wish mine had the brass. Wood inserts let go on mine.

the11
04-02-2014

You're pretty handy. Just redo them. Cut out a marginally wider kerf, glue in some appropriate wood inserts from your pallet pile, trim and sand to fit.

infideleggwelder
04-02-2014

I actually like the threaded brass. Adds a touch of class, I think.

Now to find 3/32 threaded brass rod...