[Malone LaVeigh]

My son and I were field stripping the "new" Garand today and when we got it apart, we found a small pin on the table that doesn't seem to live in any obvious place. It is 1/2" long and a little shy of 1/8" in diameter.We found a small hole directly behind the forward handguard in the "lower band". There doesn't seem to be any function for a pin there, however, it is a perfect fit.

Please, someone, am I going to kill myself if I fire it with this pin out, or possibly in the wrong place?

[4v50 Gary]

Isn't there a pin there to hold the handguard to the ferrule?

[Swampy]

Malone,

Your first thoughts are correct....

What you have is the "lower band pin".

The lower band is a metal piece attached to the barrel. It is held in position via this small pin inserted throught the hole in the band, and into the "dimple" machined in the bottom of the barrel.

The lower band is what keeps the M1's metal and wood pieces all together.

It holds the rear handgaurd at it's front end.

It holds the front handguard at it's rear end.

It also is what the "lip" of the buttstocks front ferrule locks into to prevent the action from coming out of the wood.

Best to all,
Swampy