M1A ventilated handguards GI?

[no_problem]

I have an M1A, it came with a non-ventilated handguard. I recently purchased a ventilated handguard.

Are the vent handguards GI, or are they purely a commercial contraption?

 

[rcmodel]

It might be a Commercial Contraption.

The original M-14 hand-guard was un-vented brown fiberglass composite.

That's not to say that some M-14's in Iraq right now might not have vented hand-guards on them. They seem to hang everything but the kitchen sink on rifles nowdays.


rcmodel

 

[Telperion]

Yes, there were USGI ventilated handguards. They were used briefly, from 1960 to 1962. Actually the first handguards made were walnut. The slotted design was replaced with the solid design, over mirage issues with scopes IIRC.

 

[1KPerDay]

The slotted ones also proved fragile.

 

[30Cal]

The slotted ones also proved fragile.

All the GI handguards are prone to cracks.