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"extra" wood on military rifles

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24 November 2003, 12:51
beemanbeme
"extra" wood on military rifles
Although I've dragged an M1 and BAR many a mile I never thought to question why all of the old military rifles, ie: 98K, '03, M1, M48, etc had so much extra wood on the fore end? The wooden shroud forward of the stock and the wooden cover above the barrel.
Inquiring minds need to know.
Thx
24 November 2003, 15:40
Dark Paladin
probably so that if you do rapid fire, and then need to beat someone with the gun, you wont burn your hands....
25 November 2003, 03:42
Steve Malinverni
Not so far from true, Dark Paladin, if you think that during the WWI the bayonet attack was normal.
bye
25 November 2003, 13:44
tincan
quote:
Originally posted by beemanbeme:
Although I've dragged an M1 and BAR many a mile I never thought to question why all of the old military rifles, ie: 98K, '03, M1, M48, etc had so much extra wood on the fore end? The wooden shroud forward of the stock and the wooden cover above the barrel.
Inquiring minds need to know.
Thx
just a guess, including what the others have written-

it also had to serve as a club.

-tc
25 November 2003, 18:25
denton
The wooden cover over the top of the barrel is called a handguard. As stated, it's to prevent you from burning your hands if you have to use the rifle as club.
05 December 2003, 18:41
cas
I'd assume the full length wood dates back to muskets and rifled muskets, where after a few rounds it was bayonet time, where as the wood would give the barrel extra strength to prevent bending of the fairly thin barrel.

Though the Penn. and Kentucky rifle had them too... hmmm...
06 December 2003, 06:13
eshell
quote:
Originally posted by Dark Paladin:
probably so that if you do rapid fire, and then need to beat someone with the gun, you wont burn your hands....
After having left skin residue on both an AR15 and an AK thoroughly warmed up from a little rapid fire (like touching a woodstove), I would personally vote for the "heat protection" reason. [Eek!]

[ 12-05-2003, 21:17: Message edited by: eshell ]
06 December 2003, 06:15
eshell
sorry, quoted myself when I should have been editing an error [Roll Eyes]

[ 12-05-2003, 21:40: Message edited by: eshell ]