M14 Forum

BagemTagem · August 31st, 2011, 09:48 PM

Is it the flat one like these shown here or...

...Is it round?

Image source Sadlak.com

davecampperry · August 31st, 2011, 11:16 PM

flat with holes is the GI. The top one appears to be round, and they are custom made.

dozier · September 1st, 2011, 06:15 AM

It was my understanding that that there were two versions of the USGI Op Rod Guide. Both were flat sided. One had the slots cut in it, and one was w/o slots. I've been wrong before. Maybe our historians can chime in. dozier

RightHand · September 1st, 2011, 07:01 AM

Here is a little more about spring guides

Short History and Evolution of Spring Guides

patriot armory 308 · September 1st, 2011, 10:45 AM

The top one is the early production guide with the machined lightening cuts that give it that "I'' beam shape. The later guide had the oval shaped holes punched out to simplify production.

BagemTagem · September 1st, 2011, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RightHand

Here is a little more about spring guides

Short History and Evolution of Spring Guides

So then i must have the TRW NM spring guide. as my rifle was assembled in 1982 using USGI parts i can see that my spring guide is round and shows no weld evidence near the catch...therefore its the TRW and not a hybrid!

That history tells nothing of a TRW stamp on the guide so my conclusion is purely speculation, but I'm going to stick with its TRW considering the amount of USGI parts that came factory on my rifle