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Posted: 4/16/2015 1:21:04 PM EDT
[#1]
Quoted: Can one of you tell me what original Guatemalan AR10 Handguards looked like? I have one with smooth brown hand guards and I just picked up an upper with basketweave texture and very dark brown almost black. http:// Your image link isn't working. |
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Posted: 4/16/2015 1:24:00 PM EDT
[#2]
I can't see your photo(s); but, here are some pics of my Guatemalan handgaurd.
John Thomas 
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Posted: 4/16/2015 2:08:21 PM EDT
[#3]
sorry having photo bucket issues. I will post in a few days, had to reopen my account.
These are textured basketweave like some of the original AR bakelite. I too own a complete gut with smooth forearms. |
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Posted: 4/16/2015 3:53:57 PM EDT
[#4]
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Posted: 4/16/2015 4:57:13 PM EDT
[#5]
So is this what they looked like new? before paint?
http://imageshack.com/a/img909/8792/7Hg7qZ.jpg |
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Posted: 4/16/2015 5:01:40 PM EDT
[#6]
This is my other Guat. I thought it was original
http://imageshack.com/a/img540/9757/653dt0.jpg |
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Posted: 4/16/2015 6:27:27 PM EDT
[#7]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
This is my other Guat. I thought it was original http://imageshack.com/a/img540/9757/653dt0.jpg Quote HistoryQuoted:
This is my other Guat. I thought it was original http://imageshack.com/a/img540/9757/653dt0.jpg 
Quoted:
So is this what they looked like new? before paint? 
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Posted: 4/16/2015 6:32:18 PM EDT
[#8]
I don't know what the "new" condition would have looked like. Mine had been repaired prior to when I got it. So, I didn't think the dark paint was correct. I do think it t looks much better with the exposed weaving.
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Posted: 4/17/2015 9:59:36 AM EDT
[#9]
Since it's been brought up, who painted them? Was it Armalite of Guatamala? This thread makes me think I should strip mine, but the paint really is part of provenance.
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Posted: 4/17/2015 11:45:18 AM EDT
[#10]
The Guat handguards were painted brown at the factory.....Please do not strip them of any original paint. Same goes for the buttstocks. I recall the grips were unpainted.
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Posted: 4/17/2015 11:57:40 AM EDT
[#11]
If you see the pictures of the AR10's in the Black Rifle, you can clearly see that the stocks and handgaurds are black and have the weave pattern. So I believe if you wanted to go original, you'd need to strip the paint and uncover the black. I personally wouldn't do that though, especially if they are painted up nice and were done professionally by the Guats, Ports and Sudanese, etc.
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Posted: 4/17/2015 7:30:01 PM EDT
[#13]
This is an example of an unrestored Guatemalan AR10 with nearly zero paint remaining. The forearm and buttstock were painted brown at the factory.
The typical Guat has exterior wear but good internals. Maybe there was not much shooting but al lot of marching going on at the training academy? 
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Posted: 4/18/2015 11:33:45 PM EDT
[#14]
Thank you all!
It has been speculated that the finish on my forearm has been stripped of the plastic coating above the fibers and repainted. While this might be the case, all it can say is it was done with amazing care. The finish is completely even. I actually like this textured finish better than the smooth one. https://imageshack.com/i/exlym5Cyj https://imageshack.com/i/pbGjZ6pOj |
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Posted: 4/19/2015 8:51:52 AM EDT
[#15]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Thank you all! It has been speculated that the finish on my forearm has been stripped of the plastic coating above the fibers and repainted. While this might be the case, all it can say is it was done with amazing care. The finish is completely even. I actually like this textured finish better than the smooth one. Fixed your pictures for you 
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Posted: 4/19/2015 11:32:28 AM EDT
[#16]
Another example of good honest wear. A smooth paint-free surface exposing transparent polymer through which a fiber weave is seen.
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Posted: 4/19/2015 12:01:41 PM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Thank you all! It has been speculated that the finish on my forearm has been stripped of the plastic coating above the fibers and repainted. While this might be the case, all it can say is it was done with amazing care. The finish is completely even. I actually like this textured finish better than the smooth one. Ever seen what wood looks like after it has been sand blasted the softer less resinated fibers are removed and the harder resinated fibers and edges remain though rounded and roughened. If you zoom in on the pics and look at the bakelite back end it appears to have been blasted as do the edges of the ribbing.If you also look at the prciures of handguards that display the fiber patterns it indicates the edges lack fibers. Eessentially the process has removed the soft fibers and leaving their imprint in the resin, a very interesting effect so I would say your HG was blasted with large automotive media and then painted. |
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Posted: 4/21/2015 4:55:39 PM EDT
[#18]
Great pics and a very interesting read. I sure do love those handguards.
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Posted: 4/21/2015 5:19:50 PM EDT
[#19]
original handguards, there is still traces of the original brown paint visable in the bipod groove.
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Posted: 4/21/2015 6:28:08 PM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Ever seen what wood looks like after it has been sand blasted the softer less resinated fibers are removed and the harder resinated fibers and edges remain though rounded and roughened. If you zoom in on the pics and look at the bakelite back end it appears to have been blasted as do the edges of the ribbing.If you also look at the prciures of handguards that display the fiber patterns it indicates the edges lack fibers. Eessentially the process has removed the soft fibers and leaving their imprint in the resin, a very interesting effect so I would say your HG was blasted with large automotive media and then painted. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Thank you all! It has been speculated that the finish on my forearm has been stripped of the plastic coating above the fibers and repainted. While this might be the case, all it can say is it was done with amazing care. The finish is completely even. I actually like this textured finish better than the smooth one. Ever seen what wood looks like after it has been sand blasted the softer less resinated fibers are removed and the harder resinated fibers and edges remain though rounded and roughened. If you zoom in on the pics and look at the bakelite back end it appears to have been blasted as do the edges of the ribbing.If you also look at the prciures of handguards that display the fiber patterns it indicates the edges lack fibers. Eessentially the process has removed the soft fibers and leaving their imprint in the resin, a very interesting effect so I would say your HG was blasted with large automotive media and then painted. Thanks That makes sense. |
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Posted: 4/21/2015 7:22:45 PM EDT
[#21]
The look of those handguards is like nothing else, patina, old paint, fibers and resin combined. Retro ultimo.
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