[Harleystoo]

Does anyone know what Dura-coat color best matched the original color of handguards?

 

[2336USMC]

There really isn't an original color. It wasn't specified, and originals vary all over the place from about coffee with 3 creamers, to hot chocolate, red/brown, Hershey's chocolate bar brown, to black.

There was a member here a few years ago selling off a big pile of handguards, and he had a great photo of about a dozen handguards all lined up in good light. It was a great example of how much the color varied.

So that leaves it sort of personal preference.

 

[POLACK]

http://m14forum.com/m14/69277-painting-handguards.html

 

[Instructor]

Some few years ago bought a basic LRB w/ their medium wt. 12 twist barrel and then sent it back to LRB for stock fitting, bedding, NM rear sight, etc., etc. and when it returned the hand guard was nearly black in finish. Under strong light it is a brown, but a very dark brown versus the original one which was a much lighter brown. I like the dark one better.

 

[KurtC]

This one is extremely close to the USGI vented handguards: Satin Espresso Brown

http://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/universal/universal-satin-spray-paint/

The silver version of this one works great on the underside.

http://www.rustoleum.com/en/rustoleum/product-catalog/consumer-brands/specialty/high-heat-spray

 

[Capona]

Does anyone know what Dura-coat color best matched the original color of handguards?

I think I have 8 usgi from Fred's and they all seem to be different shades of what I would say are 3 tints of brown.

 

[XM25Ren]

I have never seen a black USGI hand guard and don't believe they exist. There are many shades of brown, light to very dark almost black but still brown.

XM25REN

 

[Ted Brown]

I must have five or six cans of different browns I've tried. One that works good is Rust-Oleum American Accents Smooth Satin Finish Espresso. It's also a good color for FG stocks. Most competition shooters I know (including myself) prefer very dark browns for the HG. Rust-Oleum Camouflage 1918 Earth Brown is excellent and very dark.

 

[Harleystoo]

Thanks for the input. Did spray the undersides with VTH's High Temp Engine Enamel "Universal Aluminum". A perfect match. And yes, there are many shades for the top. Expresso it is.

And where did they come up with that drab purple for USGI fiberglass stocks?