best source (and price) for Garand/M-14 handguard clip pliers

wanting to complete* the finish on the stock that came on my "CMP Special" Garand, and I'm pretty sure I have all the tools I need to remove all of the stock metal, Except the handguard clip. and from my own searches the tool used to remove that clip is pretty much required to prevent damage to the handguard, and varies quite a bit both in price and reported quality depending on who made it. So does anyone out there have advice, recommendations, leads, etc. as to whose version I should be looking to get my hands on, what retail source to get it from with regard to actually having it in stock and at a sane price?

if I still had access to appropriate machine tools I'd just go looking for the Army tech manual that has a spec sheet and instructions on how to make it, but alas I do not have that option currently.



(*)For those who don't know, the "CMP Special" Garands are basically an arsenal rebuild using original receivers, a new stock, new Criterion Barrel, and a mix of new and refinished parts. And the Boyd's stocks are in need of further application(s) of Linseed or Tung oil to be in a fully and properly "finished" condition

Why not just get the handguard clip pliers from the CMP eStore?
https://estore.thecmp.org/Catalog/Item/817

I've heard good things about Strobel pliers as well.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/3...nd-m1a-handguard-clip-pliers?cm_vc=S016276034

Looks like a pair of snap ring pliers.

Button Pusher said:

Looks like a pair of snap ring pliers.

Click to expand...

functionally, it is. but the ends of the pliers need to not protrude much past where they catch the handguard clip, or they may cause damage to the wood of the rear handguard (this isn't as much of an issue with the fiberglass guard on an m1A/14, you don't have to be as careful about dragging the ends of the clip or pliers over the guard).

Below are pictures of the clip, it's placement on the rear handguard, and how the pliers are used in removing and installing the clip. notice as well that the clip is asymmetrical, one "foot" is higher than the other, due to the right side of the handguard being cut away to clear the op-rod, the purpose made pliers are similarly asymmetrical to accommodate this.



by

the tabs on the bottom of the clip, that snap into grooves on the barrel to attach the handguard, go under/around some of the thinnest wood found on the Garand stock. and it is exceedingly easy to break or otherwise damage the wood in that area. Some folks have successfully used improvised or modified tools to remove that clip (snap ring pliers modified or not, two screwdrivers [one with the tip ground down to fit the hole in the clip end] etc). but there are a few too many stories of "I tried to improvise but slipped.... Now I need a new rear handguard", so I feel more comfortable either buying or borrowing the proper tool for this job.