Having looked in my spares box I have 3 broken long tang guards that I have removed from scrap / to be restored rifles.
It isn’t possible to say where they broke as they have been tidied up, but 2 have half the tang left and have been drilled in the past to make a new scoring screw hole.
The other has had the whole tang removed bar maybe a quarter of its original length and again a new screw hole drilled through it.
I assume bsa either found the original version had too much wastage in manufacture, or it saved money in the stock work in changing the design.
It seems strange these should break as there is no stress put on them when fitted. I can only think that stress would come from the long stock bolt being loose which would then allow leverage to be applied to the long tang.
Baz
BE AN INDEPENDENT THINKER, DON'T FOLLOW THE CROWD
Vintage Airguns Gallery
..Above link posted with permission from Gareth W-B
In British slang an anorak is a person who has a very strong interest in niche subjects.