Samson Manufacturing Corp. (Samson) announced the company was now offering a pair of new lightweight aluminum handguards that use the M-LOK specifications for accessory attachment.

Two versions of the new handguard are available: a 13″ model and a 15″ model. Samson lists the weight for the shorter handguard at 6.8 ounces but does not list a weight for the longer version. Samson CNC machines these rails from 6061-T6 aluminum and uses a MIL-A-8625 type III class 2 anodizing finish.

M-LOK attachment points are machined into the handguards at the 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions. The top position has a short length of Picatinny rail fore and aft for mounting a sight. Instead of the weight adding length of Picatinny rail between the ends, the company cut ventilation slots into the handguard to increase airflow around the barrel. This is one of the main difference between these models and the prior SX series handguards that had full length Picatinny top rails.

The handguard kits come with a barrel nut, hex wrench and barrel nut wrench. The handguards are free floating with an inside diameter of 1.3″.

These new handguards are made in the United States of America. The shorter of the two products has a suggested retail price of $249. The longer handguard has an asking price of $259.