M18 D-Rings???

[PlaceOfBayonets]

Are the D rings in M18 liners solid all the way around or is there a cut so they can be bent into place at the factory?

I was told I could install a chin strap and that the D rings are already cut and all that's needed is needle nose plyers but,

I am not so sure that is the case. It seems the part that the d ring are fitted to would simply wrap around and be riveted to the liner band so the D rings would be solid.

Can anyone comform?

W.

[luftwaffenkopf]

i just checked and the only way to confirm is to take one apart. you can't tell if there is a cut in the chinstrap bale on the inside... perhaps someone has taken one apart who can help.

[PlaceOfBayonets]

I got this from Steffan at
Flower Prairie who has a lot of experience but is a repro maker. He seems to be sure they are cut but mine does not budge with the moderate force I've exerted on it so far and I don't want to put any more force then I have till I know something.

I shine a light into the part wrapped around the D ring but can't quite see into it much.

From Steffan below,

Hi William!
Yep!  Showed up in my junk mail folder, go figure.  Still getting used to Windows7, sorry.
 
Okay, on the liner that needs the chinstrap put on, no problem!  That d ring is already split underneath the metal hanger.  Get a couple of small pliers on the short sides and just sort of bend it out of the tube that the hanger forms.  Slide your chinstrap on and then bend the hanger back into the tube.  Its easier that it sounds but once you've done one the next one will be a snap and you can't tell that it wasn't there originally.  If you want me to do it I will,  just send it along with the chinstrap hardware,  but its not too hard to manage with the right tools and a damn the torpedoes attitude!  As for the chinstraps, no problem there either, just send me the hardware and a note telling me what to do and we are good to go.  Thanks William and sorry about the mail thing.
 
Steffan