Thanks for posting this one. I had one report of it in Jan/2019 and it was kind of vague, so I didn’t get the details I have now on her.
So, according to “Hitler’s Garands” by Darrin Weaver, page 304 under title “Walther and Durofol Handguards”, he states that FOUR ac44 coded rifles in the k block were reported with Durofol hand guards. Weaver goes on to say that he believes it is a coincidence and could have been field replacements or switched by collectors. Not sure what “report” was taken then as that’s been approximately 20 years ago, or so, when this book came out. In chapter 8 of the same book, he goes on to say that Durofol hand guards were exclusive to BLM production. I have “heard” (I don’t recall where) that a very few Walther rifles were produced with Durofol hand guards. Possibly in this k block, p block or somewhere right near ac45 production. Very possible as it looks like a lot of weird things were happening with these rifles at this point, just before and right after ac45 production began. No armorers were issued these as replacements. Weaver is coming out with his new series of books before long on these rifles. We won’t know the latest information until these books finally come out (if there is any new information). So, I think, as stated above, that if some few Walther rifles were made with Durofol hand guards, this one has a chance of being one of those. Right now, it’s inconclusive. Another collector (can’t name names) once said that the wood ones burned up, got damaged frequently, so some Durofol hand guards were found and put on the Walther rifles. Another unconfirmed “story”, but could have been the case as well. I had a p block with a Durofol on it.
G.43 ac44 #1216k (next rifle reported before yours in my listings), reports it had a Durofol hand guard on it.
G.43 ac44 #2729k (four rifles reported after yours) reports it has a Durofol hand guard on it as well. The three rifles before #2729k does not report which hand guard they have.
G.43 ac44 #2906k has a Durofol hand guard installed.
G.43 ac44 #3935k has Durofol hand guard installed.
G.43 ac44 #4974k has Durofol hand guard installed.
(some rifles between 2906k and 4974k have wood hand guards)
They are hit and miss all through the k block rifles it looks like.