This might help explain what I am trying to do.
Number 6, the guard/muzzle ring is held onto the tang with that little piece clapped to the tang just to the right of the guard in the diagram.
The guard is not "wrapped" around the blade.
I am going to remove the res. c handle and put the guard on the tang of the reg in the same manner. I just need some kind of the metal piece to hold it in place like in the diagram.