Chuck, as I said (yes, Dean, I said it before
), it doesn't seem possible to measure the thickness of the forend metal accurately without removing the wood (which I prefer not to do). As Dean said, I'm pretty sure they are the same thickness because both the beavertail and splinter will go on the same barrels, and both are inlet flush with the bottom of the wood. When I get home on Thursday (out of town now), I'll see if I can measure them somehow, but I'm almost positive they are the same. I can send a picture from the side, but I don't think it will answer your question (the wood hides all the metal from a side view).
Joe