Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors My pre 64 M70 FWT - Stock Question

I recently picked up this pre 64 M70 in 270. Born early Aug 1963.


Metal is in good shape, some sign of wear but not all that bad. Stock has a few minor dings and one small spot where someone attempted to recover a ding. Nothing horrendous at all.

So my question comes to the stock, here are a few shots. I know the checkering pattern was a bit smaller on late models. I certainly see a difference from my Alaskan and it looks like what I can see in Rule's book.


Here is a profile looking down



this is the one that got me, when I pulled the butt plate....


So, do you think it was restocked or did Winchester quit drilling out FWT stocks at the end? I don't have a basis for comparison so I figured I'd reach out to you experts. I am not real worried either way, but certainly curious.
Thanks!